Just how Stellar is the Blade?
Stellar Blade is a sci-fi action-adventure game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has been forced to abandon Earth after losing a war against monstrous deadly creatures known as Naytibas. In an effort to reclaim Earth, specially trained combat operative EVE and her fellow Airborne Squad members are deployed from the off-world Colony to fight the Naytibas and save humanity.
From the first time I saw the trailer I was hooked. It’s been a while since a badass raven-haired babe wielding a sick weapon and slaughtering strange creatures in a game trailer has completely captivated me. And that’s exactly what Stellar Blade did. This game was a release day must for me. When I played I really tried to savor my experience, rather than rush through to finish the game. Recently, I rolled credits with just over 48 hours in play time. A couple of those were probably spent just in the pause menu putting together outfits for EVE…
One of my favorite aspects of Stellar Blade is the robust outfit customization potential. Cosmetics have no bearing on stats or abilities, which is a feature I love in games like this. Just pure fashion and vibes. The catalog of unlockable outfits, hairstyles, and accessories caters to lots of different design sensibilities, all of which can be changed at any moment to suit whatever look you want. EVE’s base design is iconic, but players can experiment with creating a unique look for the protagonist of their dreams. There are even unlockable cosmetics for the NPCs, though I wish there were more. In New Game+ you can expand your wardrobe even further with new colorways of your favorite outfits.
Stellar Blade is not as fast paced as a traditional hack-and-slash, though combat does feel intense. Fights can be tough, even in story mode difficulty. Understanding enemy attack patterns and countering them with precise timing is crucial to combat success, though EVE doesn’t always feel as responsive as she should. From the initial pre-release demo, players had been lamenting the lag between input and execution of attacks, dodges, and parries. Developer Shift Up recommended changing TV settings, but it seemed the issue persisted. Even as I neared the end of my first playthrough, I still didn’t feel I had completely mastered the pace of combat. But, I was good enough to survive — mostly — and have fun.
Even when getting my ass kicked I was still enjoying myself. Well, with the exception of some unavoidable sections in the game. EVE is challenged to survive in certain suspenseful areas that play more like Dead Space or Alien Isolation with limited combat abilities and resources. You’re limited to only using your gun to defeat enemies, and let me tell you, ya girl has bad aim. I understand wanting to push players through certain challenges with gameplay to keep things fresh and exciting, but man was I kicking and screaming my way to victory here.
There’s no shortage of things to do and see in Stellar Blade. Something about the side quest cycle compelled me to do as many of them as I could. They’re not particularly revolutionary and follow a familiar formula. Accept quest, go to quest area, find dead people, get ambushed by Naytibas, kick ass, claim reward. With few exceptions, there’s not much deviation from this formula, and yet I found myself going back to the request board again and again. It was almost comforting and nostalgic in a way. I was transported back to my childhood home, spending hours after school on my PS2, lulled into an immersive fantasy. And also I just wanted to unlock as many outfits as possible…
Without including specific plot spoilers, I will say that the execution of the narrative felt very middle-of-the-road for me. There are a handful of tropes, and plot twists that feel laid bare fairly early on in the game. A lot of the flavor text discovered in the world was just kinda… putting it out there right from the beginning. And not subtly either. That’s not to say that the plot wasn’t interesting to me. It felt very much like a classic sci-fi storyline. The game has strong individual beats, but the quality and clarity aren’t necessarily cohesive or consistent throughout. There are moments where everything comes together nicely, and others that left me wanting more from the writing. I was hoping for more risk and intrigue, but I was entertained, nonetheless.
Despite its shortcomings, Stellar Blade has the ingredients of a game that would have consumed my entire personality if I discovered it while I was in high school. Pretty protagonist lady wearing a stylish outfit on the cover, unique setting and lore, grotesque “thanks I hate it” enemy designs, over the top flashy combat, and a catchy soundtrack. Basically, this is my modern day Bayonetta — and if you know me, that’s high praise. Overall, Stellar Blade has charmed me. It’s stylish and fun as hell, and truthfully that’s all I wanted out of it. I can safely say it has cemented itself as a favorite of mine from this year, and I look forward to visiting with EVE again in the future.
Skittzi is a variety streamer, cosplayer, and video game enthusiast. She loves indie games, RPGs, and many things in between. You can catch her live streaming more games like these on Twitch at twitch.tv/skittzipoo.
