Oh, stop whining and act like a man bro

Murder is a tragedy that occurs everyday, should we ban killing in video games too?

Oh shut up. No one cares about your family. This site is about video games.

Many tragedies have been used as narrative devices across various mediums ya know

My sincerest condolences that the developers didnt take your personal situation into account whilst making the game /s

Did... did he even play the game or just watch it on YouTube?

Cuz he's certainly ignoring a lot of context, that's for sure.

Oh God these people go away it's just a video game and it's telling a story. So they shouldn't make movies about mental health. or cancer or anything because everything is a plot device. Jesus it never ends with these whiners

This is a terrible opinion piece.

In fairness it's rare for a tv show or film to accurately portray mental illnesses, presumably because the reality is more uncomfortable than entertaining. It doesn't sound like Hellblade deals with it offensively and actually has a good honest effort at portraying someone struggling with their own mental demons.

'fails to convey the true effect mental illness has on an individual and the ones around them."
I don't think that was the purpose of the game, was it?
More like a glimpse?

Just has a fair warning there are spoilers in the article, wish he had mentioned that before I read them

That is a really beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.

It seems like you entered the game expecting a real life simulator which it clearly isn't.

Really well I guess you're saying the doctors and professors with their degrees that consulted with them on the depiction of psychosis for the game don't know anything gtho

Jason Faulkner needs to take a chill pill.

F$&k sensitive snowflakes like this. Having mental illness myself, you don't see me complaining at the sight of the game. IT'S A GAME. DEVELOPERS CAN DO WHATEVER THEY PLEASE.

I'm confused about on thing. How does this game not portray the mental illness accurately? Secondly, how is it an insult in any way? The game was developed with people who live with the illness itself as constant feedback channels. Same with psychologists who have studied the illness itself.

I've read Jason's work before, but this one kind of feels like it missed the point of this game. The entire game was to open up discussion channels about the illness itself, but also to open up an entire new door that could help bring discussions about different forms of mental illness to the table.

Also, a spoiler warning should have been given. There are some MAJOR ones in that article.

My girlfriend suffers with psychosis, thankfully she has it under control at the moment with meds. I showed her the game and she thought it was a wonderful concept. She was intrigued to see how they portrayed the symptoms, and was pleased to see the condition being treated respectfully and creatively. Plus she loves Viking lore, so it was the perfect vessel for her.

I just thought I'd share an alternative view of the game from someone who suffers from the condition.

Hellblade is a bad game for some reasons... Giving mental illness to the protagonist is not one of those

Seems like there's always someone that gets offended by something these days and feel the need to share it with the world... thanks for the article I will now make sure I get this game.

comparing your personal tragedy to this is idiotic and frankly childish. If I was to do the same there’d be a lot of games I should be offended at, should be lampoon Wolfenstein with hate for its Nazi symbolism emblazed all over it? I think the author needs to take a step back and realise just because the subject matter has affected him it doesn’t give him the divine right to choose how it be used.

XXX was a tragedy, not a video game narrative device.

Replace XXX as applicable.

Not sure why the author keeps mentioning schizophrenia when that's not what Senua suffered from in the game...

Just breaking!: Hellblade is not a Documentary...

PS: (yes mental illness in the real world is something that weighs heavy on an individual and their families, just like a lot of subjects in games, death, love, violence, etc.)

PPS: (oh and Zombies, those too!)

The obvious solution to all this is off course that we now design all future games to take this individuals sensitivities in mind. This individual will now represent what everyone else can play, look forward to this awesome future of games!

He's put a lot of effort into the article and it's rather well-written (though yes, it does have spoilers). That's where my praise ends.

Just because the game doesn't speak to his particular experience, he views it as wrong and in parts 'disgusting' as he puts it. Considering his experience, he's being very narrow-minded.

Wow, this is stupid. I understand we live in an outrage culture now, but really? Of course it's from mic.com, one of the perpetual outrage manufacturers. Mental illness is very misunderstood by many people, anything that spreads awareness of it is absolutely a good thing. Screw this guy for trying to exploit the issue.

Can people really be this self-centered.??? At this point I rather hope this is just a click-bait article than his real opinion.

Yeah... and people died in WWII and we made WWII games. And some people study and respect worms, and there´s earthworm Jim, how could they!? And advocates of nuclear energy may take offence at Fallouts depiction of a radioactive futuristic wasteland. And Max Payne was schizophrenic, Trevor is a sociopath, Sonic is blue and fast and I am sure someone can find that offensive...

It´s life, if we are going to stop every single narrative device people may find touchy from being used the only possible game would be: Blank screen: the adventures of no one in the no land were everything is ok if you want it so but it can also be bad when you feel like.

Oh here we go, millenials getting professionally offended again.

Whereas I feel empathy for what the writer is saying it does seem that he expects the game to be everything to everyone. Instead of congratulating Ninja Theory for tackling something that a vast majority of people will never experience (thankfully) and bringing to light something that is misunderstood by most, he picks on things that, from his perspective weren't correct. I'm sure that if someone were to read that article that had also been through something similar they too could point at differences in their own experience.
I only know what I've read so far about the game and think that it sounds great and should be commended for its individuality and in tackling what is still a big taboo subject to some

What an absolute idiot to think the game has anything to do with their personal life.

