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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

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IGN

But Stellar Blade puts a much bigger emphasis on defensive skills than I was expecting. Reading the timing of enemy attacks for well-timed parries and dodges is almost as important as it was in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Parrying multiple attacks to disrupt your enemy's balance allows you to perform a special attack called Retribution. With so many recent games inspired by Sekiro's gameplay structure, this alone doesn't come off as anything particularly original anymore, but Stellar Blade takes things one step further.

Push Square

We're impressed overall, though. Stellar Blade is not quite the game we were expecting – it's more difficult and deliberate than we'd anticipated based on the key art. But it's clear there's a dense combat system at play here, and it's backed up by a beautifully rendered world and some authentically anime cutscene direction. Most importantly, this feels like the type of game fans have been demanding from PlayStation for a while: original, single player-centric, and gameplay focused. Next month can't come quick enough.

Glitched

Stellar Blade's demo is only a taste of things to come, but we're very impressed so far. The combat is the biggest surprise, featuring less combo-heavy action and more strategy involved in how you approach certain enemies. Fans of Bayonetta or Devil May Cry will get their fill of stylish action, though it might also speak to players looking for something a bit deeper than that. Stellar Blade has our full attention and we can't wait to unravel the full game next month.

Digital Trends

In Stellar Blade, Adam leads Eve to the last surviving city on Earth, Xion. There, Eve builds relationships and helps to rebuild the city. However, the demo doesn't go there and there's not much indication as to where the story is going so far. Even so, I'm excited to see how Stellar Blade unfolds. I'm hoping it nails the story and characters, as excellent worldbuilding is what makes its contemporaries like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata so special.

Gamesradar

I have a tentatively good feeling about Stellar Blade. After spending a few hours with its upcoming PS5 demo, I'm reasonably sure that I'll enjoy this action RPG when it launches April 26. I'm also pretty sure it's not going to be an amazing game. Instead, I expect a solid-to-above-average game that appeals to me specifically. There's room for the full game to either drop the ball or totally wow me, but the demo indicates a clunky action RPG that's still more than enough fun to convince me to pummel the same boss for several hours just to feel out the combat system. I played the demo and now I want to play more, which is a positive sign.

Screenrant

Trailers have teased several costumes, locations, and enemies that Eve will encounter as she works to free Earth from the mysterious Naytibas. The game’s first level is a good indication that Shift Up is more than capable of creating a fair and engaging action experience that effectively borrows features from action games that have set a high bar. If Stellar Blade keeps the momentum that builds throughout the demo, Shift Up may raise that bar with its first complete game.

Kotaku

A free demo for Stellar Blade, developer Shift Up's character-action PS5 exclusive, will go live on March 29. Ahead of its imminent release, some gaming publications got early hands-on time with roughly two hours of the game, which contains the first level and its respective boss. Based on everything that's being said from these previews, it sounds like Stellar Blade is going to be a stellar release when it drops on April 26.

That's because our perception of the game might be all wrong. Instead of something closer to Bayonetta or Devil May Cry, action games that are more about rhythmically offensive attack strings, the Stellar Blade previews suggest that it's more in line with games like God of War Ragnarok, Nier: Automata, and even FromSoftware titles such as Dark Souls and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. There's still some PlatinumGames-isms in the DNA of Shift Up's upcoming PS5 exclusive. However, it sounds like what we're getting is a much more methodical affair, one that requires a bit of patience and thought as you journey through its world. And I'm stoked, especially since all of the previews I've read thus far seemingly land on the same consensus: Stellar Blade could breathe new life into the action game genre.

Noisy Pixel & Genki have mentioned that there won't be a Photo Mode at launch:

Famitsu recently interviewed staff of the upcoming Shift-Up action game Stellar Blade, namely director Hyung-Tae Kim and technical director Dong-Gi Lee. Near the end of the interview, the director revealed that the game will not feature a photo mode at launch. However, the team is listening to players’ requests and feedback, and will try to respond to them. So, if you’d like Stellar Blade to have a photo mode, showing the studio respectful support will get the message across.

