Stellar Blade

The story of Stellar Blade has received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Many reviewers appreciated the post-apocalyptic setting and the strong narrative elements present in the game. CGMagazine highlighted moments of complexity and character development for the protagonist EVE, while Dexerto and Impulsegamer praised the engaging narrative set in a post-apocalyptic universe with themes of revenge and mystery. The dynamic between characters like Adam and Lily was noted as a strong point by COGconnected, adding depth to the lore through side quests and diverse locales. On the other hand, some critics pointed out shortcomings in the storytelling of Stellar Blade. Critics like Gamer.no and Movies Games and Tech criticized the writing and voice acting, stating that they fell flat and lacked depth, respectively. IGN and RPG Site mentioned the lack of character development and emotional engagement, with IGN Benelux specifically noting the stoic nature of the characters and flat voice acting as detractors from the overall narrative experience. GamesRadar+ and Shacknews highlighted predictability and generic elements in the story, with the latter mentioning a lack of engagement and captivating plot threads. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the story of Stellar Blade leans towards a mixed reception. While some reviewers appreciated the engaging narrative, strong world-building, and character dynamics, others found the storytelling predictable, lacking in depth, and failing to fully captivate the player emotionally. Positive aspects such as the thematic exploration of hope, multiple endings, and intriguing mysteries were acknowledged, but criticisms of flat characterizations, generic plot elements, and unoriginality were also prevalent. Despite the varied opinions, it seems that Stellar Blade manages to offer an immersive post-apocalyptic narrative with some compelling moments but falls short in delivering a consistently impactful and original storytelling experience.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Stellar Blade for its engaging and complex combat mechanics, with a strong emphasis on precision and skill. CGMagazine highlighted the stylish fighting mechanics and combo system, while Digital Chumps commended the depth added by various systems and skills as players progress. Critics like God is a Geek and Noisy Pixel appreciated the fast-paced, slick, and spectacular combat, with a variety of abilities and combos to master, creating a rewarding gameplay experience. The game's combat system, inspired by popular titles like Dark Souls and Sekiro, received acclaim for its challenging yet accessible nature, offering a mix of melee battles, parrying, dodging, and ranged attacks. On the downside, some critics noted issues with the combat experience in Stellar Blade. Destructoid mentioned that the combat could feel stiff and clunky at times, impacting the overall gameplay. Inconsistent platforming and aerial movement were highlighted by critics like Dot Esports and Inverse as areas that could use improvement. Additionally, Forbes pointed out aspects like gunplay and certain modes being less compelling, while IGN Portugal mentioned that the combat did not evolve significantly throughout the game, and the upgrade system felt limited. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the gameplay of Stellar Blade. The game's combat system, which draws inspiration from a mix of popular titles like Dark Souls, Devil May Cry, and Nier: Automata, was widely praised for its depth, challenge, and rewarding nature. Critics appreciated the variety of skills, abilities, and combat mechanics, as well as the engaging boss fights and enemy encounters. While there were some criticisms regarding specific aspects like platforming and certain combat elements, the overall sentiment is that Stellar Blade offers a thrilling and addictive combat system that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout their gameplay experience.

The majority of critics praised the Graphics and Visual Design of Stellar Blade, highlighting various positive aspects. CGMagazine commended the game for its realistic human character designs, diverse environments, and detailed enemies, utilizing the PlayStation 5 hardware potential to deliver impressive graphics and haptic feedback integration. COGconnected also lauded the sumptuously designed locations and character models with astounding detail, along with particle effects and cinematic vistas that enhanced the visual experience. Additionally, Dot Esports appreciated the fantastic character models and immersive environments that effectively conveyed the despair of the post-apocalyptic world, while GamesHub singled out the standout feature of the game being the visually impressive and engaging monster designs. On the flip side, some critics pointed out certain drawbacks in the Graphics and Visual Design of Stellar Blade. Daily Star criticized the over-sexualized depiction of the protagonist, EVE, which was a point of contention among reviewers like Metro GameCentral and IGN Portugal as well. Digital Chumps noted the lack of visually distinct environments and diversity in settings as a potential drawback, while Forbes highlighted the limited biome diversity in the open-world zones as a downside. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment regarding the game's graphics was overwhelmingly positive. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Stellar Blade excels in its Graphics and Visual Design, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, detailed character models, immersive environments, and impressive enemy designs. IGN described the game as featuring gorgeous visuals with excellent character and monster design, creating an exciting and visually appealing world for players to explore. Additionally, PlayStation Universe considered Stellar Blade to be one of the best looking Unreal Engine 4 games, showcasing strong visual aesthetic and well-crafted cutscenes. While there were some criticisms regarding character portrayal and environmental diversity, the general sentiment leans heavily towards the game delivering a visually stunning and immersive experience on the PlayStation 5 platform.

The opinions of multiple reviewers unanimously praise the Sound Design and Music of Stellar Blade, with the majority highlighting it as a standout aspect of the game. Critics like COGconnected, Dexerto, and Digital Chumps commend the game for its stunning soundtrack, mentioning elements such as melancholic vocals, guitar-heavy tracks, and ethereal sound design that elevate the overall experience. The music is described as enthralling, diverse, and engaging, with references to genres like K-pop and J-pop, contributing to the immersive atmosphere of the game. Keiichi Okabe's composition is particularly lauded for blurring the lines between Stellar Blade and Nier Automata, as noted by Dexerto and GamingTrend, enhancing the emotional impact and atmosphere of the game. While the overwhelming sentiment towards the Sound Design and Music of Stellar Blade is positive, a few critics did mention some minor drawbacks. New Game Network points out that some tracks in the background music can become repetitive, indicating a potential lack of variety in certain sections. Shacknews notes that the music may not always match the setting perfectly, suggesting a slight disconnect between the audio and the game's environment. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall consensus remains overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of critics praising the exceptional audio design and music of Stellar Blade. In conclusion, the Sound Design and Music of Stellar Blade receive high acclaim from critics, with the majority expressing admiration for its exceptional quality. The soundtrack is described as sublime, brilliant, and phenomenal, with critics like Push Square and TechRadar Gaming highlighting its seamless transitions between different genres and its ability to enhance the gameplay experience significantly. The emotional depth, immersive sound effects, and memorable compositions by Keiichi Okabe contribute to making the audio experience of Stellar Blade a standout feature that resonates with players. The overall consensus among critics is that the Sound Design and Music of Stellar Blade are top-notch, elevating the game to a higher level and leaving a lasting impression on players, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from various reviewers.

