Stellar Blade [Review]
Stellar Blade plunges you into a dystopian sci-fi world teeming with danger, where every corner of the ravaged Earth hides new challenges and grim surprises. In this action-packed title, you embody Eve, an android warrior known as an "Angel," tasked with battling an alien force known as The Naytibas. This enemy has conquered Earth, leaving Eve as humanity’s last hope.
From the moment I picked up the controller, Stellar Blade’s fast-paced and responsive combat system stood out. Stellar Blade excels in creating a frenetic speed of combat that rewards razor-sharp reflexes and precise timing. Parrying and dodging enemy attacks are not just skills, but art forms here: each successful dodge or parry feels immensely satisfying, urging you to perfect your technique. The combat's difficulty is well-balanced; offering just enough challenge to keep you engaged without becoming frustrating. Most encounters require two to three attempts at most, making each victory feel earned, while avoiding the head-against-the-wall levels of difficulty that many soulsborne titles can often drift into.
In typical action-RPG style, as you defeat enemies, Eve gains experience, translating into skill points that can be allocated across a variety of categories. Whether you’re enhancing your attack combos, bolstering your shields, or refining your dodging or parrying abilities, all of these contribute to making Eve an even more formidable force on the battlefield. This ensures that your playstyle can evolve and adapt, keeping the combat fresh throughout your journey.
Accompanying the tight combat mechanics is a stellar soundtrack that complements the game's overall aesthetic perfectly. The music ranges from hauntingly beautiful to adrenaline-pumping, and, combined with the striking visual design, creates a truly immersive environment. The dystopian world of Stellar Blade is rendered in vivid detail, with sci-fi inspired landscapes that are as beautiful as they are desolate.
However, not everything in Stellar Blade is as polished. One of the game’s glaring issues is the voice acting. While some segments manage to carry the proper emotional weight, the overall delivery often feels stiff and unnatural. This inconsistency in voice performance can disrupt the immersion, pulling you out of the otherwise engaging narrative.
Platforming segments, too, prove to be a double-edged sword. While they add variety to the gameplay, some of the most difficult parts of the game stem from these sections. The platforming can be unnecessarily complex, with jumps and maneuvers that feel more frustrating than challenging. These moments often break the flow of the game, turning what should be a test of skill into an exercise in patience.
Eve is supported on her journey by two main NPCs: Adam, a somewhat sarcastic human ally, and Lily, an engineer who provides critical upgrades. Adam’s wit and camaraderie offer moments of levity, contrasting with the game's darker themes. Lily eventually takes on the role of chipper younger sister, often bickering with Adam over the shared communication channel. Yet, her upgrades are essential, enhancing Eve’s abilities and ensuring that you feel a tangible sense of progression as you delve deeper into the fight against the Naytibas.
Stellar Blade enriches its world with a variety of engaging side quests that introduce Eve to a cast of unique and memorable characters. These quests range from the mundane to the morbid, each adding layers of depth to the dystopian landscape. One moment, Eve might be solving intricate number puzzles to help a desperate survivor unlock a hidden cache, while the next, she could be recovering the memories of a dead family member to provide closure to a grieving loved one. These side quests are more than mere distractions; they weave additional narrative threads that expand the lore and emotional weight of the game. Each character Eve assists has a distinct personality and story arc, making the side quests feel meaningful and rewarding. The diverse tasks not only offer valuable experience and rewards but also help flesh out the world of Stellar Blade, which beckons players to explore every nook and cranny.
The narrative, driven by Eve’s mission from Mother Sphere to save what remains of mankind, is engaging, even if it occasionally dips due to the voice acting. The combination of intense combat, RPG elements, and a visually stunning world make Stellar Blade a solid entry within the genre. Its ability to balance challenge and reward in combat keeps you on the edge of your seat, while the aesthetic and soundtrack pull you into its dystopian universe.
In short, Stellar Blade is a thrilling ride through a beautifully rendered sci-fi world, marred only slightly by its voice acting and platforming woes. The game's strengths in combat and aesthetic design far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re willing to overlook some rough edges, Stellar Blade offers a deeply satisfying experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