I'm not mentally ill, i don't see how my condition of being normal can be used as a video game part..like everywhere!!

I've got Depression, suffer Anxiety, at times both have been severe to the point of feeling hopeless and even suicidal at my worst, my Mum has it worse than I do, yet neither of us are offended by the subject of Mental Health being used in any form of entertainment.

I have a bunch of friends and acquaintances who have various different Mental Health issues, in fact 1 in 3 people will suffer some kind of Mental Health issue in their life, yet you rarely see them critical of their issues being reflected in entertainment or media.
If anything putting the subject of Mental Health into a game narrative actually allows more people to become aware of these problems, which reduces the stigma about them.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but from mine and those close to me in the real world entertainment being made using Mental Health as the basis is a positive thing.

Oh my god get over yourself. How do you tell a story without a plot device!? They handled the material well and with respect. They even give a warning that people like you might be offended by what the story depicts.

"but the game fails to help people truly understand its nature."
No one can truly understand such an illness unless you have it. Doctors can diagnose, you can help as best you can with someone who has it. But no true understanding can come of it unless your a doctor in the field of medicine. Condolences to your mother. But your dealing with a game here not a documentary movie. I believe ninja theory dealt with the symptoms of psychosis in a respectable manner. Because it was a plot device does not somehow diminish the seriousness of the illness.

I believe your taking the game far too serious because of how close it hit home for you. Perhaps you should not have played a game that dealt with issues your too familiar with. The devs even point out in the beginning of the game that if you'd like to learn more about it to visit a website.
For you to take offense on a game that uses subject matter in a way you don't approve of would've been ok had you had valid reasons. But unfortunately everything you point out is far too personal and therefore severely subjective. Diminishing the game from an otherwise noble and respectful portrayal of an interesting character and story just because you didn't think the illness was taken serious enough and didn't dive deep enough into the seriousness of it sounds like you wanted a movie instead of a game.

Yet another humorless scold who can't understand what fiction is. Not at all surprised to see him writing for Mic.

jesus christ, its been used as a plot device in movies and games since i can remember.

Doesn’t slook em to be a negative thing if it draws attention and awareness to the illness

Sorry they didn't make the game to relate to your situation.

Sigh

Get over it.

I didn't realize this was a game about your mother.

This guy needs to get his priorities straight. I suffer from xiety/depression and I wasn't offended by s game.

Get a grip.

i suggest u quit being such a sensative baby. so every person thats ever had a family member murdrred should get on here n complain bout every violent video game ever made. i have family members with mental illness n this kind of thinking didnt even cross my mind.

Its a plot device in countless media, the devs were trying to bring it to peoples attentions tbh. I could understand if it was derogatory but it isn't. Suppose it was bound to offend somebody.

I for one think that the fact that they used psychosis as a character trait for the main character and not treat it for laughs is admirable. Senua is not some Deadpool-like "Whoop de doo!!" comedy character, she is SERIOUSLY broken. It's the most compelling portrayal of mental illness in a game since the portrayal of PTSD in Spec Ops: The Line.

I hate using the term "snowflake", cause it's dismissive and offensive most of the time, but seriously, this guy needs to get help. He was disappointed because the game did not portray properly what living with psychosis is. It is literally IMPOSSIBLE to "properly" portray psychosis because it's a very personal condition. Different psychotics have their condition manifest differently and with different, very personal triggers. You might as well portray a character with the flu and complain that it was not portrayed properly cause the controller wasn't dripping snot.He's taking too personally a piece of entertainment that was aimed at a general audience, not specifically at him. If he's so disappointed, maybe he should write a videogame about psychosis.

cry me a river.

My father , late brother and grandmother have mental illness. At no time in this game did I even think about being offended in any way or relate their illness to the game. This game is not about them .

It's a work of fiction. They are telling "their" story not "your story. I'm getting tired of people feeling like situations of games are a reflection of their lives. For the past 35 years you haven't heard about any Italian plumbers banding together and protesting or writing articles about how collectings coins shouldn't be taken lightly. These are works of fiction. Get over yourself.

Welcome to the culture where everyone is offended by anything and everything. Congrats public school and colleges, you've created pussification of the world. Worried more about feelings and less about education.

Stopped reading at "a new game from indie developer Ninja Theory". Ninja Theory is an indie developer that Capcom trusted with one of their biggest franchises? Yea no.

Three weeks before this game came out I was being diagnosed with a psychosis disorder. I never looked into this game and had no idea this game was about this very same subject. I've felt very sad and alone for the last month until I stumbled upon this game.

I'm not gonna say things like it saved my life or anything, because I still have lots of reasons to live, but it did help me feel like I'm not alone and to be honest I thought the main character was a complete badass. I also have the confidence that people won't lable others who see or hear things that aren't there as 'weirdos' as easily after playing this game.