Stellar Blade | New Details & Gameplay Summary Via Shinobi:

• Two difficulty settings: Normal and Story Mode
• Equally provides offensive and defensive skills, feels 'balanced and deep'
• Mostly linear but also full of wider, more open areas to explore
• Not just pure hack n' slash, emphasis on defense, dodge, parry, reading enemy attacks
• Large variety of bosses that can feel challenging
• Parrying multiple attacks allows Eve to carry out 'Retribution', a special attack
• Multiple dodge skills: 'Blink' and 'Riposte' to dodge specific types of attacks
• Beta Skills: Unique skills that accumulate that can cancel an enemy's attack if timed right
• Ranged weapons include a special gun Eve acquires
• Camps: Act sort of like bonfires in Souls games, can unlock shortcuts throughout levels but also areas for Eve to rest with different character cutscenes, flashbacks, etc
• There are simple puzzles and platforming, swimming underwater, finding chests, etc

On accessibility:

I'm pleasantly surprised to see a great suite of accessibility options here that make it feel like a first-party PlayStation title (it's not, but Sony is heavily promoting it like it is one). The list includes color-blind filters, as well as the option to automatically succeed at quick-time events.

 

[Luipadre]

Please be good. Finally a good looking performance mode. It looks crisp

 

[existensmaximum]

"But Stellar Blade puts a much bigger emphasis on defensive skills than I was expecting. Reading the timing of enemy attacks for well-timed parries and dodges is almost as important as it was in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice."

That's like the biggest turn-off for me after roguelikes.

My hype just went from 11 to 0.

 

[German Hops]

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

This is my theory regarding photo mode: Devs know what the buzz around the game will be if there is a PM on launch. So, they let everybody talk about the actual game for one motherfucking time and then, months later (mid-year celebration) add a couple of new outfits and the photo mode.

 

[fart town usa]

Game looks dope as F.

Getting this for sure.

 

[Con-Z-epT]

No Photo Mode at launch...

 

[midnightAI]

"But Stellar Blade puts a much bigger emphasis on defensive skills than I was expecting. Reading the timing of enemy attacks for well-timed parries and dodges is almost as important as it was in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice."

That's like the biggest turn-off for me after roguelikes.

My hype just went from 11 to 0.

Well it's a good thing there is a demo coming out (tomorrow) so you can try it yourself

 

[Eiknarf]

I always thought there was going to be THREE difficulty settings: easy, normal/default, hard.

Just finding out now (in the OP) that there's only two: Story Mode (easy) and Normal

 

[FUBARx89]

Well it's a good thing there is a demo coming out (tomorrow) so you can try it yourself

Friday isn't it?

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I always thought there was going to be THREE difficulty settings: easy, normal/default, hard.

Just finding out now (in the OP) that there's only two: Story Mode (easy) and Normal

Technically, there is a hard mode (that's if you decide to play the entire game with Eve's skin suit).

 

[Skifi28]

Stellar butt aside, it's looking good with quite deep gameplay. Sounds like 2024's Nier Automata.

 

[midnightAI]

Friday isn't it?

Yeh, sorry, Friday

 

[GymWolf]

No hard mode at launch is a bummer.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Forgot to mention this new Famitsu article on Stellar Blade (it's in Japanese ofc).

『ステラーブレイド』体験版レビュー。艶やかな少女が"魅せる"戦闘はパリィゲーか死にゲーか。キム・ヒョンテキャラが舞うSFアクションから漂う緊張感【Stellar Blade】 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com

『勝利の女神：NIKKE』を手掛けるSHIFT UPの最新作『Stellar Blade』体験版レビューをお届け。

www.famitsu.com

 

[Complistic]

Having played the demo, can confirm it's fun to play. I don't know how this slipped through DEI hell, but it did, and it's wonderful.

 

[Fbh]

Pretty good impressions considering half the journos probably had to play it like this

 

[FunkMiller]

Having played the demo, can confirm it's fun to play. I don't know how this slipped through DEI hell, but it did, and it's wonderful.

Not made in the west.

 

[Fake]

GOTY

 

[stn]

Looks awesome, I'm in day one. I'm hoping it does well so that we see more character action games.

 

[Saber]

Seems they are pretty tame with this game somehow. I digging the impressions, reading times seems like a reward mechanic instead of punishing.

 

[phaedrus]

No Photo Mode at launch...

Them being coy about a photo mode... Come on, son..

 

[Svejk]

Them being coy about a photo mode... Come on, son..

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

what are the clowns saying, overall positive? I'm not reading anything.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

Having a demo 1 month early is great. 2 days left...

 

[GymWolf]

what are the clowns saying, overall positive? I'm not reading anything.

The other topic about the demo cover the purples reaction, let's use that one to troll the retards.

