As someone who's always avoided Souls-like games after a brief, frustrating encounter with Bloodborne, I approached Stellar Blade with skepticism. Its steep difficulty and slower combat didn't suit me, so I've ignored the genre until recently. After enjoying the parry-and-dodge mechanics in Clair Obscur 33, I decided to give Stellar Blade a chance on my PS5, roughly a year after its release. To my delight, it was a thrilling, polished experience that hooked me from start to finish.
Set in a distant future, Stellar Blade plunges you into a post-apocalyptic Earth, a wasteland overrun by monstrous Naytiba. You play as Eve, part of the 7th Airborne Squad, sent from an off-world Colony led by the AI Mother Sphere to reclaim the planet. The game starts with a chaotic airborne assault, throwing you into action quickly. The prologue feels intense but brief, and the first level showcases the game's strengths, with jaw-dropping graphics that are not only superimpressive but also remarkably stable, delivering a visually stunning experience without hiccups.
The game blends linear levels with sandbox gameplay later, and I found the meticulously crafted linear sections far superior to the open-world parts. The ruined cityscapes are hauntingly beautiful, immersing you in a desolate world.
Combat is the core of Stellar Blade, focusing on melee with Eve's sword. It demands precise dodging and parrying, which was daunting for someone like me who struggles with parrying. I relied heavily on dodging, and while bosses were tough, defeating them was incredibly rewarding. Naytiba enemies are diverse, with lesser ones being manageable and varied, while alpha and semi-alpha bosses require strategy. Special moves, unlocked through dodges and parries, make combat feel dynamic and stylish. A firearm becomes available later, working decently against bosses. One gripe is the resource system: grenades and extra health packs don't replenish after death, and since gold doesn't respawn, tough bosses can become harder if you're low on funds. Occasionally, grenades fail to register during a boss's animation, which is frustrating but rare.
Traversal in the linear sections is generally smooth but has flaws. I struggled with platforming, like grabbing ropes mid-air or swinging on metal bars, often falling to my death due to clunky animations or mistimed jumps. These moments were irritating but didn't derail the experience. At times, I felt lost, unsure of where to go, though this was more my oversight than poor design.
Puzzles, such as chest-opening challenges or moving blocks, add variety and work well. The story, while intriguing, felt murky in terms of character motivations, but the world-building and atmosphere kept me engaged. The soundtrack, with its mellow vocal tracks, perfectly complements the mood, drawing you deeper into the world. I hope more games follow this example.
Some online criticism has targeted Eve's appearance, camera angles, and outfit options. It's for the most part the gamers choice. Throughout the game you can find outfits, that either are revealing or not.
I appreciated that the game never lingers on her looks-Eve is fully dedicated to her mission, which I found refreshing. Her companions, Adam and Lily, add depth. Adam, speaking through a drone, has a voice reminiscent of Prey's January, adding nostalgic charm. Lily, the optimistic engineer, brings warmth to the grim setting.
Halfway through, the game opens into a sandbox environment with side missions. These often felt like fetch quests or recycled boss fights with minor tweaks, paling in comparison to the linear sections. Some side missions required revisiting linear levels for previously inaccessible items, which felt tedious. A particularly brutal main storyline segment forces you to fight four bosses in a row, which was excruciating, especially with limited resources for grenades and extra health packs.
It took me 33 hours to finish Stellar Blade, though it could've hit 40+ with more side quests. Despite some clunky traversal, resource frustrations, and weaker open-world segments, the game's tight combat, breathtaking and stable graphics, and immersive atmosphere made it a standout. Stellar Blade was a delightful surprise, earning a 9/10 from me. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
