Board 8 > Stellar Blade Review Zone

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://opencritic.com/game/16510/stellar-blade

Developer Shift Up comes out with a bang for their first Triple A project. Averaging an 84% through 41 reviews thus far, Stellar Blade has all the action, all the explosions and all the T&A. Seems like with a few improvements it could have been an all time classic, but what's here is a solid character action game.

Gaming Trend - 90/100
Despite not vibing too well with the demo, we were utterly in love with Stellar Blade by the time the credits rolled. Shift Up has done a tremendous job with their first triple A project and sets a high bar for modern action role playing games. There are some pacing issues, and the narrative's delivery stumbles, but the game as a whole is near perfect: the themes, the visuals, the music, the combat, the exploration, the world, and the technical performance. A modern masterpiece.

Press Start - 9/10
Stellar Blade recalls the classic era of character-action games in truly inspired fashion. It might struggle to deliver on its core narrative, and its platforming is often more frustrating than it isn't, but neither of those things are enough to bring down a thoroughly enjoyable action experience. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve, but manages to build on them in engaging fashion with a deliciously layered combat system and gorgeous presentation to boot.

One More Game - 8.5/10
Stellar Blade is an extremely impressive debut from Shift Up, serving up a combination of dynamic combat with visuals and animations that pay extreme attention to detail. Eve's adventure is dressed up with the wrappings of a masterful soundtrack that resonates long after the game is finished, and there's enough content to warrant a more thorough playthrough the second time around.

Stellar Blade's story is sadly predictable, and characters like Eve prove hard to form an emotional connection with due to their relatively flat personalities, but the world and lore are intriguing enough to create more properties should the developers choose to do so. It doesn't offer much in terms of groundbreaking innovation, but Stellar Blade is a competent and confident effort that will offer a good time worthy of your attention.

Checkpoint Gaming - 8.5/10
Stellar Blade bursts out of the gate looking stunning, full of jaw-dropping set pieces, intense action and gory violence, and maintains that pace throughout. Underneath this flashy action game are a lot of systems that we've seen before, but despite what can feel like a lack of innovation at times, it never feels stale or unenticing due to its overwhelming sense of style and polished, gratifying combat. For every familiar puzzle or annoying platforming section, there's a brutal boss battle or incredible over-the-top sequence that pulled me back in. Stellar Blade is a joy, a deliciously crafted adventure jam-packed with dramatic thrills.

Destructoid - 8/10
Overall, Stellar Blade is a journey worth experiencing. I feel like with some improvements in certain areas, Stellar Blade could be a legendary landmark experience like those it clearly draws inspiration from. But even in its current form, Stellar Blade offers a fast-paced action combat system in a unique world with a rewarding narrative. It's not quite stellar, but it's certainly solid. Solid Blade.

Push Square - 8/10
Stellar Blade is a slick console debut from a developer clearly on the rise. With an ever-evolving counter-attacking combat system, some superb art direction, and a sensational soundtrack, this is the kind of back-to-basics PS5 outing that fans have been pleading for. A dire English dub and some trite story beats mean the studio still has plenty of room to refine its craft, but Eve's inaugural outing is largely excellent across the board, and destined to become a firm favourite among PS5 enthusiasts.

VGC - 4/5
For those who wished that God of War Ragnarok offered a bit more challenge or that Bayonetta had a bit more weight to its combat, this slick sci-fi slasher is the perfect tonic, offering both the perfect entry point into the Souls-like genre and a refreshing refinement of the well-worn character action formula. It may lack the naval gazing intelligence of the excellent Nier Automata, but when youre having this much fun, its hard to care.

Ill get this whenever I decide to get a PS5.

Demo was fun. Hope its a success

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7b9a26de.jpg

Oh wow

unfortunately they already patched that out

MoogleKupo141 posted...

unfortunately they already patched that out

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

I'm not going to lie, I do not see the apparently glaring issue in that image, but I'm guessing it has to do with the graffti/signs on the wall?

KCF0107 posted...

I'm not going to lie, I do not see the apparently glaring issue in that image, but I'm guessing it has to do with the graffti/signs on the wall?

Hard R is a reference to the N-Word being used with racist intentions because you actually pronounce the R at the end.

just a weird twitter people thing

KCF0107 posted...

I'm not going to lie, I do not see the apparently glaring issue in that image, but I'm guessing it has to do with the graffti/signs on the wall?

the shop is called R Shop

to the left of the sign for R Shop is graffiti that says Hard

so it looks like it says Hard R

which is a phrase most often used in reference to the n-word

oh I didn't even make that connection I just thought it said HARDER because playing this game makes you hard

I'm sorry it's just really funny.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/785c6612.jpg

I'm glad the game seems to be reviewing well for the people who were excited for it. Definitely not a game for me after the demo, but I was not looking forward to how much worse the discourse would have gotten if this game reviewed poorly.

Uhhhh oh wait.....extremely questionable how they decided to patch this!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/84c173df.jpg

Before it was an unfortunate flub that was funny, but I feel like this may actually be intentional now. Whoops!

Big Grimer hater? Prefer Muk?

ain't crimer that green freak from ghostbusters

Back in my day they used to call it a black market instead of a 'crimer shop'

UshiromiyaEva posted...

