Stellar Blade Review: A Stellar Action Adventure Experience

Stellar Blade Review: Fast-paced action-adventure games have always been a favorite of mine, with titles like Vanquish, Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and DmC reboot from Ninja Theory being among my top picks. While these games have set a high standard in the genre, newer action-adventure games have drawn inspiration from the challenging SoulsBorne style. Titles such as Sekiro, the Star Wars Jedi series, Rise of the Ronin, and others have embraced this trend. Games like NieR: Automata have revolutionized storytelling in action-adventure games, taking it to new heights.

Stellar Blade Review 2024

Stellar Blade has quickly made a name for itself in the fast-paced action genre due to its captivating storyline, adrenaline-pumping action sequences, and stunning graphics. Developed by Shif Up, this game represents the company’s first foray into the AAA gaming realm, adding to its allure and significance. What truly distinguishes Stellar Blade from other games in its category is its meticulous attention to detail in world-building, character development, and immersive gameplay mechanics. Players are drawn into a richly crafted universe where they embark on an epic journey filled with challenges, mysteries, and unexpected twists. The game seamlessly blends exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving elements to keep players engaged and invested throughout their gaming experience.

With each decision influencing the narrative progression, Stellar Blade offers a dynamic and personalized adventure for every player. Moreover, the visuals of Stellar Blade are nothing short of breathtaking, showcasing stunning environments, intricate character designs, and dynamic special effects that bring the game world to life. From sprawling futuristic cities to treacherous alien landscapes, each setting is meticulously crafted to immerse players in a visually stunning and atmospheric experience. In conclusion, Stellar Blade stands out as a must-play for fans of action-adventure games seeking a thrilling and immersive gaming experience. With its compelling storyline, intense gameplay, and breathtaking visuals, this game sets a new standard for excellence in the world of AAA gaming.

Stellar Blade Review Details

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Story

I can’t reveal much about Stellar Blade’s story without spoilers, but I can say this – the game is heavily influenced by NieR: Automata. You play as Eve, a member of the Airborne Squad sent to a post-apocalyptic Earth to eliminate creatures known as Naytibas. The game starts off with a dramatic event where the Naytibas attack and destroy most of the pods carrying the Airborne Squad to Earth. As expected in a video game story, you are the sole survivor who must now save the day.

You meet Adam, a survivor on Earth, who promptly escorts you to Xion, a colony that shelters the remaining survivors. In Xion, there is an “oracle” (yes, the Matrix reference is noted) who guides you towards eliminating the creatures known as Naytibas and bringing hope to the world. Your journey to save Xion (and Earth) commences here until a surprising twist occurs. Along the way, you encounter various side quests and pivotal decisions that will impact the story’s outcome. It’s worth noting that the game features multiple endings based on crucial moments throughout.

When it comes to side quests, their narratives vary from basic retrieval tasks to more complex missions like checking on a survivor’s wife in cryosleep. This aspect bears a resemblance to NieR: Automata without being a direct copy, which is a positive thing. Drawing inspiration from another work is a form of flattery, and the similarity between Stellar Blade and NieR: Automata is beneficial, given their exceptional exploration of the human-AI-survival theme that will engage players, despite some key story events being somewhat spaced out.

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Gameplay

If you have experience with any of the games mentioned earlier in this review, you will find Stellar Blade familiar. It is a high-speed game that requires strategic gameplay rather than mindless button pressing. You must be calculated in your actions. The game features the usual light attack, heavy attack, and ranged attack options, as well as a variety of combos. By holding down a shoulder button and combining it with a face button, you can execute a total of 8 distinct moves with significant impact. Your accompanying drone can also function as a weapon, offering various ammunition choices such as a standard machine gun, shotgun shells, and homing missiles for combat. Additionally, there are special attacks available following a successful parry or dodge of an enemy’s heavy attack, indicated by blue, purple, or red color codes.

In addition, every enemy in the game possesses shield and stability layers on top of their health. Lowering an enemy’s stability through successful parries and using specific attacks can deplete their shield rapidly. Once the shield is down, powerful combos can then be used to reduce their health. The game impressively combines fast-paced action with intricate mechanics that are simple to grasp but difficult to master. Players also have access to various grenades that can diminish shield, stability, and health while temporarily stunning enemies. Errors in combat are unforgiving, drawing inspiration from soulsborne games.

