What inspires us and what we choose to honor reveals much about our creative works. Stellar Blade draws heavily from the last two generations of character action games, proudly showcasing influences from titles like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata in its themes, designs, and stylistic elements. To fully appreciate Stellar Blade, one must recognize its roots to see what it enhances and where it falls short compared to the giants it aims to emulate.
In Stellar Blade, you play as Eve, a human navigating a distant future Earth overrun by monsters known as Naytibas. EVE possesses superhuman abilities, having been raised in a space colony and trained to rescue the few survivors from this pervasive threat. While the story features some intriguing twists, it primarily remains in the realm of pulp science fiction, sometimes feeling over-the-top in its attempt to surprise. Characters frequently shift their motivations to serve plot twists, often reverting to their original mindsets without acknowledgment. At times, I wished for a bit more restraint in the writing, as it feels reminiscent of a first season of a TV show trying desperately to secure a second season.
The inconsistent quality of the writing in Stellar Blade weighs heavily against it, as some puzzling side quests are followed by more engaging ones, though not frequently enough. Just when you start to feel fatigued by waypoint navigation, the game surprises you with a side quest featuring unique content and boss fights, or a narrative that goes beyond the typical search for someone who has already died. While the main story touches on themes like transhumanism and moral relativity, it fails to explore them meaningfully. The stilted and awkward voice acting further detracts from the experience, making it difficult to take the story seriously. Historically, the narrative quality in character action games has often been secondary, but those expecting more than the genre’s average will need to adjust their expectations.
Where Stellar Blade truly excels is in its gameplay. Whether sprinting down a desert dune or battling a cockroach monster that leaps out at EVE, the action is genuinely enjoyable. EVE typically embarks on missions filled with dynamic set pieces and numerous enemies, and this formula generally works well. There are some missteps, such as jumping sections, tedious puzzles involving an arcade-style pipe game or a Simon Says variation, and lengthy tunnel surfing segments that clash with the game’s inherent floatiness. However, for the most part, Stellar Blade understands its strengths and delivers an entertaining experience.
Gameplay in Stellar Blade is enhanced by an engaging combat system that focuses heavily on parries and dodges. Instead of being a simple combo fest, the game adds depth by channeling all your actions into powerful special moves. Successfully deflecting attacks or dodging enemy onslaughts not only keeps your health bar intact but also amplifies the effectiveness of your counterattacks when the opportunity arises. Defeats in battle usually stem from a lack of understanding of enemy patterns rather than unexpected attacks, inviting you to return with newfound knowledge for your next attempt.
However, a significant drawback preventing Stellar Blade from surpassing its notable inspirations is its pacing. While the game is relatively long for its genre, individual sections can feel excessively drawn out. Many doors are locked or unpowered, requiring detours to find keys or activate switches, making it frustratingly rare to simply progress as intended. Tasks that should feel like quick set pieces often become tedious, as players may have to fight through 30 enemies before reaching an objective, all while knowing they must defeat multiple targets to complete the level. These overly lengthy sections would have benefited from more decisive editing.
In some ways, it feels as if Stellar Blade wants to have its pacing both ways. On one hand, the game consistently directs you forward, creating a sense of progression. On the other hand, many enemies pose a real threat, capable of taking EVE down with a single powerful combo, while requiring multiple special moves to defeat. This balance can make encounters feel unwieldy and slightly tedious, especially when they accumulate on your path to the objective. When death only results in retracing the same combat-heavy route, it can start to feel punishing.
The game’s structure does allow for some player-driven pacing, particularly in missions set in its open areas. However, these zones, though large, tend to funnel you down predetermined paths rather than offering creative routes. Most frustratingly, there are only two desert-themed zones—one subtropical and one semi-arid—wasting an opportunity for variety. A minimap would have been beneficial in these open spaces instead of a separate, underutilized map screen. Additionally, side quests become unavailable surprisingly early in the game, and players are explicitly warned about this, leading to a rush to complete them when they would feel better spread out.
One redeeming quality is the game’s soundtrack, which features one catchy track after another. Navigating the desert and tackling sub-missions becomes almost zen-like with a vocalist’s soothing interludes. Boss fights range from heavy metal to pop, providing an appropriate backdrop to the clash of combat.
Stellar Blade often impresses with its visuals, featuring dazzling set pieces and stunning character models. While NPC designs vary significantly—some appear as lifelike plastic dolls while others reuse elements from less prominent characters—the main cast stands out in both fidelity and animation.
Although the game’s non-linear areas lack environmental diversity, the main story explores slightly broader settings. Most of the game takes place in ruined buildings and the tunnels beneath them. While the post-apocalyptic backdrop allows for creative combinations of elements and ambiance, it’s disappointing to frequently encounter similar-looking tunnels. A globe-trotting adventure in a sci-fi world should evoke a sense of wonder, but Stellar Blade achieves this only on rare occasions.
As you explore, you’ll discover plenty of loot from treasure chests and enemy drops, though it never feels overwhelming. Most collectible items consist of resources for various shopkeepers, with occasional equipment drops that cater to different playstyles. Each equippable item can slightly change how EVE plays, but none offer such significant alterations that stats become unimportant. If you prefer to focus solely on increasing numbers, Stellar Blade accommodates that as well.
Regarding the game’s controversial sexiness, I found it to be largely inconsequential, neither a strong positive nor a negative. The only time it became slightly annoying was when quests or exploration rewarded me with yet another dress that offered no stat benefits. I would have preferred items that enhance EVE’s strength rather than more skintight outfits, especially since I already had plenty in my inventory. EVE’s physical appearance felt irrelevant to the overall game, only becoming noteworthy in the early hours.
Stellar Blade possesses a dreamlike quality, though this shouldn’t be misconstrued as a sign that everything is exceptional. It resembles a half-remembered dream that lingers in your mind throughout the day, filled with vague recollections—like a collapsing train yard, a ruined opera house, or an Asian garden—while the details in between fade away. I genuinely enjoyed Stellar Blade despite its flaws, primarily due to its robust systems. Its main weakness lies in some sections feeling overly prolonged, which could be viewed as a compliment from a different perspective.
However, a lingering question remains: does this game reach the heights of its inspirations? My conclusion is no, but the fact that it attempts to do so without failing spectacularly is impressive in itself. Ultimately, it stands as a great game, demonstrating the power of being inspired by those who came before.