In a video released by Ninja Theory at GDC 2023, players can glimpse Hellblade 2’s stunningly lifelike facial animations.

Developer Ninja Theory has used GDC 2023 to give players a glimpse into the next-gen graphics, and we can see what to expect in the upcoming Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. A newly unveiled trailer for the game shows off the incredibly lifelike facial animations created using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.

A dark fantasy action-adventure game that draws heavily on Norse mythology, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice has been praised by critics and players alike for its stunning visuals and unique narrative, which offers a nuanced but unflinching insight into the sometimes painful reality of living with mental disorders such as psychosis.

In a new video released by Ninja Theory as part of the Epic State of Unreal keynote at GDC 2023, it’s clear that the developer hasn’t rested on its laurels despite the infrequent updates on Hellblade 2’s progress. The short trailer refrains from showing off the gameplay of the highly anticipated sequel. Instead, it focuses on incredibly lifelike facial animation. All of this is made possible for the game using Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 Metahuman technology. While players have already seen it in action in the Unreal Engine 5 demo of The Matrix Awakens, this new clip shows just how much the technology has evolved.

The clip from Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 begins with an offscreen director calling the start of the shot, then switches to a digital doppelganger of Senua’s actress Melina Juergens, who is seen in full costume in a blank volume.

As the camera zooms in, you can see the intense concentration on Juergens’ face as she gets into character. Then the camera pulls back, and the scene fades out, revealing Senua’s now scarred and dirty face as she begins a brief monologue. The facial animation in the scene is strikingly lifelike, the light playing across Senua’s face as it grows more feral.

Let’s hope Ninja Theory can combine this ground-breaking technology with the storytelling ability showcased in the first game. If so, players of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 are in for a great experience.

Source: YouTube