I'm sorry it's just really funny.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/785c6612.jpg

I'm glad the game seems to be reviewing well for the people who were excited for it. Definitely not a game for me after the demo, but I was not looking forward to how much worse the discourse would have gotten if this game reviewed poorly.

Uhhhh oh wait.....extremely questionable how they decided to patch this!

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/84c173df.jpg

Before it was an unfortunate flub that was funny, but I feel like this may actually be intentional now. Whoops!

Im not seeing the problem? If its what I think it is, that seems like a stretch.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Hard R is a reference to the N-Word being used with racist intentions because you actually pronounce the R at the end.

My first thought was with film ratings, like if a film has lots of violence, swearing or sexual content it's described as being a hard R. I didn't even know about the other meaning until just now!

GavsEvans123 posted...

My first thought was with film ratings, like if a film has lots of violence, swearing or sexual content it's described as being a hard R. I didn't even know about the other meaning until just now!

Colin Farrell made literally the exact same mistake promoting The Penguin a few weeks ago, so it's a totally understandable mixup lol.

It's not a mistake, it's a commonly used term.

MacArrowny posted...

It's not a mistake, it's a commonly used term.

here, sure. I dont know that a Korean dev would necessarily be familiar with it.

23 years on the Internet and I never ever heard of the term "Hard R" before today

Nanis23 posted...

23 years on the Internet and I never ever heard of the term "Hard R" before today

You're not from the US and you seem to be incredibly sheltered so this isn't really shocking.

You hear the term more often if you're black

I've no idea how likely it is that the graffiti was intentional, but this game is a darling of the gamergate crowd and I'm sure this will only fuel them further.

andylt posted...

I've no idea how likely it is that the graffiti was intentional, but this game is a darling of the gamergate crowd and I'm sure this will only fuel them further.

It wasn't, other embargo folks have come out to say that the HARD graffiti is actually all over the game and it's very silly. This was just an unfortunate coincidence.

Replacing it with CRIME just ruins the fun!

Of course the GG folks have already run with BOTH the narratives that "Woke Sony made them take it down so it's censorship" and "they replaced it with CRIME because they're true anti-SJW gamers like us".

I wonder how many of these nerds will even buy the game.

I wish they kept the N word reference. It's an important part of the original artist's vision.

MoogleKupo141 posted...

here, sure. I dont know that a Korean dev would necessarily be familiar with it.

Hard R for R-rated movies I mean.

Every day I grow more happy that I've completely divested from social media and can ignore all of this toxic stupidity - the little I've been exposed to of the "discourse" surrounding this game and Eiyuden is totally mind-numbing.

On topic, great to see the game being received so well! Very exciting to see Korean studios really starting to step up to the plate with single player games.

MacArrowny posted...

Hard R for R-rated movies I mean.

oh i missed the thing youre responding to. Yeah Im sure Colin Farrell meant that, its definitely an established phrase.

Xiahou_Shake posted...

the little I've been exposed to of the "discourse" surrounding this game and Eiyuden is totally mind-numbing.

Black Character = Woke

Huh, Hugo? Suikoden, never heard of it, what's that got to do with this??

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Black Character = Woke

Huh, Hugo? Suikoden, never heard of it, what's that got to do with this??

Let's be real these people only played suikoden 2 and nothing else in the series

UshiromiyaEva posted...

Black Character = Woke

Huh, Hugo? Suikoden, never heard of it, what's that got to do with this??

theyre mad about localization, I dont think they got as far as knowing a black character exists

MoogleKupo141 posted...

theyre mad about localization, I dont think they got as far as knowing a black character exists

You're behind the times my friend.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/fe9c5fd9.jpg

It's how you know they're grifters because they're upset to find out a character is in the game that's been front and center of the marketing since the game was announced.

oh my mistake

https://youtu.be/qhCXilVBVv0?si=bS0CePmCvGZ4_73_

UshiromiyaEva posted...

It's how you know they're grifters because they're upset to find out a character is in the game that's been front and center of the marketing since the game was announced.

wait until they find out about final fantasy vii

Kenri posted...

wait until they find out about final fantasy vii

No see that's OK for them because the way they see it Barret is a jive talking thug terrorist with a gun arm so it's anti-woke accurate representation.

why do you subject yourself to so much twitter nonsense

Poor Barret cus then there's also discourse that he's just a stereotype and Japan is racist and can't write good black characters.

When he's the best character in the game xD

BK_Sheikah00 posted...

When he's the best character in the game xD

Only viable option for the ferris wheel date IMO.

Well, intentional or not, it's fixed. World's still spinning, games are still selling.

UshiromiyaEva posted...

I prefer to know my enemy.

then you should get to know them...? it seems like all you know are strawmen.

and i think it's kinda telling that when someone expresses "i'm glad i don't know about all this toxic stuff", the first response is to immediately try to tell that person more about all the toxic stuff that is going on (that you have purposefully sought out)

like this seems like part of the problem to me. an endless cycle of negativity.

Dels posted...

then you should get to know them...? it seems like all you know are strawmen.

when you're surrounded by scarecrows all you'll know is strawmen