Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 cast talk game's impact on mental health advocacy
Topics: Xbox, Interview, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC
Featured Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios
Topics: Xbox, Interview, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PC
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a moving and emotional game, and is well-worth playing if you haven’t already.
We caught up with stars Melina Juergens and Aldís Amah Hamilton, who play Senua and Ástríðr respectively, at the BAFTA Games Awards to talk about their characters and what the journey has been like for them so far in Senua’s story.
Take a look at Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II below.
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Speaking with Aldís Amah Hamilton first, who was up for the 'Performer in a Supporting Role' award, she described her debut in the gaming world as “incredible” going on to say, “Getting this recognition, it feels unreal.”
“I remember when the first game came out and I saw it, and I thought to myself, 'No one else is doing anything like this', and it's so big and so important, and then to be a part of it, it means so much to me," she told us.
We then caught up with lead actress Melina Juergens, up for the 'Performer in a Leading Role' award, who spoke on what it was like returning to the role after the first game’s success.
Melina said, “It was very great, but also very different … We built a brand new studio. We had our own motion capture stage, we had a cast involved, which we didn't have before … so as a first time actor [on the first game], I now had to learn to play together with a cast, which was a new thing for me.”
The Hellblade games also tackle complex mental health issues, something that resonated with a lot of people when the first game came out.
Speaking on the importance of bringing mental health to the forefront of the video games industry, Melina said, “I myself had psychosis in my early 20s, so I know what it feels like, and it was just great working with people that have also experienced it and getting their perspectives on it … There's so many people messaging me, saying, ‘I've showed this game to my loved ones or to my parents or partner, and they finally understood what I was going through.’”
She went on to add, “You can explain something, but it's different when you could actually be in the shoes of someone and play that character, feel what it's like.”
Unfortunately, there was no word on whether we can expect a third game anytime soon, but hopefully Senua’s saga continues.