Before the highly anticipated Stellar Blade PC release, its demo during Steam Next Fest had been ruling the charts. Although its removal from the list of top demos following its official launch earlier this week might suggest a decline in popularity, I couldn’t resist the buzz and decided it was high time to find out for myself what all the excitement was about, especially since the game’s free version was still accessible.
The initial demonstration for Stellar Blade on PC is a complimentary version encompassing the climax of the primary significant boss battle. It features an opening scene, a short guide, and some room to delve into the intricate skill-upgrading system before you dive into the game. Given its scale and the simultaneous launch of its PC version alongside Next Fest, this demo is rather substantial for its kind. Post the first boss fight, there’s an additional battle that ensues, taking you a few hours further into the gameplay.
In my opinion, the two fights in Stellar Blade were undeniably the most captivating part of what I experienced so far. The satisfying ‘chiiing’ sound when a parry is successful or the graceful trails of red during a flawless dodge create an engaging combat experience that goes beyond repetitively pressing the guard button or excessively using dodge-rolls. The boss attacks have a substantial feel to them, fitting for the imposing figures they are, often towering over Eve. However, I’m currently battling more impressive bosses elsewhere, making it difficult for this demo to persuade me to switch games.
At present, I’m making steady progress through Elden Ring: Nightreign alongside my friends, and it seems that a challenge I encountered with Stellar Blade has resurfaced quickly. Despite having an enjoyable soulslike gameplay, it’s evident that the game leans heavily on aesthetics rather than content. This becomes apparent from the very beginning cutscene, and while discussing Eve’s appearance may not be necessary in this context, Shift Up has opted to prioritize visual flair over other aspects more so than many other games.
The initial, spectacle-rich introduction and the excessive violent scenes soon transitioned into a somber, gritty urban landscape reminiscent of the ‘PS3 brown’ color scheme. In this relatively confined setting, performance was problematic, and despite meeting or surpassing the suggested specifications, I had to reduce the graphical settings significantly to eliminate annoying stuttering.
In other areas, I quickly found myself grappling with the game’s level design; having an adversary hidden behind a door may have been a nod to Dark Souls, but the physics puzzles that felt floaty are not something I feel is necessary in my soul-like games. The grand moments of Stellar Blade are visually appealing, but the actual combat and movement during gameplay don’t quite measure up to the promises made by its cutscenes. Eve’s attacks seem underwhelming compared to her finishing moves, and her reaction to taking a beating in the boss arena is surprisingly clumsy, given her agility shown elsewhere.
Playing Stellar Blade alongside Elden Ring, I can’t help but notice the difference. Even with the fast-paced action of Stellar Blade in the backdrop of Nightreign, it’s clear that Elden Ring reigns supreme as a superior game. It’s true that Shift Up is venturing into uncharted waters with Stellar Blade, whereas FromSoftware has refined their technology over years to reach its peak sharpness. However, Stellar Blade isn’t a poor game by any means, and it may not be entirely fair to compare it to Elden Ring. But given the buzz surrounding Stellar Blade and my loyalty to Nightreign over Eve, I haven’t found it compelling enough to sway me from my stance.
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2025-06-14 14:10