Game review 24 April 2024, 07:00

author: Sebastian Kasparek

Stellar Blade Review - Action, Existentialism, and Androids

Stellar Blade is an action game released exclusively for PS5. The South Korean studio Shift Up is making its debut in the premium console market, and it's a surprisingly successful start.

The review is based on the PS5 version.

What is the true nature of humanity and can it be acquired over time? Is it possible to regain what has been lost once? Stellar Blade will try to answer these and many other existential questions. A new action game was developed in collaboration between the South Korean studio Shift Up and the PlayStation developer. It’s worth mentioning that this marks the team's first venture into console gaming, having previously focused on mobile games. How did they manage to produce a large AAA premium segment game? It's truly wonderful and enough to say that the team's work has exceeded my wildest expectations.

Glory to humanity!

But let's start from the beginning. Stellar Blade presents a grim vision of the future, in which, as a result of cataclysms and war with the mysterious Naytiba race, humanity is on the brink of extinction. The Earth is a barren wasteland terrorized by aggressive monsters driven solely by the animal instinct of survival. The player takes on the role of EVE, a woman from a space colony sent on a mission to reclaim the planet. As you can easily guess, this won't be an easy task. Throughout this challenging journey, the protagonist will use not only the deadly arsenal, but also the assistance of faithful companions and a handful of surface inhabitants who miraculously managed to escape death.

If the above description reminded you of a certain game released by Square Enix then... you're right. The director of Stellar Blade (Kim Hyung-tae) openly acknowledges his sources of inspiration, frequently citing the work of Taro Yoko, particularly the game NieR: Automata. The two games share similarities right from the surface level, where we play as an attractive android designed to resemble a young woman, exploring the ruins of ancient cities with the help of a levitating drone. The game portrays the decline of humanity in a similar manner, depicting the apocalypse with a sense of nostalgia, frequently showcasing the devastated remnants of everyday life and the final moments of regular people.

The similarities extend even further, and both games are also connected narratively by many elements, centered around existential dilemmas focused on the reflective nature of the essence of humanity and different interpretations of its definition. Stellar Blade, however, isn't just a copy; it has its own identity, which I really enjoy. Thanks to this (and because I am a huge fan of Automata), I loved visiting sad locations and the destroyed remains of civilization, and every note I found aroused my curiosity. The widespread sorrow and sense of sentiment quickly becomes contagious and is heightened by the superb soundtrack that effectively sets the mood. The music is a big pro and makes you want to listen to it outside of the game. You can discover dynamic and inspiring pieces for battle, pop-style songs, unsettling electronic ambient music, or melodies with a melancholic vocal.

Stellar Blade is very narrative-driven and the story actually plays a crucial role in the game. I followed the course of events with interest, but I have to admit that the entire thing proceeded too predictably, and if you had the chance to experience NieR: Automata, then no plot twist should surprise you. In my view, the inspirations, in this case, went a bit too far, and I have some concerns about the writing - the dialogues in the game aren't very memorable, making it difficult to find a dynamically conducted conversation or a valuable quote. I also had some reservations about character creation for a while, but eventually, I grew very fond of the heroes' stories. Despite not being overly complex, they play their roles well. The plot is decent, and if you enjoy science-fiction themes revolving around androids and human evolution, you will likely be content. Keep in mind though, that this is primarily an action game with a strong emphasis on fast gameplay.

Top-tier and addictive combat

I find it difficult to identify any issues with the gameplay design. Apart from the exploration of semi-open locations mentioned earlier, we devote the majority of our time to incredibly intense combat, which serves as the main dish. The devs developed a really deep combat system focused on controlling the opponents. The best offense here is defense. Performing perfect dodges and perfect parries not only looks spectacular but is also incredibly satisfying, allowing you to launch powerful attacks on temporarily disoriented opponents. We also have the option of breaking down posture, and the protagonist has a whole range of various skills. There is no lack of abilities to control a crowd of enemies, as well as powerful attacks that stun the opponents. The combat system is very complex and extensive. During demanding and multi-phase boss battles, I was forced to use every available tool. The game's difficulty level significantly increases during clashes with bosses, demanding the player's full attention and involvement. These are real knowledge tests, which we can easily fail. Of course, the game allows you to switch to a simplified narrative difficulty level at any point. This significantly facilitates the game and has a gameplay assistant, but at the same time it doesn't completely trivialize the challenge, so the toughest bosses can still give you a hard time.

I admit that as the character progressed, the combat system got better and better, and basically because of that I couldn't pull myself away from the console. Watching EVE's acrobatic maneuvers is pure pleasure, and deciphering the opponent's strategy and flawlessly punishing their errors is just addictive. I wouldn't dare to say it's the finest combat system in recent action games, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable I've encountered in modern titles. You just want to fight with everyone, even optional opponents.

The developers also try to vary the gameplay by including hacking sequences and sections where we don't have the main weapon and are compelled to engage in long-range combat. Moreover, Stellar Blade also includes a few movie-scripted sequences. At times, you may also need to solve basic environmental puzzles or complete skill-based platform stages. The whole game resembles the best console action games in the style of the Bayonetta and Devil May Cry series, whose core has been diversified with elements from Sekiro, like the previously mentioned parrying system.

Stellar Blade is among the best action games in recent years

Add to that the top-tier performance, as befitting the high-end AAA gaming segment. The locations are brimming with the smallest details that create the atmosphere, and the character models truly showcase the graphic designers' skills. The almost unreal beauty of the idealized android bodies, created to resemble humans, is captivating and perfectly complements the theme explored in the game. For comparison, people living on the surface are frequently neglected and damaged, with mutilated bodies filled with mechanical implants, so narratively this results in an intriguingly applied contrast.

Combining all this, we get an above-average title. Well-developed, with a captivating story from the first moments, and most importantly engaging due to thoroughly well-planned and competently executed gameplay. The South Korean studio Shift Up performed exceptionally well, and despite my initial skepticism, I ultimately saw it as one of the top games of 2024.

Stellar Blade will go on sale on April 26, 2024, and will be available exclusively for the PS5 console.