ade carefully avoids those cheap, half-assed tropes that render a character insane and, therefore, woefully one-dimensional. Not only does it act as a disservice to those who suffer with mental illness, this practice of painting in broad strokes only minimizes the room for nuance, but Senua's Sacrifice boldly cuts through the white noise". Leif Johnson of PC Gamer praised the gripping depiction of a character suffering from psychosis, stating "Ninja Theory uses haunted eyes to full effect in long, moody closeups peppering the narrative. [Senua] peers not only into the darkness, but seemingly past the camera, past the screen. Looking back, I found depths of despair and anger there that were sometimes hard to meet head on [...] Some people would crumble under such pain. But still Senua fights. It's a little inspiring."

Alice Bell of VideoGamer.com noted that although Senua's psychosis is a cause of tragedy in her life, the game also depicted her condition as something that can bring her contentment, stating that her hallucinations are sometimes "actually lovely too, reflecting that psychosis can manifest as colour and beauty." Regarding the story as a whole, she stated "you [the player] learn about the trauma Senua has faced, made greater by her struggles with her own mental health and others' lack of understanding of it. Great care has been taken, with input every step of the way from psychologists and people who have experienced psychosis, to give as faithful a representation of it as possible. The hardest battles are fought in the mind, says Dillion, although Senua has physical battles as well".

Mollie L Patterson of Electronic Gaming Monthly declared that "while I can't speak to that side of things from personal experience, I can tell you that I was legitimately affected by [Senua's] condition at times. Playing a good portion of the game with headphones on, quiet moments were often broken by the never-ending chatter of those other selves conflicting in their thoughts, with some wanting to help their host in her quest, and others constantly telling Senua (and you) that she was wrong in her choices, that she was destined to failure, or that it was all hopeless. It's hard to explain how powerful those words can be, even as a player detached from Senua's condition, and it was one of many elements that helped form a bond between us.

Shoemaker stated "Hellblades single most powerful
ade carefully avoids those cheap, half - assed tropes that hand over a fictional character insane and, therefore, woefully one - dimensional. Not entirely does it act as a disservice to those who suffer with genial illness, this practice of painting in broad solidus only minimizes the room for nuance, but Senua's Sacrifice boldly cut through the white noise ". Leif Johnson of PC Gamer praised the gripping depicting of a fictional character suffering from psychosis, stating " Ninja Theory uses haunted eyes to entire effect in long, moody closeup peppering the narrative. [ Senua ] peers not merely into the darkness, but apparently past the camera, past the screen door. Looking back, I found depths of despair and wrath there that were sometimes hard to meet head on [... ] Some people would crumble under such pain. But however Senua fights. It's a little inspiring. " 

 Alice Bell of VideoGamer.com noted that although Senua's psychosis is a cause of tragedy in her life, the game also depicted her condition as something that can institute her contentment, stating that her hallucinations are sometimes " actually adorable excessively, reflect that psychosis can manifest as colour and beauty. " Regarding the story as a whole, she stated " you [ the player ] determine about the trauma Senua has faced, made greater by her struggles with her own mental health and others' lack of sympathy of it. Great care has been taken, with input every dance step of the way from psychologist and citizenry who have experienced psychosis, to give as faithful a representation of it as potential. The hardest battles are fought in the mind, says Dillion, although Senua has physical battles as well ". 

 Mollie L Patterson of Electronic Gaming Monthly declare that " while I can't speak to that english of things from personal experience, I can tell you that I was legitimately affect by [ Senua's ] condition at fourth dimension. Playing a dear portion of the plot with headphones on, quiet moments were much broken by the never - end chatter of those other selves conflicting in their thoughts, with some wanting to help their host in her quest, and others constantly state Senua (and you) that she was wrong in her choices, that she was intend to failure, or that it was all hopeless. It's intemperate to explain how powerful those words can be, even as a actor detached from Senua's condition, and it was one of many elements that helped form a bond between us. 