The voice acting in Stellar Blade has received a mix of positive and negative feedback from critics. Some reviewers, such as Gamereactor UK and Impulsegamer, appreciated the voice acting for bringing the characters to life and suiting the universe well, respectively. Noisy Pixel specifically praised the main trio's performances for emoting and enunciating effectively. PLAY! Zine also highlighted the excellent voice acting for enhancing the immersive atmosphere of the game. These positive opinions suggest that, despite some flaws, the voice acting managed to engage players and contribute positively to the overall experience. On the other hand, several critics expressed negative views on the voice acting in Stellar Blade. Critics like IGN Benelux and Movies Games and Tech criticized the voice acting for being flat, lacking depth, and failing to convey emotions effectively. New Game Network went further to describe the dialogue as basic, characters as one-dimensional, and the delivery as mundane. Push Square mentioned a dire English dub that hindered the emotional impact of the story, while VG247 criticized the limited character interactions and voice direction. These criticisms point towards a lack of depth, emotional connection, and overall impact in the voice performances, which may have detracted from the game's storytelling and immersion. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in Stellar Blade leans towards a mixed reception. While some reviewers appreciated aspects like bringing characters to life, suiting the universe, and enhancing immersion, others found the voice acting to be lacking in depth, emotional delivery, and impact on the storytelling. The varying opinions suggest that the quality of voice acting in Stellar Blade may be subjective and dependent on individual preferences. Players interested in the game's narrative and immersion may still find value in the voice performances despite some shortcomings highlighted by critics.

In terms of the technical performance of Stellar Blade on the PS5, the majority of critics praised the game for its smooth performance, stable frame rates, and optimized gameplay. Critics like Digital Chumps and Impulsegamer highlighted the smooth framerate and sharp visuals, indicating a technically sound performance. GameSpew also commended the quick loading times, great use of haptic feedback, and no noticeable performance issues, showcasing the capabilities of the PS5 effectively. Additionally, Push Square noted that the game maintains a relatively robust performance at 60fps even in intense moments using Balanced mode, further emphasizing the technical prowess of the game on the PS5. On the flip side, some critics did point out certain negatives regarding the technical performance of Stellar Blade on the PS5. Daily Star mentioned frustrations with controls, particularly in movement and dodging mechanics, impacting the overall experience. Worth Playing highlighted issues with traversal and platforming controls feeling loose, occasional crashes, and a sudden difficulty spike in a boss battle, detracting from the overall gameplay experience. PLAY! Zine also noted frequent crashes as a major drawback, indicating potential stability issues that need addressing for a smoother gaming experience on the PS5. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the technical performance of Stellar Blade on the PS5 leans towards the positive side, with most reviewers acknowledging the game's optimized performance, smooth gameplay, and immersive features like haptic feedback on the DualSense controller. While there were some criticisms regarding control issues, crashes, and occasional technical hiccups, the general sentiment is that Stellar Blade delivers a technically solid experience on the PS5, showcasing the potential of the platform for immersive gaming experiences. Critics like TechRadar Gaming and PlayStation Universe further support this sentiment by highlighting the game's excellent performance across different graphics modes and consistent frame rates, contributing to an overall positive reception of the game's technical performance on the PS5.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Stellar Blade generally highlight several positive aspects. CGMagazine, Dexerto, and Forbes mention the presence of multiple endings, side quests, collectibles, and customization options that enhance the replayability of the game. These elements provide depth to the game world and offer players the opportunity to explore different paths and outcomes. Additionally, features like skill upgrades, gear customization, and a New Game+ mode, as noted by Dexerto, further contribute to the replay value by allowing players to continue their journey with enhanced abilities and challenges. On the other hand, some critics point out certain drawbacks that may impact the game's long-term replayability. Digital Chumps and Forbes mention the lack of visually distinct environments and enemy variety, which could potentially lead to repetitive gameplay experiences over time. IGN Portugal highlights the tediousness of open-world areas due to the absence of fast travel options, which may discourage players from fully engaging with the exploration aspects of the game. Moreover, Push Square criticizes the developer's inexperience in handling post-game content, suggesting a missed opportunity to extend the replay value through well-crafted additional challenges or narrative arcs. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Stellar Blade offers a solid amount of replay value through its diverse gameplay mechanics, customization options, and exploration incentives. Critics like Impulsegamer and PlayStation Universe appreciate the challenging combat and meaningful upgrades provided by the skill trees, which encourage players to revisit the game for different playstyles and outcomes. While some critics point out areas for improvement, such as the lack of certain features like New Game Plus at launch or the need for smoother gameplay, the general sentiment is positive towards the game's ability to keep players engaged through multiple playthroughs. The variety of content, including side quests, collectibles, and multiple endings, ensures that players have ample opportunities to delve deeper into the world of Stellar Blade and uncover its secrets, ultimately enhancing the overall replayability of the game.