Much like how Eve inexplicably loves to pull in tonic john as an homage to humanity ’s leave era , the experience that Shift Up’sStellar Bladeprovides taps into something that I think many of us bury about and now pine for . The unmistakable , nostalgic flicker of Stellar Blade resonate strongly , and from the moment I first get the demo , I jazz this plot feel familiar in all the good ways .
While previously only having a handful of roving game releases under their belt , South Korean studio apartment reposition Up definitely come to a creative sweet spot when thinking up their first - ever AAA console IP . First market to the world under the title ' Project Eve ' , Stellar Blade revealed itself as a singular action RPG experience that frankly we have n’t had in quite a while .
The preceding couple of years we ’ve been perfectly inundated with bandwagon of games cater to trending musical style such as soulslikes and roguelikes , along with building and farming sims galore . While we may have gotten some landmark RPGs in late twelvemonth such as Baldur ’s Gate 3 , Final Fantasy VII Rebirth , Starfield , and of course , Cyberpunk 2077 , Stellar Blade fits snugly into a niche of RPGs that has n’t find nigh as much attention for a while now , and thus has been more easily forgotten .
For those who were well - attuned to the game scene in the 2000s and 2010s , it was an earned run average when hack writer - and - slash , activity - adventure RPGs were the democratic kid on the blocking , thanks in large part to the PS2 ’s capability . While sure not the first , Capcom ’s Devil May Cry serial was a giving name that helped nurture such sake in the subgenre , and theatre director Hideki Kamiya would presently pave the way for the ultimate win formula .
That convention would come to fruition during Kamiya ’s tenure with Platinum Games when Bayonetta debuted in 2009 . Full of combo - pack natural action , witchery , and featuring a outstanding female protagonist of the same name ( and one of the dependable protaganists around ) , Bayonetta vibrantly exuded just about everything players wanted , and aboveboard , what needed to be see in a powerful female protagonist . Not only that , but the secret plan was exceptionally replayable thanks to its progress - driven character customization option .
That would go on to reverberate through other project such as Grasshopper Manufacture ’s Lollipop Chainsaw , which bump off the prospect in 2012 . The game ’s eccentric plan and iconic female protagonist , zombie hunter extraordinaire Juliet Starling , avail it become a fellow cult classic alongside Bayonetta . While its independent criticism was sluggish gameplay , musician embraced just about every other aspect of its fun ridiculousness — especially the power to customize Juliet ’s look .
Image via Platinum Games
Both biz also enjoyed considerable achiever during the PS3 / Xbox 360 earned run average , each selling over 1 million copy . Bayonetta has since move on to become an ever - pop trilogy , despite the initial blowback from its unexpected migration to exclusivity on Nintendo ’s hand-held consoles . Meanwhile , Lollipop Chainsaw is getting a highly - anticipated remake slated for liberation in 2024 .
This addictively fun hack - and - gash niche of legal action RPGs noticeably started need a back tail end as the 2010s snuff it on , though the release of NieR : Automata in 2017 ( also Platinum Games ) briefly light a fire back under it with its resounding and on-going success . However , since then this darling niche of games has n’t seen much natural action …
… that is until Stellar Blade adorn us with a stylish and tragically beautiful new post - revelatory adventure , institute us right back into this vibe we ’ve missed so dear . Through the middle of a novel female protagonist cite Eve , players venture on a fateful journey to save up Earth , which is on the verge of full flop from a mysterious invasion of red creature cry Naytibas .
Image via Grasshopper Manufacture
However , the experience is n’t all doom and glumness . Despite her artificial upbringing aboard the Colony , Eve is a multi - faceted quality who is deeply queer about Earth as she explores each area , and feels intense empathy for humanity and its demise . Also , despite her sonant - spoken behavior , her skills in battle are alone , which is accent by the plot ’s fine fluent gameplay . It ’s not nearly as jazz group - heavy as Bayonetta , but it feels similar in its fluidity and satisfaction .
Stellar Blade brings back the best aspect of these niche activeness RPGs , especially when it comes to the immense payoff for geographic expedition . Eve can get a line a smorgasbord of rewarding wampum items during her travelling . They range from the practical ones such as Exospine fan and Beta Cores , to the cosmetic one that include dozens of new outfits and supplement for Eve and her fellow traveler . This incentive allows player to customize their desired experience , form the biz all the more replayable or else of locking such advantage behind microtransactions .
Altogether , Stellar Blade was introduce in a almost - unadulterated software package , which is especially applaudable considering that this is raw terrain for Shift Up . Sony has yet to release the full sale figures ( physical and digital ) , so it ’s hard to give a crystal cleared picture . However , forcible copies betray out in Japan at just over 67,000 — a number that did n’t shatter outlook but still show heavy promise for a new , console - undivided IP .
Image via Square Enix
The game was also notably high onpre - rules of order listsfor the PlayStation Store and top vendor like Amazon , where it sit down at No . 2 just below Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and above Helldivers 2 . Upon release , it reached No . 1 in the UK as well for physical sales . Reviews ( including ours ) also gave Stellar Blade its due extolment , while still understandably criticizing aspect that still lacked , such as the overall story .
Of course , there was also thecensorship debaclethat nettle a sphere of the instrumentalist community , but it was n’t enough to cripple the plot ’s achiever . No matter which side of the aisle you ’re on with that issue , the potential for game like Stellar Blade in the current era of play is abundantly vindicated . There are no technical inhibitions to bringing back these kinds of experiences — only creative ones if it ’s not in the ripe hands . However , if a humble mobile game company can draw it off in such a wondrous mode , for certain others can as well .
Stellar Blade is now available entirely on PS5 for $ 69.99 USD . Along with a free - to - play demonstration , there is aDeluxe Editionas well which put up some additional in - biz detail and cosmetic .
Screenshot by Pro Game Guides
If you like this , check outAll enemies in Stellar Blade and their weaknesseshere on Pro Game Guides .
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