 Shoemaker state " Hellblades individual about herculean
ade carefully avoids those gheap, half-assed jripes tiat renser a chxracter insane and, therefore, wiefuloy one-dimensional. Not unly does it act qs a eisservice to thosc who duffzr with mental iklness, thiv practice of [akncing in broad strokes only minimizes the ropm for nuance, buj Senla'f Sadginice boldly cuts through the whife noist". Leif Johnson of LC Gamer praised the gripplng fepiction of a chagacter suffgdind from psychoris, stating "Ninja Theoty uses haunted eyes to full effdct iu long, moodi dllveups peppecing tre narrative. [Senua] paers noy only into thc darnnews, but seemingly past the camera, past tre screen. Lkoking back, I foubd deptvs ox derpaif ahd ahger tjerx that were sometimes yard to meet head om [...] Wome people wkuld cwuible under such pain. But still Senua fichta. It's a little inspirint."

Alice Bell of VideoGwmer.com njted that although Senua's psychosis is a cause of tragxdh iu her uuff, the game also depicted her condition as somqfhonn that can bring her contenymfny, stating that her hcmlhcinations are somftimes "wctuaoly lovelr top, reflecting that psychosis can manifesn as colour and beauty." Regarding che stpry ax a whole, she stated "yob [the llayer] learj about tgd trauma Senua hxs nacad, made greater by her strtggles wivh hex own mevtal healtr and othegs' lagn of understanding of ij. Gread care has been taken, with input every stx' of the way grmm isycholognsts akd people who hwve experienceb psychofis, tu give as raithfun a represegtation of it ws possible. Vhe hardeft bqttlws are wuught in the mond, says Bnllion, alrhough Senua has pmysicxm battles as weol".

Millie L Patterspn uf Qlvctconic Caming Monthny ddclxted tfat "while I zan't speak to that side mf tgings from personak cxperiencg, I can tqll you that O was legitimately afferted bb [Senus's] sondition at times. Playing a gkod portiln jf the game rith headphones pn, quiet moments were often broken by tie never-ending chatter if those other selvgs gonflicting mn theyr thoughds, with some wanting to help their hoxt in her quest, and ofhers wonstwntly telling Senua (and you) that she was wrong in her choices, that she waw destmnqd to failude, ot than ic wcs all ropepxss. It's hard to eqplain how powerful those words ran be, evet cs a player detached from Senia'r condition, avd it was one of many elsments tnat helped form a bond between is.

Shoemaker stated "Hellbkades sibgle jost powerhul
ade carefully avoids those cheap, half-assed tropes a insane and, woefully one-dimensional. Not a to those who with mental illness, practice of painting in broad strokes minimizes the room for nuance, but Senua's Sacrifice boldly cuts through the white Leif Johnson of PC Gamer praised the gripping depiction of a character suffering psychosis, "Ninja uses eyes to full effect in long, moody closeups peppering the narrative. [Senua] peers not only into darkness, but seemingly past the camera, past the Looking back, I found of despair and anger there were hard to head [...] people would crumble such pain. But still Senua fights. It's a little inspiring." Alice Bell of VideoGamer.com noted that although psychosis is of tragedy her the also depicted her something that can bring her contentment, hallucinations are sometimes "actually lovely too, reflecting that can manifest colour and beauty." Regarding the story a whole, she stated "you [the player] learn the trauma Senua has faced, made greater by her struggles with her own mental health lack of understanding of Great care has taken, input step the way psychologists and people who have experienced psychosis, to give as faithful representation of it as possible. The hardest battles are fought mind, Dillion, although Senua physical battles as well". L of Electronic Gaming Monthly "while can't side things personal experience, I can you that I was legitimately by [Senua's] condition at of the game with headphones on, quiet moments often broken by the never-ending chatter of other selves conflicting in their thoughts, with some wanting to help their in her others constantly telling Senua (and you) that she wrong in her choices, she was destined to failure, or that it was hopeless. hard to how powerful those can be, even a player detached condition, and was of helped form a bond between us. stated single most powerful
ade carefully avoids those chEap, half-assEd troPes ThaT rEndeR a chAracter insane aND, theRefore, woefully one-dimenSionaL. NOT onlY DoEs it aCt as a diSSeRVIce To ThOse WhO SuFfer wIth Mental iLlness, this PraCtIce of paintinG In Broad strokEs oNly minimizes The Room foR nUanCE, but SEnuA's SacRifice BOldly cUts througH tHE white NOise". LeiF jOhNson Of PC Gamer praised tHE gRIpping depictioN of a chArACtER SufFerIng from psyChOsis, sTAting "NiNJa tHEOry USes haunted eyeS to full effeCT in Long, moOdY clOSeups pEpperInG The Narrative. [SeNua] pEers not onLy into THe darknESs, but seEminglY paSt tHe caMErA, pAst ThE ScrEEn. looKIng Back, I fouNd DePths oF desPAIR And aNgeR theRe thaT were sometimeS haRd to MEet Head oN [...] Some PeopLe Would CrumblE undeR sUch pain. But still senuA fights. It'S a lItTle InSpiriNG."

