Defining Duke, Episode 177 | Our Hellblade 2 Review Is HERE - Did It Deliver?!
Added 2024-05-23 16:00:24 +0000 UTCThe next major release in Xbox's first party family has arrived! Senua's Saga: Hellblade II has seen an increased amount of pressure placed upon it as concern for the platform holder as ramped up. Stripping ourselves from the heightened emotionality of that situation, how does over five years of development, a team size four times bigger than the original, and a big Microsoft check benefit the newest entry in the Hellblade series? The Dukes are joined by Gene Park where all three were able to play through the game a week ahead of its launch and let their thoughts marinate. Sitting at an 82 on OpenCritic, Hellblade 2 is off to a solid start, but where do the Dukes sit? Well, it's time to dig deep and find out!
0:00:00 - Intro
0:06:00 - Ninja Theory's next game greenlit
0:15:57 - Xbox games to PS5
0:20:38 - Xbox 360 JRPGs
0:26:39 - Lies of P DLC confirmed for second half of 2024
0:30:34 - GTA 6 launches Fall 2025
0:35:53 - Star Wars Total War game coming from Creative Assembly
0:39:47 - Assassin’s Creed Shadows revealed
0:56:09 - Valve’s Deadlock leaked
1:00:15 - Larian opens up new studio
1:03:39 - Kingdom Hearts comes to Steam on June 13th
1:11:55 - IGN acquires a ton of gaming news outlets
1:20:19 - What We’re Playing
3:11:03 - Activision opens studio called Elsewhere
3:20:16 - Call Of Duty to Game Pass is all but confirmed
3:33:36 - Final updates for Redfall and Hi Fi Rush
3:37:53 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week
Comments
Senua - Overrated Gene - Goat!
Marco Maluf
2024-06-25 01:22:57 +0000 UTCWe need a timestamp in the description for when cog talks about destiny 2 so I can precisely skip that part each week Love you though Cog
David P
2024-06-01 21:17:39 +0000 UTCGene…. Play KH Dream Drop Distance on the 3DS like a man. Your thumbs will be fucked after 😂
Michael Mashpotato
2024-05-30 13:27:35 +0000 UTCBro it's so tough being an assassin's creed fan. People are so nasty about it, way waaaay overblown.
Bailey Callis
2024-05-29 19:54:50 +0000 UTCGene “I’m not gonna spoil it then precedes to spoil it the next sentence” Park 😂
Bartevious
2024-05-29 19:21:03 +0000 UTCI really loved the game, thought it was something really cool and different and didn't overstay it's welcome
Gooch Gobbler
2024-05-29 15:29:10 +0000 UTCI don't know man, I'm thinking that if hellblade was a Sony exclusive he would not even look at it a second time. Colin does something similar but at least when a Sony game is bad or he doesn't like it, he says it without running any defence.
Fotis Lyto
2024-05-28 20:28:44 +0000 UTCAs someone who loves both movies and video games, I find the cinematic games incredibly unsatisfying because I think movies are way better at being movies than video games are. I find a lot of podcasters I follow that really like cinematic games, very rarely watch movies. I wonder if Matty will come to a similar conclusion as he watches more and more movies for Retro Rewind
Owen S
2024-05-28 15:52:27 +0000 UTCWhen I hear that a game is about mental health issues, I roll my eyes. I could care less and not what I look for in a videogame. I think Gene was spot on with his critique
Yiorgos
2024-05-27 00:30:15 +0000 UTCI agree with Gene, ninja theory is overrated. Hellblade 1 was great, but 2 was meh. I don’t get the obsession with this studio.
Chris Van Buren
2024-05-26 17:01:31 +0000 UTCHe’s not wrong on the game.
Chris Van Buren
2024-05-26 16:59:10 +0000 UTCI too dream of sleeping more than 6 hours as a >35. I worked night shift for 7 years, and early on in that chapter of my life, my circadian rhythm was so fucked I slept for 22 hours straight; I have no idea how my bladder didn’t explode. It remains the weirdest experience of sleep in my life lmao
Saint947
2024-05-25 17:26:48 +0000 UTCGeez, I thought the critique of #DDHellblade 2 was going fine until Ninja Theory was basically called talentless and abysmal story tellers. Additionally, saying their portrayal of mental health was cringe seemed way out of left field. They consulted with mental health professionals, scientists, and people who suffer from mental health disorders. It really went off the rails here, in my opinion. I was surprised there wasn't more pushback on some of these more personal critiques. Any crying over this studio being laid off, God forbid it happens, would seem a little insincere after this. Personally, I don't get how you like the first one and not this one. It's the same or better in almost all facets, but I understand that's my opinion. #DDHellblade
Mr. Scott If You're Nasty
2024-05-25 10:55:21 +0000 UTCHellblade 2 would’ve been better off as just a walking sim or choice making kind of game for sure. The Unreal Engine 5 tech demos had better gameplay. Love this new trend of having a different 3rd chair every week. #DDHellblade
NeO JD
2024-05-25 07:01:25 +0000 UTCDustin stretches out his for meeee too and I hate it.
