(Image credit: ShiftUp)
With the impending Stellar Blade PC release, the game’s demo during Steam Next Fest was making waves on the charts. Although its launch might have knocked it off the list of top demos, the free demo version is still available. Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to explore what the buzz was all about.
The Stellar Blade PC demo offers a solid introduction, culminating in the showdown with the first significant boss. It comes with an engaging intro cutscene, a quick tutorial, and a chance to experience the game’s broad upgrade system. For a title releasing its PC port alongside an event like Next Fest, this demo packs a punch. Following the initial boss fight, you find yourself in another battle just hours into the journey ahead.
Those battles were the highlight of my time with Stellar Blade. The gratifying ‘chiiing’ sound of a successful parry or the precise moves of a perfect dodge compel you to engage with combat beyond basic defensive maneuvers. The bosses deliver powerful blows, appropriate to their massive forms towering over Eve. Yet, the allure fades as I continue facing superior bosses in other games.
Currently, I’m navigating Elden Ring Nightreign with friends, and that puts the shortcomings of Stellar Blade into sharp relief. Despite its capable soulslike mechanics, the game prioritizes style over depth. This is evident right from the elaborate opening cutscene. Although there’s no need to revisit debates around Eve’s appearance, Shift Up has chosen to impress visually more than in other critical game aspects.
The thrilling but fleetingly impressive sequences soon yield to a dismal, shadowy cityscape, reminiscent of the infamous ‘PS3 brown’ era. Even in these enclosed settings, performance hiccups were noticeable, and scaling down the graphics was necessary to minimize the bothersome stutters, despite meeting the recommended system requirements.
The level design soon became another obstacle; while positioning hidden enemies behind doors nods to Dark Souls, the unwieldy physics puzzles were an unwelcome surprise for a soulslike game. While the grand moments of Stellar Blade are stylish, the substance in combat and navigation falls short, unable to support the promises made by its cutscenes. Eve’s regular attacks feel lackluster compared to her flashy finishers, her movement cumbersome in comparison to the agility suggested during boss fights.
It’s challenging to avoid comparisons with Nightreign. Despite its chaotic nature, the Elden Ring derivative remains the superior choice. Sure, Shift Up is venturing into new territory with Stellar Blade, whereas FromSoftware builds on its finely-tuned technology. While not a bad game, equating it to anything Elden Ring-like isn’t entirely just. Regrettably, it doesn’t live up to the hype nor entice me away from my commitment to Nightreign.
For a deeper dive, see our Stellar Blade review from the original PS5 launch.