Stellar Blade review: Stellar by name, stellar by nature

Since the release of NieR: Automata, many games have strived to reach the standard of storytelling that it established. With its tale of existentialism that had us questioning what makes us truly human, it also blended in combat that flowed like a gossamer dance. Now, Stellar Blade, which has been so heavily influenced by it, has done its best to reach the bar that NieR put in place – and it comes very close.

Telling a story of humanity's downfall isn't original, and Stellar Blade certainly doesn't bring anything new to the table on that front, even bordering on the derivative at times. But what it does bring is a concrete set of concepts and a world it wants us to completely engross ourselves in.

Despite some nitpicks, Stellar Blade is a tremendous adventure that will keep you enthralled for hours on end. With plenty of side missions to complete, a sprawling semi-open world to explore and an intriguing story from beginning to end, there is seldom a dull moment in the game.

All about EVE

Stellar Blade follows EVE, an airborne squadron member of humanity’s cosmic Colony, who has been sent to Earth to reclaim it from the Naytibas, vicious, fleshy alien creatures that are immaculately designed but ready to kill. Early on we see EVE put through her paces as it seems she and her ally Tachy have bitten off more than they can chew.

EVE is an interesting character, and for the most part, I mean that positively. Ultimately, she excels when she is in combat, slaying enemies with the blade she keeps in her hair and performing incredible finishing moves. However, there were times when I had hoped she and her small entourage would provide more expression and reaction to the story at hand.

It's been hard to ignore the discourse surrounding EVE's presentation and it remains something of a complex issue. While she ultimately feels like a strong and assured character when it comes to combat and taking on a horde of monsters, there are times when her lack of emotion feels underwhelming. While Lily is a little better in this area with her quizzical and quippy attitude, Adam and EVE can be pretty one-note with hints of reaction springing up fleetingly.

Live by the sword

Where Stellar Blade truly shines is in the combat, which has been honed and sharpened to perfection. Not since Sekiro has a clashing of blades been so satisfying. As Naytibas go out of their way to hack away at you with considered attacks, repelling them with a flurry of well-timed parries never gets old. Hitting these perfect parries also rewards EVE with Beta energy to unleash more powerful attacks, making them all the more rewarding.

While there are certainly hack-and-slash elements, just mashing the attack buttons will allow you to get a good few hits in, but leave you open to attack as your combo continues. There is a rhythm to the combat that you’ll have to learn if you’re going to preserve your health and elegantly dance your way through the hoards of enemies that await you.

As you make your way through the skills and gear upgrades, you can make parrying and dodging easier, you can gain more Beta energy and, eventually, you’ll get your hands on some powers that took my breath away, especially when considering their place in the story that eventually unlocks them.

Alongside your sword, you’ve got a variety of ranged attacks thanks to your drone. When switching to ranged mode, you’ll eventually have an array of ammo you can upgrade to collect, including stinger missiles, shotgun shells and a devastating beam.

All of these combat encounters, and some puzzles utilise the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback. Frankly, I’m a sucker for a game that takes advantage of the haptic feedback like this. Whether it’s the rain in Returnal or the combative spells in Ghostwire: Tokyo, feeling the loosening and tightening of the triggers never gets old, and Stellar Blade uses it to the max.

Even in the mundane moments where I was out completing side quests or just taking a breather to do some fishing, the haptic considerations just add that extra level of flourish that emphasises Stellar Blade’s polish and attention to detail.

Despite all the praise, however, I sometimes found that the puzzles were pretty simple and didn't offer much of a challenge to figure out. Often the answer of where to go would simply appear on the map before I'd had a chance to consider my options.

There must be an Angel

While the story may deal with its fair share of existential themes, it’s not without its moments of levity, particularly in its approach to music and side missions that are as fun as they are emotionally impactful. The score here is spectacular, ranging from ambient lo-fi to beautiful orchestral pieces.

Stellar Blade is truly beautiful visually too. Its locations are jaw-droppingly gorgeous and met with such incredible graphical fidelity that it truly feels like a showcase for what the PS5 can do. It’s a veritable crime that the game doesn’t have a photo mode at the time of writing.

The best area for me, by far, was the city of Xion. A ramshackle, underground town built from the scraps of humanity and housing its remaining vestiges on Earth and acts as a hub area of sorts. When you first get to Xion, it’s near-deserted and falling apart.

However, as you complete more side quests and elements of the main story, you’ll find that the city gradually comes to life again. Seeing the impact of your work is so gratifying, and opens up more options for you to explore. Whether it’s a new vendor or a slew of missions to complete, it’s worth taking the time to complete these stories so that you can see how your work pays off.

An early quest to complete involves an android singer who is barely functioning, along with her protector. While I won’t spoil the quest, returning to these characters was always a joy, as you begin to see your influence on the world and the people you’re helping along the way.

The Verdict

Stellar Blade is an exceptionally well-crafted game that has learned from its influences and honed their teachings to a highly polished standard that can only be commended. The fluidity of its combat is something special. A perfect conglomeration of the flow of NieR: Automata with the cadence and rhythm of Sekiro’s parrying.

Every combat counter feels methodically thought out, and, by learning the attack patterns of enemies, you can knock them off balance to achieve a highly satisfying finisher. While the story is certainly not breaking new ground, and the puzzles can be a little easy at times, they hardly detract from the experience thanks to the ensemble cast of intriguing characters and concepts on offer.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of Stellar Blade is seeing your hub world grow and thrive thanks to EVE's actions. It feels as if there is a massive impact that is changing the world thanks to the hard work you're putting in. I can't wait to dive back in.

4/5

Reviewed on PlayStation 5. Review code provided by the publisher.