Russell Robinson
2024-05-25 03:03:48 +0000 UTCGraphics do not make a video game good or bad, unless the graphics are so poor you cannot make out what’s going on. They are additive, they are not part of a gameplay loop, they are not part of any gameplay systems, they do not effect how you play a video game. Graphics are a lot more akin to a soundtrack than they are how a game actually plays.
Bartevious
2024-05-25 01:38:15 +0000 UTCi’m so glad i don’t take Gene seriously when it comes to game reviews. Bad take after bad take
Carlos Hernandez
2024-05-24 19:37:55 +0000 UTCSaying that Ninja Theory is talentless is absolutely insane.
Not John Cena
2024-05-24 19:31:42 +0000 UTCOh my goodness cog liked Hellblade 2? I am shocked, SHOCKED. Well not that shocked...
Zac
2024-05-24 14:34:30 +0000 UTCGene would be a great third chair
Omar Rosa
2024-05-24 13:32:32 +0000 UTCGreat episode! I know you always push back against a third host, but even a rotating third chair makes the discussion immensely more varied/diverse.
Daniel
2024-05-24 13:28:51 +0000 UTC"I totally get how this isn't actually a video game. But for MEEEEE"
ByWatterson
2024-05-24 13:16:58 +0000 UTCI’m honestly just glad that the divisive Xbox 1st party game of this year is Hellblade 2 as I couldn’t care less about this game. I tried the first one twice and it didn’t click for me. Still very hyped for Avowed and Indy tho, the end of the year should be great for Xbox! Also glad Cog liked so we could see another perspective and I loved Gene’s rant about Ninja Theory 😂🤣
Breno Bezerra Bluhm
2024-05-24 11:08:23 +0000 UTCI’m a black Malaysian lesbian with a skin pigment disorder and I must say I couldn’t feel more represented with Xdefiant.
CUMSoftware
2024-05-24 10:56:56 +0000 UTCFor Call of Duty on game pass would it not be fair to say that Call of Duty makes its money back mostly on microtransactions?
AgentOfChaos904
2024-05-24 10:53:44 +0000 UTCI have PlayStation 5 and Xbox series s and I’m sticking with call of duty on PlayStation. I have no problem paying $70 every year. It just feels like we are setting up Xbox for serious failure with COD on game pass.
Chris C.
2024-05-24 08:28:59 +0000 UTCGene said is Ninja Theory going to be your salvo to PlayStation. That's hilarious 😂.
Russell Robinson
2024-05-24 07:19:56 +0000 UTCAlso can we stop with the hipster persona of trying make yourself seem like you have good taste by attacking games for being pretty? Like I get it already but graphics are just as important as other facets of games , especially for gamers who look for immersion as one of the most important factors when playing a game. I can’t tell you how fucking annoying and pretentious you sound when you get on your soap box and do your little “ HuR DuR GrApHiCs dOnT MaaATTER.” Graphics are an important part of any game and one that excels at it should be celebrated. This holier than thou attitude that some have towards it is dumb as fuck
Big titty drinker
2024-05-24 05:52:31 +0000 UTCMore like three years
ByWatterson
2024-05-24 05:40:12 +0000 UTCRegarding the Assassins Creed Shadows controversy, even if it’s historically accurate to have a black guy in Japan, all samurai except for one is Japanese. If the idea is supposed to be that we’re playing as a average samurai in Japan why would Ubisoft have any other reason to focus on a random black guy other than ESG. Cogs argument about representation rings hallow becuase you should not only be able to feel connected to a character if their the same race as you.
Hammertime44
2024-05-24 05:20:25 +0000 UTCPeople hating on Cog is wild. It is entirely possible that the man really does like Hellblade. As a Sony fan who doesn’t own an Xbox, I’m here to tell all you fanboys to go back to the Sacred comments and leave these guys alone for fucks sake 😂
Adam Barnes
2024-05-24 05:14:57 +0000 UTCGreat point, how well would this game fair once other games graphics are on par… I don’t think it will be getting 8s or 9s from anyone
Joshua La Rosa
2024-05-24 02:58:47 +0000 UTCWhat’s this, 3 weeks of Cog running defence …
Joshua La Rosa
2024-05-24 02:49:00 +0000 UTCGene is preaching to the choir when he's trashing this stupid obsession with one-shot camera takes some games have. I really like the two new God of War games, but both would be exponentially better without that goddamn one-shot camera limiting the story, cinematography, and world navigation.
Adam Razak
2024-05-24 02:43:47 +0000 UTCHellblade will suffer once it's visuals become the standard in gaming. It's cool now, but not much reason to revisit in the future when Gears, God of War and more look this good with 15-40 hour campaigns packed with action. Gameplay is king, the best stand the test of time regardless of visuals
Conor Campbell
2024-05-24 01:19:09 +0000 UTCI’m with Gene- I really do think ninja theory used the mental health aspect as a shield to deflect absolutely any criticism. At the end of the day HellBlade 2 is a very good looking tech demo. Not a fully fledged game. I say that actually finding it pretty cool myself.
