Used Stellar Blade™ for Windows?
Stellar Blade™ Analysis
AI Assisted Content ·
Not written by CNET Staff.
Stellar Blade™ is an action RPG starring Eve, a paratrooper sent to reclaim a post-apocalyptic Earth. Developed by SHIFT UP Corporation, the game features fast-paced, visceral combat focused on strategic execution and combo mastery. Players face challenging bosses while uncovering the story behind Earth's downfall and humanity’s survival in the orbital Colony.
The game combines a sophisticated sci-fi narrative with detailed, cinematic visuals tailored to modern hardware, offering an immediate and focused solo experience. Its core loop is similar to combat-heavy titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Bayonetta. Stellar Blade™ is purely a single-player design and does not support multiplayer modes, focusing entirely on a deep personal journey against the mysterious Naytiba threat.
Visceral combat and complex narrative
The gameplay centers on high-intensity combat requiring quick reflexes and tactical skill. Players must master a variety of unlockable skills and combos as they progress against tough bosses, enhancing Eve’s arsenal. The narrative unfolds in a richly designed, post-apocalyptic environment, exploring themes related to humanity’s fate and the mysterious Naytiba. This blend provides an intellectual as well as a pure gameplay challenge, combining thrilling action with compelling, story-driven elements.
Cinematic presentation and optimization
Stellar Blade™ leverages modern technology, supporting ultrawide monitors and performance-enhancing features like DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3. This optimization ensures fluid animations and high-fidelity graphics that bring the blend of beauty and decay to life. The interface and design prioritize a cinematic presentation that enhances immersion, running at unlocked framerates for maximum visual fluidity. Still, the highly focused combat can feel repetitive due to the sheer volume of encounters, diminishing the experience for players seeking more gameplay variety.
Pros
- Exclusive high-intensity combat
- Detailed, cinematic visuals
- Ultrawide and DLSS support
Cons
- Core gameplay can feel repetitive
Bottom Line
Focused single-player experience
Stellar Blade™ offers a mechanically rich combat experience within a detailed narrative and visually striking sci-fi world. Its robust optimization makes it a stunning technical showcase for the genre. The game balances intense action and a deep story, but due to its singular focus, some players find the rhythm of constant combat to be repetitive. Overall, for fans of challenging solo action games, the stunning visuals and customizable combat systems make this an easy recommendation.
What’s new in version 1.2.0
- Added three new epilogues
- New hidden request
- Photo Mode screenshots now save directly to the game’s executable directory
- Various other bug fixes and overall stability improvements