ADEPTUS CRITICUS GAME REVIEWS

System played on Xbox Series X

Game played on gamepass.

Run time 6 hours main story – 7 hours main + extras – 9 hours completionist. (According to gamepass)

Developer – Ninja Theory

Publisher – Xbox game studios

Spoilers – No intentional spoilers

Before I get into the review, I would like to point out that the protagonist in this game is living with the mental condition of psychosis. If you are struggling with your mental health, please do not sit in silence please go speak with a medical professional or family and friends.

Before I played the game, I watched the documentary about how the game was made and most importantly how they approached the topic of psychosis, the team behind the game worked with medical professionals and with people who are living with this condition. This documentary was an eye opener to the length the developers went to making this game and again most importantly the length they had taken to not take mental health lightly. I fully recommend watching this documentary which runs for 23 minutes 11 seconds before playing the game.

The story of Senua continues  with her quest to fulfil her promise to her lover murdered by slavers, the opening cutscene shows Senua on a slave ship with other captives as she is on the hunt for the one the slavers call the master disaster strikes when rough seas destroy the ship where she is washed ashore on a grim looking land you are immediately welcomed by multiple voices in Senua’s head some of which are casting  self-doubt and some willing Senua on to keep on living.  

Graphically the game looks stunning I spent time looking around at the surroundings, I was in awe of how good it looked a lot of effort has been put into the aesthetics the way light hits the puddles and wet rocky surfaces is sensational all adding to the emersion of the voices going off in Senua’s head the background noises of people screaming for help really set an unsettling tone especially when playing the game with headphones on. A standout for me is the Draugr village where all this comes together nicely creating a haunting atmosphere turning into dread when you get closer to the light where you find a stranger being prepared to be sacrificed.

The game play is very narrative driven where you are on a linear path with a little scope for exploration but again, I believe this is to keep the player concentrated on the narrative as Senua is on her path battling her psychosis there are moments where she loses her grasp on reality suffers flashbacks to traumatic events that you must navigate.  The  combat is very simple no combos to learn just like the first game this is the area of the game that I wanted a bit more from but I can see why the developer may of gone down this route as to not break the stride of the story the downside to this is combat becomes repetitive when playing through the games six chapters. Other than combat to progress through the story you will need to complete various puzzles much like the first game each puzzle also adding to the story and an insight on how Senua’s mind works seeing patterns and meanings in things that other people do not this is something the game does really well in giving the player a snap shot into what it is like for some people living with psychosis.

Pros-

• Plenty of accessibility options so anyone can enjoy this brilliant game.
• A gripping story
• A Graphical and audial delight
• Brilliant voice acting
• Documentary on how they went about making the game.
• 35 collectibles and 11 achievements

Cons-

• Combat gets repetitive
• Over to quickly

All in all, I give this game a 9.4 out of 10 the story alone is excellent the aesthetics excellent and good gameplay and interesting characters.

I look forward to the continuation of Senua’s saga.