Stellar Blade has been an fascinating expertise to this point. Main as much as its impending launch, I’ve been on the fence about whether or not I used to be even . As is commonly the case with video games that look the best way this one does, numerous the eye has been on the sport’s predominant character, Eve, and the quantity of element that has gone into her… ahem… belongings. Nonetheless, PlayStation had the good concept to drop a demo, so naturally I wasn’t going to show down the chance to do this extremely anticipated title threat free.
So there I used to be, studying combos and updating expertise proper till I beat the demos boss the place I felt a little bit of déjà vu. I loved my time within the demo, ripping aside bionic enemies as Eve utilizing my blade and some fight expertise I’d obtained. Stellar Blade saved me enthralled with its gorgeous visuals, stylized menus, tight fight, and a reasonably strong rating.
However the core of my enjoyment appeared to emanate from this inescapable familiarity I felt as I performed. As I explored the world, listening to gentle chanting within the background and shocked by the spectacle of the sunshine results dancing throughout my display screen, I couldn’t assist however really feel I’d been right here earlier than. There was no method this was my first time taking part in Stellar Blade. It needed to be unattainable that I’d have this sturdy a sensation for a sport I barely paid any consideration to.
Then it hit me, form of like a type of un-dodgeable crucial assaults which have been irritating me in Stellar Blade. I’d performed one thing extraordinarily much like this earlier than. It was referred to as Nier: Automata. And the Nier video games are identified for being a bit screwy. Heck Yoko Taro, the director of the Nier video games loves messing with followers and his viewers with ranges of thriller and intrigue. The video games have a number of endings with typically odd necessities, and hidden references to the Drakengard sequence that began all of it. The propensity for weirdness from Yoko Taro and the similarities have me significantly questioning.
It began with the music. As Stellar Blade opens, there’s this bombastic symphony accompanied by echoing voices with a contemporary beat mendacity beneath tying all of it collectively. The sounds assist to punctuate a battle in area as big, cocoon-like ships kickstart a raid. As pods crammed with fighters (which we’ll get to in a second) rain down from the heavens, there are big beams of sunshine and explosions that slowly however absolutely obliterate all the pieces of their path. Percussions appear completely in sync with fireballs and tearing steel.
The music continues to crescendo as you contact down on terra firma. As soon as freed from your claustrophobic metal confines, Eve reveals herself to be a cybernetic femme fatale. Positive there was no white leotard and gothic black loli getup, however it’s very simple to consider 2B of Nier fame as soon as she begins shifting. There’s a deliberateness to Eve’s actions that performs properly into the fast-paced fight which mixes frame-tight melee motion with some good ol’ trend capturing.
What’s taking place on this planet on the opening of Stellar Blade? Properly, for starters, it’s Earth. Humanity has been pushed out of their residence by aliens and the one method to reclaim it’s with the assistance of androids. All of those Androids are terribly simple on the eyes. They’re proficient with blades, their talents are charged by their inner batteries, they will use vary, and also you even get a cool-looking little pod to accompany you in your journey.
Whereas the demo is transient (you possibly can full the whole demo and even do the boss problem in below an hour) you do get a style of Stellar Blade’s story beats which proceed to ring with that Nier-esque familiarity. Mysterious warriors, that are offered as aliens, are the bane of your existence. Once they present up, you run. They transfer as you do, however they bleed. I wouldn’t be stunned if there’s some twist the place there aren’t any extra people, not less than not how we’d anticipate. That they’ve advanced into these new entities that we see lording over the lesser beasts and preventing to maintain us from reclaiming our planet. Which all sounds very… properly… Nier.
Now I do know there are numerous video games which have similarities. It’s the character of artwork and the enterprise. Affect is in all places, and when you will have one thing as beloved and acknowledged as Nier, it’s tough to not draw similarities when a brand new motion sport comes out. We noticed the same dialogue pop up with Lies of P final yr. A sport that was such a superb Souls-like that was so devoted to the core essence of video games like Darkish Souls and Bloodborne, that many couldn’t imagine it wasn’t made by From Software program themselves. However as you performed by way of that sport, it was clear that it was one thing new regardless of how clear its influences had been. I by no means at any level felt like I used to be taking part in something apart from Lies of P.
However Stellar Blade has tickled my mind in a method a lot completely different to how Lies of P had us in awe of its adherence to what From Software program cemented as a brand new style. The place Neowiz Video games and Round8 Studio created one thing that was wholly its personal factor in Lies of P however paid unfettered homage to the greats that created that specific taste of RPG, Shift Up’s Stellar Blade looks like there’s a trick occurring proper earlier than our eyes.
Whereas it was solely a vertical slice, each little bit of Stellar Blade had me really feel as if I used to be taking part in a launch from the thoughts of Yoko Taro and PlatinumGames (although possibly not as clean as there was a little bit of stiffness, however that’s a dialogue for one more time).
This might very properly be a case of some strong flattery from a studio seeking to make its mark, however I’ve received my eye on this one. And you may name me paranoid, however I’m absolutely prepared for the tip credit to roll and Emil to walk up and choose up the items of no matter fantastically rendered battle that’s absolutely being saved for this sport’s climax.
When all is alleged and completed, I might find yourself being useless improper and you already know what? That’s okay, as a result of I can’t be the one one who sees it, proper?