Andy T
2024-05-24 00:39:59 +0000 UTCDid Cog say "play session" or "playstation" in response to the Elden Ring streamer? Sounded like Session to me, but then Gene heard the latter. Cog to nice to correct?
Ryan Zimm
2024-05-24 00:30:37 +0000 UTCChris mainly does it because it is funny I think.
Danio
2024-05-24 00:01:08 +0000 UTCI hate to be this guy but Prototype was a mid ass video game. This pedestal Chris / Matty put that game on absolutely baffles me. Shit was ass B .
Big titty drinker
2024-05-23 23:59:23 +0000 UTCI also am dissapointed by Hellblade and Ninja Theory's output in the last 10 years, but some of the comments are disgraceful. Let people enjoy things that you might not enjoy! Grow the f up!
Danio
2024-05-23 22:48:59 +0000 UTCShout out to Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Henry Velasco
2024-05-23 22:39:34 +0000 UTCThis is gonna look so good on PS5 pro!
Diddy’s Dong Quest
2024-05-23 22:20:15 +0000 UTCI kind of felt for Cog in this episode. It sucks when you want to talk about a show/game/movie you love, but your friends hated it. It is what it is, though. That’s my life as an Assassin’s Creed fan. It’s brutal out here. 😅
Jimmy G
2024-05-23 22:19:37 +0000 UTCBoth can be true? You can think that they wasted too much time on graphical fidelity at the expense of everything else, but what’s done is done and you can still be hopeful that they’ll do better with the tools in the future.
Jimmy G
2024-05-23 21:49:03 +0000 UTCThis game is definitely divisive. Im with COG on this. I enjoyed what this was. Edit: Matty come on… the possessed mad scientist obsessed with graphic fidelity is bad for the industry. Then you say, I can’t wait to see what their tech is capable of in the future. Which is it?
Vanzant
2024-05-23 20:59:06 +0000 UTCWho in the fuck on xbox wanted Hellblade 2 to begin with? Yeah! That’s what I think of when I think Xbox…. Fucking hellblade! Lol! So much wasted time from these studios. Cheap garbage
CUMSoftware
2024-05-23 20:25:26 +0000 UTCThe reason other studios can’t reach the same level of fidelity and audio as Ninja Theory is this. They aren’t sacrificing everything else in order to focus exclusively on those very shallow elements.
Cai
2024-05-23 20:06:51 +0000 UTCMan can’t have a different opinion than you without being a shill?
Ember's Arcade
2024-05-23 19:53:26 +0000 UTCShill Cog in full effect. Had him on the ropes, but he always finds a way 🤣
Edwin Magana
2024-05-23 19:48:18 +0000 UTCYou think the fans gon let you disrespect hosts, homie That display of rage gon be your last post, homie
inlovewiththecoco
2024-05-23 19:48:11 +0000 UTCDing ding ding— It’s utter bullshit; pure DEI pandering.
Saint947
2024-05-23 18:58:20 +0000 UTCGoing to start it tonight and will just enjoy it for what it is.
Michael
2024-05-23 18:58:13 +0000 UTCIt’s fucking horseshit that they title the episode HELLBLADE 2 and then try and con you into having to listen to the whole episode to find the review. Thanks for doing the legwork-
Saint947
2024-05-23 18:57:19 +0000 UTCWHY THE FUCK IS THE HELLBLADE 2 REVIEW NOT TIMESTAMPED— WHY WOULD YOU MAKE IT THE FUCKING TITLE AND THEN TRY AND CON PEOPLE INTO LISTENING TO THE WHOLE EPISODE INSTEAD OF TELLING YOUR PAYING AUDIENCE WHERE TO FIND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT—
Saint947
2024-05-23 18:56:06 +0000 UTCGod damn Gene went IN. No mercy
Bogey
2024-05-23 18:50:01 +0000 UTCSo are we going to actually get a spoilercast from the dukes?
Something Is Rising And It's Not The Shield Hero
2024-05-23 18:20:21 +0000 UTCCompletely missing the point of the outrage over AC: Shadows. It’s mostly about the REASONS they are doing it. No one gives a shit about the historical accuracy if they weren’t trying to gaslight us on the history of Yasuke.
Brandon V
2024-05-23 17:53:15 +0000 UTC29 too matty, and my wedding and college graduation will be around my 30th. Big things ahead but I wish I could idle at 29 for a few more years.
Caleb Peacock
2024-05-23 17:52:33 +0000 UTCMy dude is living life at x32 speed 🤯
Meatball
2024-05-23 17:00:17 +0000 UTCBest episode of Defining Duke yet!!!
Have you considered considering considerations considerately considerate
2024-05-23 16:57:35 +0000 UTCFor anyone wondering when they discuss Hellblade, it is during the "What we're playing " segment". I'm also not feeling Hellblade 2. Loved the first one, but I'm finding this one too sluggish, and the story kind of annoys me.
Ryan Zimm
2024-05-23 16:48:32 +0000 UTCBro, I’m 38 and have been lamenting the inability to sleep in for several years. It sucks. God forbid I stay up late on a weekend because my ass is waking up at 6:30a, regardless.
Forrest Hunter
2024-05-23 16:10:40 +0000 UTC