But that's just my view of it.

Yes, how dare we create art and stories based on things that actually happen.

I feel like nowadays if you mention anything and someone has any kind of passing association with that thing they feel it's grounds to be offended. Like no one can even utter the words mental illness without someone being offended by it.

The person who wrote this article has an issue with the game not showing what the effect of mental illness has on the people around the person inflicted with the illness, which wasn't the point of the game. Moreover it feels like this person just took it personally because they are a self appointed expert and want everyone to know it.

So this game was based off your Mother? Lol wtf

that's like saying rock star shouldn't make GTA because stealing cars sucks

My Grandfather's PTSD was a tragedy, not a video game narrative device.

Thats crazy, this guys mother is actually the story they based hellblade off of. No joke, everything in the game is AS identical as possible to events in his moms life.
I hope a company chooses my dad next.

Get over yourself

It's a videogame with a fictional story... get over it!

I'm sorry you had to go through that but I can't agree with you if we stop making stories about things because people have dealt with them we wouldn't have stories to tell.

So was World War 2 and yet here we are

Here is how I look at it, we have a bad stigma in society about mental illness. If a game can get people talking about it and leading them to learning about it then that is a win in my book.

Oh it's from mic.com, that explains everything with this mess of an article

This political correctness nonsense is everywhere. Little snowflakes.

Is it odd that the first thing that comes to mind for me is this: https://m.youtube.com/watch...

I love this game and as I have stated before I have Schizoaffective disorder and not only do I deal with it on a daily basis but so do my wife and our three kids. I think Hellblade is not only a fantastic game but also an opportunity to educate people. Do I see demons, well no but four years ago I started seeing people who weren't there and hearing auditory hallucinations and really I thought my life was over but with support and proper treatment anything is possible. I couldn't imagine having to deal with this in the timeline this game is set though and rarely have I felt such emotions playing a game as I have with Hellblade and the subject matter to me anyway was handled with thought and care and I think Ninja Theory such be praised and not just for what the game is but how they developed it. I hope other developers go this route as there could be some truly innovative and entertaining games in the near future!

The guy who wrote this has a mental illness, OMG grow up snowflake !!!

My father was italian and he struggled with hallucinogens specially mushrooms, since our mother left us. I find nintendo to be very insensitive and not taking in consideration how their games affect people with my personal story.

What about us gamers who may have experienced mental illness and find that the game does a good job.

Does your second hand experience give you more right to say that Ninja Theory had no right in using mental illness as a plot device than say, someone who has actually experienced it first hand.

I'm truly sorry that you have had such issues in life, but getting offended and trying to stop exposure by airing your views, does nothing but censor something that needs a spotlight.

I have issues myself... I don't need you to take offence for me, as I'm not offended. Gaming helps a lot with mental health and it's nice to play a game that may just make people feel a little more about included.

Is it odd that we can't comment on his article on his site???
He's allowed to take away what he wants from the game, but I strongly feel he's missing the point, and that comes from a jaded POV. As someone who suffers from psychosis and depression , this game has helped me find a voice and connection to my issues. I may be a victim to what goes on, but I choose to fight, regardless of whether I win or lose, much like Senua.
It's not exploitative in any fashion. It sounds like the writer is choosing to see this from his perspective and what he personally went through, rather than empathizing with someone else. That's a hard thing to do and that's fair, but he can't criticize the game or judge it's developers for his limited scope.

This seems foolish. It's like saying war is a tradegy not a video game narritive.

Pls return all copies of battlefield, cod, metal gear snake eater etc...

Get real and get over it.

Go back to your safe space. You act like the people who made the game based it off your Mother... well, they didn't, and not everything is about you.

How could these developers have ever known who this person is ?

This person has a mental illness.

The author seems to be making an odd point. They basically went into this game rather interested in seeing a game portray mental illness... but because it wasn't utilized in the way they liked, they all of a sudden turn it around into a clickbait headline which actively flames the mental illness as a game narrative device.

Tragic events and illnesses are used as narrative devices all the time. It's what helps provide conflict in stories.

The author took things a little too personal with this game and expected wayyyy too much as a result. What we have here is a piece of entertainment for people to take in... what the author seemingly wanted was a schizo simulator which would allow the player to be the person affected by the illness, as well as the people that are affected by the person who has it.

That's not exactly what this game is, sorry to say.

I'm sorry about your mom and all, I really am. I understand mental illness a great deal, but one has to learn to seperate reality from art sometimes, and to seriously temper expectations based on ideas thrown out in the media.

The Norse mythology is why I bought it. 🤔

This is why Trump won.

Spoiler alert. This isn't about your mother.

And the makers of Hellblade knew your Mother how exactly? So you really think when they thought of this game, they thought of your mother? stop it... just stop it.

Author is just a failed And clueless SJW looking for something to bitch about in the wrong places.

As someone who's had a break, and seen visions/heard voices, I am totally okay with it being used as a video game framing device -- though it does sound rather gimmicky.