How much of this is real?

[Celestial_Phoenix]

How much of what Senua sees actually happens in the world around her, and how much was from within her mind?

In her trials against Surtr was the fire all in her mind? or did she run through burning villages? Could she have even started the fires?

Were some of the monsters summoned to fight her just unfortunate passers by caught in the wrong place at the wrong time?

[Killer Kitten]

In no way has the developers attempted to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The point of the game is to mimic psychosis symptoms and part of that is a disconnect from the objective world. You see and hear what Senua sees and hears. And likewise, you can't tell the difference between real and illusion any better than she can. You're left to interpret what you see and hear to the best of your ability.

This isn't to say that Senua is hopeless or helpless. The game suggests she's high functioning most of the time, and she had Dillion serving as her support and caretaker. He petty much helped her navigate her symptoms. The problem is is that Dillion is dead and Senua is under a lot of stress, which is aggravating her symptoms to a point of psychotic break.

[Blackcompany]

Originally posted by Killer Kitten:

In no way has the developers attempted to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The point of the game is to mimic psychosis symptoms and part of that is a disconnect from the objective world. You see and hear what Senua sees and hears. And likewise, you can't tell the difference between real and illusion any better than she can. You're left to interpret what you see and hear to the best of your ability.

This isn't to say that Senua is hopeless or helpless. The game suggests she's high functioning most of the time, and she had Dillion serving as her support and caretaker. He petty much helped her navigate her symptoms. The problem is is that Dillion is dead and Senua is under a lot of stress, which is aggravating her symptoms to a point of psychotic break.

This makes me want to play the game even MORE. Thanks for this; one of my biggest worries was that, late in the game/story, they would just come out and say, "Whew, good thing X amount of this was only in your mind" or "it was all psychosis and everything she did was a pointless, zero risk dream."

Hearing that they never make any attempt to differentiate is REALLY encouraging. I want it left to imagination; judging by the little I have seen, I think that is best.

Dont suppose, friend, that you could tell me about how long the game takes to play, if you are more focused on "Story" than challenge? (If I want kicked in the balls by video games I own all 3 Dark Souls games; if this has difficulty options I am likely to play it on the easiest for the story).

Thanks.

[Calispel]

Originally posted by Blackcompany:

Dont suppose, friend, that you could tell me about how long the game takes to play, if you are more focused on "Story" than challenge? (If I want kicked in the balls by video games I own all 3 Dark Souls games; if this has difficulty options I am likely to play it on the easiest for the story).

Thanks.

I just finished it on normal difficulty in 6 hours (it has an easy option also). If you wander around a lot to look at the scenery it may take you longer. I'm not very good at games like dark souls, and I never died in combat here. If you use the dodge and parry liberally it's pretty easy to take out most enemies. That said, it still felt tense and satisfying to me when surrounded by multiple enemies, even though I never lost. The game looks fantastic even in combat. I don't know why so many people complained about that aspect of the game. Sure it's not deep, but it's not meant to be.