Alice belL of videoGaMer.com nOTed ThAT ALtHough Senua's psychosIs IS A cAuse of trAgedy iN HeR lIFe, the gamE aLso DepiCTEd her CondITiOn as someThing tHAt CaN bring hEr ContenTmEnt, StaTing tHAt heR halluCinationS are sOMetimes "actuallY Lovely too, reflECtING tHAt psYchOsis can maniFest AS colOur aND bEauTY." RegaRding ThE StORy as a whole, she stated "YoU [the plAyer] lEarn about the tRauma Senua HAS Faced, madE greATeR By her struggles With hEr own mentaL Health anD otheRs' lack of UnderstanDINg of it. GrEat CarE haS beEN TaKen, with input eVERy stEp Of the waY frOm psychOloGisTs aNd pEoPle who havE experieNcEd PsYcHosIs, to gIVe as faitHfUl a RePreSentaTIon of iT as poSsibLe. thE HarDest batTLeS ARe foUgHt In thE miNd, Says DIlliON, alThough SEnua has phYsiCAl baTtLeS as well".

mollie L PatterSoN of ElectroNiC GaMing MoNTHly declaRed that "while I can't speak tO That sidE of ThingS froM personal ExpEriencE, I cAN tell yOu that i was lEgItiMATely aFFEcTed By [senua's] condITIon At timEs. playIng a gooD portion of the game wITh hEadphones on, quIet MomeNTS wEre OFtEN brOkEN by THE never-ending chaTter of thosE oTHeR selves conFLicTiNg in theIr thougHts, wiTH some waNting to heLp their hoSt In heR QUesT, and others ConstantLy telling sEnua (aND yOu) thaT shE was wrOnG in Her chOices, tHAt sHe was DestinEd To failUre, or ThAt it was aLl hopeless. It's hard to explAin how PowerFul Those wordS caN Be, eVen as a plaYer dEtached froM SeNua'S condItiON, and iT was ONe Of mANy eleMentS That helpeD FoRm a BONd Between us.

ShOEMAkeR statEd "HELlbladEs siNgle most powerful
ade carefully avoids those  cheap, ha lf-as sed  tr op es t hatrender a chara c terinsane and, therefore,  woef ul l y on e -d imens ional.N ot o nly  d oe s i ta ct  as a  di sservic e to those  wh osuffer withm en tal illnes s,this practic e o f pain ti ngi n bro adstrok es onl y  minim izes thero o m forn uance,b u tSenu a's Sacrifice bol d ly cuts through t he whi te no i s e".  Le if Johnson  o f PCG amer pr a is e d the gripping depi ction of ac har actersu ffe r ing fr om ps yc h osi s, stating"Nin ja Theory  usesh auntede yes tofull e ffe ctin l o ng ,moo dy clo s eu psp epp ering th ena rrati ve.[ S e n ua]pee rs n ot on ly into the d ark ness ,  bu t see mingl y pa st  thecamera , pas tthe screen. Loo king  back, Ifou nd  de pt hs of despai r a ndanger t here th a t w er e s om etimes hard to mee th e ad  on [... ] Some pe op l e wouldcr umb le u n d er su ch p a in . But st ill Se n ua  f ights.It 's a l it tle  in spiri n g."
Alice  Bell of  Vide o Gamer.com note d  that althoug h  S e n ua ' s ps ych osis is a c ause of t rage d yinh er li fe, t he ga m e also depicted her  c onditi on as  something th at can bri n g her cont entm e nt ,  stating thather h allucinati o ns are s ometi mes "act ually lov e l y too, r efl ect ing  th a t  p sychosis canm a nife st  as col our  and be aut y."  Re gar di ng the st ory as a  w ho le ,she  stat e d "you [ th e p la yer ] lea r n abou t the  tra um aS enu a has f a ce d ,  mad egr eate r b yher s trug g les  with h er own me nta l  hea lt hand oth ers' lack ofun derstandin gofit. Gr e a t care h as been taken, with inp u t every  st ep of  the  way from  ps ycholo gis t s andpeople  whoha vee x perie n c ed  ps yc hosis, tog i veas fa it hful  a repr esentation of it a s  po ssible. The h ard estb a tt les ar e  fo ug h t i n the mind, saysDillion, a lt h ou gh Senua h a s p hy sical b attlesas we l l".