The variety of enemies in the game is notable, ranging from those who throw projectiles to small creatures capable of merging with fallen foes to revive them, as well as large grunts with slow but powerful attacks. Additionally, there are formidable bosses like the Alpha Naytiba. The game offers both normal and story modes, with the combat becoming challenging in normal mode. Similar to Final Fantasy XVI, players can adjust the timing for parrying or dodging, enhancing accessibility. Despite its difficulty, the game manages to appeal to a broader audience without reaching the punishing level of soulsborne games.

When it comes to soulsborne games, they also feature a version of a campfire. Players can utilize campsites to recuperate health and enhance their abilities. Nevertheless, by saving progress, adversaries in the vicinity are also regenerated. The game is not entirely open-world, but it offers expansive areas for exploration, with Xion serving as the central hub where players regroup after completing missions and side quests. Additionally, puzzles are integrated into the gameplay to introduce some diversity. Although many are easy to solve, a handful may prove to be challenging.

Graphics and Sound

Transitioning to the visuals, let’s address the contentious subject first. The main character is a visually appealing woman who is likely to captivate numerous teenagers, much like Jill Valentine from Resident Evil 3 Remake, the iconic Lara Croft, and other significant female leads in the gaming industry. Feel free to explore our collection of notable female protagonists in video games.
The animation and smoothness of the main character were impressive, particularly during the execution of intricate combos. Not all actions allow for immediate blocking, so mastering complex combos while considering the animation is important.

The game offers three graphical modes to select from: Performance, Balanced, and Graphics. Performance focuses on achieving 60FPS over resolution, Graphics provides a locked 30FPS with 4K resolution. While Balanced aims to deliver 60FPS without the highest resolution. Opting for the balanced mode during gameplay. I experience occasional framerate stutters and texture pop-ins, but overall found the game to be smooth and enjoyable.

When exploring different settings such as post-apocalyptic towns and run-down subway stations, the central location in the game – Xion – is where you will find the most people. Rather than a bustling world with NPCs engaged in various tasks. They mainly offer quests and multiple shops for buying goods. The standout feature of Naytiba’s game is undeniably its intricate enemy designs. Ranging from eerie, slimy creatures inhabiting corpses to mutated beasts and walking cannons. The array of adversaries is truly diverse. The enemies’ appearance is reminiscent of a horror movie, drawing inspiration from various sources including the game Prey, yet each possesses unique characteristics. Particularly noteworthy are the Alpha Naytibas, formidable bosses that stand out for their impressive design. Not only are they imposing figures that dominate the screen, but their intense combat animations keep players on the edge of their seats.

In terms of audio, typical combat sounds like swishes and grunts are present, and although the Naytibas lack dialogue, they emit standard grunts and combat noises. Voice acting for humanoid characters meets expectations without any notable issues. The background music stands out as peculiar at times, featuring pop music while exploring the game world, creating a sensation akin to playing personal music in-game. This choice feels unusual rather than negative.

The DualSense implementation in the game deserves special recognition. Particularly noteworthy is a section early in the game where you can feel the raindrops distinctly reverberating through the controller. This subtle feature highlights the impressive immersive capabilities of the DualSense controller. Stellar Blade stands out as one of the rare games that fully utilizes the potential of the DualSense, and I highly suggest experiencing the game with all its features maximized.

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Conclusion

Stellar Blade stands out as a remarkable game that offers players an immersive experience. Its captivating storyline, reminiscent of NieR: Automata, is enhanced by the presence of multiple endings, adding depth and replay value to the game. The gameplay itself is fast-paced and methodical, drawing inspiration from soulsborne games but with a more approachable difficulty level. Generous parry and dodge windows make combat engaging and rewarding for players.

Exploring Stellar Blade in New Game Plus reveals the full potential of your character and allows you to uncover hidden secrets within the game world. While there may be occasional traversal challenges and puzzles that lack complexity, the overall gameplay experience remains highly enjoyable. It’s worth noting that the game may not appeal to those seeking a simplistic button-mashing experience, as mastering strategic combat moves is key to success in Stellar Blade.

In conclusion, Stellar Blade offers a rich gaming experience that encourages exploration and skill development. With its engaging narrative, dynamic gameplay mechanics, and opportunities for replayability. It is sure to captivate players looking for a challenging yet rewarding gaming experience.

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