 

[Zuzu]

A cross between Sekiro and Nier Automata is unique. Hopfully it's better than Nier though because I didn't find Nier's combat system very much fun. I'm looking forward to trying it out soon.

I'm also happy it's a mixture of linear and open-ended world structure without being open-world. Hopefully that will mean it's not full of bloat.

 

[SlimySnake]

But Stellar Blade puts a much bigger emphasis on defensive skills than I was expecting. Reading the timing of enemy attacks for well-timed parries and dodges is almost as important as it was in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

I'm out.

 

[midasmulligan]

is that a chick or a dude?

 

[MonkeyClaw36]

OH COME ON!!!!! Either he's gay/ a-sexual or afraid to get banned.
You just dont make this shit up.......

 

[midasmulligan]

i mean, it's a 7/10 if we're being honest, but it gets +2 for balls so adjusted score of 9/10 = GOTY. Well done gents, let's shut it down.

 

[Luipadre]

I'm out.

 

[MonkeyClaw36]

No hard mode at launch is a bummer.

Every male player will default to "Hard mode"

 

[killatopak]

Really enjoy having defensive options.

Just give me the same satisfaction as Dante’s Royal Guard.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

i mean, it's a 7/10 if we're being honest, but it gets +2 for balls so adjusted score of 9/10 = GOTY. Well done gents, let's shut it down.

So, great combat and graphics and excellent music is a 7 now? Cool story, bro.

 

[midasmulligan]

So, great combat and graphics and excellent music is a 7 now? Cool story, bro.

are they great though?

 

[Eiknarf]

Every male player will default to "Hard mode"

Hahahaa good one

Made me think that gamers here might be speaking before they act.

Many gamers say “I want to play games in their native language”. And that’s admirable.

However, in this game, gamers wanna look at their character’s ass! There in lies the rub: If you play this in it’s original intended language (with Korean audio), you’re going to need to read the subtitles - which takes your eyes off her ass and on the text. Now you have to read instead of stare. Lol

 

[GymWolf]

I'm out.

Watch some gameplay and don't trust what those activist blogger says dude.

They must have the challenge of their life playing this game with one hand covering their eyes and one hand stroking their dinkies.

 

[nikos]

Game looks kind of "cheap" to me but I'll try the demo. Hopefully we can pull the camera out, otherwise it's a deal breaker.

 

[Bartski]

Looks so good I'm willing to forgive adding story mode for pussies.

 

[GymWolf]

Every male player will default to "Hard mode"

 

[poppabk]

is that a chick or a dude?

 

[MonkeyClaw36]

 

[MonkeyClaw36]

Hahahaa good one

Made me think that gamers here might be speaking before they act.

Many gamers say “I want to play games in their native language”. And that’s admirable.

However, in this game, gamers wanna look at their character’s ass! There in lies the rub: If you play this in it’s original intended language (with Korean audio), you’re going to need to read the subtitles - which takes your eyes off her ass and on the text. Now you have to read instead of stare. Lol

"What is the story about?"

"Dunno bro, but I came like 5 times during the tutorial......"

 

[Venom Snake]

Technically, there is a hard mode (that's if you decide to play the entire game with Eve's skin suit).

 

[Northeastmonk]

This game looks hype. We don’t get the whole Ghost in the Shell vibe anymore. Bayonetta has been it for a while.

 

[Black_Stride]

The PC release date hasnt been confirmed yet??

Anyway im actually pleasantly surprised its not a simple hack and slasher and actually has some depth to it.
Hells yeah to having enough defensive abilities on call.

When the PC version releases im all in.


P.S 13 years of service today on this NeoGAF account.......damn im old.
P.P.S My NeoGAF account should actually be older but I couldnt retrieve my old account because i lost access to my university email address, I was too lazy to start bother mods about it.

 

[MonkeyClaw36]

The PC release date hasnt been confirmed yet??

Anyway im actually pleasantly surprised its not a simple hack and slasher and actually has some depth to it.
Hells yeah to having enough defensive abilities on call.

When the PC version releases im all in.


P.S 13 years of service today on this NeoGAF account.......damn im old.
P.P.S My NeoGAF account should actually be older but I couldnt retrieve my old account because i lost access to my university email address, I was too lazy to start bother mods about it.

Its PS5 only. Where have you been.

 

[Schmendrick]

Its PS5 only.

so far.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

As I said months and months ago, day 1, looking forward to checking out the demo this week