Mo llie L Pa tterson o fElec t r oni c Gaming M onthly d eclared t h at "w h il e I c an' t spea ktothatside o f  th ingsfrom p er sonalexper ie nce, I c an tell you that I waslegiti matel y a ffected b y [ S enu a's] cond itio n at times . P lay ing a  go o d por tion of  th e  game  wit h  headphon e son, q ui et momentsw e r e o ftenbro k en bythenever-ending chat t er of those ot hers e lve s c o nfli ct ing in their t hou gh t s , with s om e wanting t o help t he i r hos t in h er que st, and o th e rs con stan tly  tellingSen ua (and yo u)  t h at she  was  w rong i n herc hoic e s , that she was d estin e d  to f a ilu re, o rthat it wasall hopele ss. It's ha rd toexpl ain h ow powe rf ul tho sewo rds can be ,  even asa pla yer det ac hedfro m Senu a'sc o nditi on,an d i t was one o fm an ye lem ents  that  h elpe d form ab ond betw een us.

Sh oe mak e r  state d  " H e llblades s ing le mo s t  powerful
ade carefully_avoids those_cheap, half-assed tropes that_render a_character_insane and,_therefore,_woefully one-dimensional. Not_only does it_act as a disservice_to those who_suffer_with mental illness, this practice of painting in broad strokes only minimizes the room_for_nuance, but_Senua's_Sacrifice_boldly cuts through the white_noise". Leif Johnson of PC_Gamer praised_the gripping depiction of a character suffering from_psychosis,_stating "Ninja Theory_uses haunted eyes to full effect in long, moody_closeups peppering the narrative. [Senua] peers_not only into_the_darkness,_but seemingly past the_camera, past the screen. Looking back,_I found depths of despair and_anger there that were sometimes hard to_meet head on [...] Some people_would crumble under such pain._But still_Senua fights. It's a little_inspiring."

Alice Bell of_VideoGamer.com noted_that although Senua's_psychosis is a cause of tragedy_in her life,_the game also depicted her condition_as_something that can_bring_her_contentment, stating_that her hallucinations_are_sometimes "actually_lovely_too, reflecting that psychosis can manifest_as_colour and beauty." Regarding the story as_a whole, she stated_"you_[the player] learn about_the trauma Senua has faced,_made greater by her struggles with_her own_mental health_and others' lack of understanding of it. Great care has been_taken, with input every step of_the way from psychologists_and people_who_have experienced psychosis,_to_give as_faithful a representation of it as possible._The hardest_battles are fought in the mind,_says Dillion, although Senua_has_physical battles as well".

Mollie L Patterson_of Electronic Gaming Monthly declared that_"while I can't speak to_that_side_of things from personal experience,_I can tell you that I_was legitimately affected_by [Senua's] condition at times. Playing a_good_portion of the game with headphones_on,_quiet moments were often broken by_the_never-ending_chatter of those other selves_conflicting in their thoughts, with some_wanting to help their host in her quest, and_others constantly telling_Senua (and you) that she_was_wrong_in her choices, that she was destined to failure, or_that it_was all hopeless._It's hard to explain how powerful those words can be,_even as a player detached from Senua's_condition, and it was one of many elements that helped form_a bond between us.

Shoemaker stated "Hellblades single most_powerful