Those familiar with Shift Up’s work on the titillating but ultimately top-notch smartphone shooter NIKKE: Goddess of Victory would never have doubted Stellar Blade. The mobile game has sharp arcade gameplay, an earworm soundtrack, and an abundance of style – many of the qualities replicated in the Korean dev’s debut console effort.
Increasingly caught up in a tiresome culture war, heroine Eve cut through the exhausting discourse with a character action affair that, for some, exceeded expectations; strong gameplay chops, memorable audio motifs, and some remarkable environmental design all combine to make one of the better PS5 exclusives of the year.
While there are obvious flaws, like the forgettable open world level design and the iffy English voice acting, there’s an earnestness to the title that’s easy to appreciate. It feels like a game that’s stepped straight out of the PS2 era in the best possible way, shedding all of the bloat and self-seriousness that’s infected the industry in recent times. This is a good old-fashioned video game, and it’s not afraid to show it.
But there’s real quality, too. While the side-quests are largely optional, they have good character arcs – and say what you will about the protagonist’s busty design, playing dress-up with her richly detailed outfits has become an undeniably fun pastime as her wardrobe has expanded.