The opening moments of Stellar Blade really set the tone; we drop down onto a ravaged earth and take control of our 7th Airborne Squad member Eve.
Chaos unfolds all around you as debris crashes into the earth creating a true visual spectacle. It goes a long way to creating a meaningful first impression which sets up the stakes of the world.
While there are humans left on earth, they are mostly in hiding as strange creatures known as Naytiba have taken over the barren landscape.
Eve has a simple mission; to eradicate Naytiba and restore the earth for humanity. Needless to say, when she gets there her mission becomes a lot more complicated.
Thankfully, she has various weapons at her disposal to take on these varied beasts. Her main weapon is the Blood Edge which is a sharp blade that slices up enemies.
Your handy drone, which follows you around and gives you information about the world, also doubles as a gun which attaches to your arm.
Korean developer Shift Up, chose to focus on a few core weapons and upgrading them rather than overwhelming you with an extensive arsenal.
Parrying and dodging are hugely important parts of combat. Each enemy has a balance gauge underneath their health bar which gets whittled down the more you parry their attacks.
If the gauge is completely depleted, it opens it up for a special attack called Retribution, which deals a good amount of damage.
Speaking of special attacks, you also have Beta skills you can utilise, which vary from breaking down an enemy's shield or a slashing combo that staggers your opponent.
You build up Beta energy as you attack, which eventually leads to unleashing a satisfying Beta skill with L1 and any of the face buttons. Knowing when to use it can be the difference between beating a formidable boss or seeing 'you died' appear on-screen.
Dodge and parry
The gameplay can feel slow and methodical at first, but once you learn how to effectively parry and dodge, there is a rhythm to combat that is rewarding to master.
What helps the combat shine is just how good everything looks on screen. When you successfully parry with your blade, sparks fly into the air and when you pierce one of the Naytiba, blood splatters everywhere.
There are three graphics options to choose from: Performance - A 1440p resolution, at 60 frames per second, Balanced - upscaled to 4K, between 50–60 frames per second and Resolution - 4K resolution, at 30 frames per second.
Regardless of what mode you choose, the game is a visual treat and one of the best looking PS5 games to date.
Regardless of what mode you choose, the game is a visual treat and one of the best looking PS5 games to date.
Neon lights illuminate rundown buildings, raindrops trickle down onto the pavement and Eve's gear glistens in the sunlight.
The design of the Naytiba themselves is also impressive. Each type feels distinct but also clearly part of the same species.
The overall art direction is striking and somehow manages to feel wholly unique in a gaming landscape full of similar design.
This is an Earth that has been ravaged by war and dilapidated buildings are a sign of it. There is a sense of melancholy which permutes the game, which gives it a unique atmosphere.
Eve comes from a cohort of humans called the Colony who escaped Earth after what is known as The Final War. The airborne squad are sent back to Earth to try and save humanity.
Along her journey, she is accompanied by her trusty allies Adam and Lilly. The former is a human from one of the last cities on earth called Xion, who acts as Eve's guide.
Lily is a bubbly mechanic who is more than happy to upgrade Eve's exosuit and weapons. There is a good rapport between the characters and their personalities compliment each other well.
Overall, the story is intriguing if predictable, as you start to unravel what happened to humanity and what needs to be done to save it.
There is also an oracle (called Orcal) who can see where the most fearsome foes are in the world, called Elder Naytiba, which is helpful to your mission.
Mother Sphere
As you walk around Xion you see those who believe in the Orcal and Mother Sphere (the supposed creator) and those who rebel against it. It adds tension to the world and shows that even as humanity grips onto existence, division still remains.
The city of Xion acts as a hub where you can do side missions, buy equipment and upgrade your gear. There is even a hair saloon to change Eve's hairstyle and colour.
The city of Xion acts as a hub where you can do side missions, buy equipment and upgrade your gear. There is even a hair saloon to change Eve's hairstyle and colour.
You are tasked with bringing energy cores back to the city to restore power and allow more people to leave hibernation. More people populate the city as power is gradually restored.
There are plenty of side quests and requests you can fulfil inside the city and outside it in the Wastelands. Some are your standard fetch quests, while others give an insight into how the other half live.
I stumbled upon a run-down bar as I was walking around Xion and happened upon a man standing beside a stage with a woman singing with half her body missing.
He tells you about her situation and asks for your help, but also gives you an idea of what their existence is like. By fixing her body, you are bringing a small bit of hope into a world that feels so hopeless.
Sadly, the moment the game tries to move away from its combat and open world exploration, it falls flat. Some tedious puzzles and clunky platforming sections detract from an otherwise stellar game.
While things do culminate in a truly epic finale, it does turn into a boss rush mode near the end, which can be exhausting to get through. It seems that nothing can be resolved in this world without a boss fight.
Thankfully, these stumbles do not take away from an overall impressive package. With challenging boss fights, an excellent soundtrack and a truly unique world, Stellar Blade hits all the right notes on its maiden voyage.
Our score: 8/10
