The studio behind Enslaved and Heavenly Sword has just revealed the first footage of their latest work. Hellblade from Ninja Theory is also tackling main character Senua’s mental health as she’s traumatised by a Viking invasion.
They’re pursing ”creative independence” with Hellblade to explore a ”compelling subject matter” that wouldn’t get much traction in the current retail model, says creative director Tameem Antoniades.
He calls it an ”independent film, not a Hollywood blockbuster” in movie terms. As they’re digitally self-publishing Hellblade they can ”offer a smaller, but high quality game” at half the price than at retail. This psychosis-exploring action game is supported by the Wellcome Trust.
”True understanding of mental health is not simply about books, lectures or verbal descriptions but from deeper engagement on all levels. Working with Ninja Theory has shown me the potential that gaming has for sharing in a character’s experiences and engendering empathy in ways that go well beyond those offered by simple academic descriptions. Maybe this approach will contribute powerful new ways of challenging stigma,” said Paul Fletcher, Psychiatrist and Professor of Health and Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge.
The Hellbalde E3 trailer shows game footage for the first time. It releases on PC in 2016.
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