Stellar Blade Preview: Sekiro Meets NieR: Automata?

Summary

Stellar Blade emerges as a nerve-wracking action game that defies initial expectations of a casual play similar to Nier: Automata. Inspired by the latter, its director, Kim Hun, crafts a post-apocalyptic world where mastering defensive skills like parrying and dodging is crucial. The game introduces unique mechanics like blink and repulse, rewarding players who learn enemy attack patterns. With a blend of offensive and defensive skills, Stellar Blade encourages a balanced combat approach, allowing for personalized strategies against varied enemies. The game also features exploration, puzzles, and a focus on story development through camps. Set for release on PlayStation 5, it promises depth, challenge, and engaging combat.

Takeaways

• 🗡️ Stellar Blade is an action game inspired by Square Enix's 2017 hit, with a focus on stylish combat.
• 🛡️ Defensive skills, such as well-timed parries and dodges, are crucial for success in combat.
• 🌟 The game introduces unique dodging skills like blink and repulse, which can counter specific enemy attacks.
• 💡 Mastering attack patterns and enemy behavior is rewarded with satisfying counterattacks and a deep combat experience.
• 🔥 Both offensive and defensive tools are available, allowing players to develop their own unique combat style.
• 🔍 Exploration is encouraged with hidden treasure chests, optional enemies, and a city called Zion to discover.
• 🔧 The game features a beta skill system that can be utilized once a gauge is full, offering additional combat options.
• 🎮 Stellar Blade offers two difficulty settings, Normal Mode and Story Mode, catering to a variety of player preferences.
• 🏆 The game includes accessibility options like action assist, which helps with timing for parrying and dodging.
• 🌌 Stellar Blade provides a rich world with lore through camps, where players can rest, listen to music, and interact with characters.

Q & A

What is the main inspiration behind the game Stellar Blade?

The main inspiration behind Stellar Blade is Square Enix's 2017 hit game, as mentioned in the script.

How does the combat in Stellar Blade differ from other action games?

Stellar Blade puts a significant emphasis on defensive skills, including well-timed parries and dodges, which are as important as offensive actions.

What are the unique dodging skills introduced in Stellar Blade?

Stellar Blade introduces two unique dodging skills: Blink and Repulse. Blink is used by pressing the circle button and moving the analog stick forward, while Repulse requires pressing Circle and moving backwards.

How does the game reward players for learning enemy attack patterns?

The game rewards players for learning enemy attack patterns by allowing them to perform a special attack called Retribution after successfully parrying or dodging a series of attacks.

What is the Beta skill in Stellar Blade and how is it used?

The Beta skill in Stellar Blade can be utilized once the player's gauge is full. It can cancel an enemy's attack if the timing is right, and there's also an attack that allows the player to quickly get close to the enemy after dodging from a distance.

How does Stellar Blade balance defensive and offensive skills?

Stellar Blade provides players with both great defensive and offensive skills, allowing them to adopt different strategies depending on the enemy type, which contributes to the game's depth and variety.

What is the significance of the long-range gun type weapon in Stellar Blade?

The long-range gun type weapon in Stellar Blade is significant as it provides an additional combat option, especially in instances where its use is required to advance in the game or to deal heavy damage to specific weak spots of bosses.

What are the two difficulty settings in Stellar Blade?

Stellar Blade has two difficulty settings: Normal mode and Story mode. The latter is more forgiving and includes an accessibility option called Action Assist, which guides players on the right timing for parrying and dodging.

How do camps function in Stellar Blade?

In Stellar Blade, camps serve multiple functions. They restore health, refill potions, provide shortcuts, and act as a place for relaxation and exploration. They also allow players to buy items, learn new skills, and access additional content like conversations and flashbacks.

What kind of puzzles and platforming elements can players expect in Stellar Blade?

Players can expect simple puzzles and platforming elements in Stellar Blade, such as entering codes to open doors or moving wooden boards on water surfaces to create a path forward.

How does Stellar Blade handle exploration and optional content?

Stellar Blade takes exploration seriously, offering detours with hidden treasure chests and optional enemies. In the main game, players can explore a city called Zion and less linear areas, suggesting a focus on providing variety and depth to the player's journey.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Combat and Defense in 'Stellar Blade'

The first paragraph introduces the game 'Stellar Blade', highlighting its emphasis on defensive skills and strategic combat. The player assumes the role of an anime-style female warrior in a post-apocalyptic world. The game, inspired by Square Enix's 2017 hit, differs in its focus on well-timed parries and dodges, rewarding players for learning enemy attack patterns. 'Stellar Blade' introduces unique dodging skills like blink and repulse, in addition to the regular dodge mechanic, adding depth to the combat system. The game offers a balanced mix of defensive and offensive tools, allowing players to develop their own combat style. Special skills, activated when the beta skill gauge is full, add another layer to the gameplay. The paragraph also mentions the game's beta skills, which can cancel enemy attacks and facilitate quick approaches after dodging.

05:01

🎮 Game Mechanics and Exploration in 'Stellar Blade'

The second paragraph delves into additional game mechanics and exploration elements in 'Stellar Blade'. It discusses the user interface notifications, particularly when the beta skill gauge is full. The paragraph also touches on the inclusion of simple puzzles and platforming elements, such as entering codes to open doors and swimming sequences, which add variety to the primarily combat-focused gameplay. The exploration aspect of the game is emphasized, with mentions of hidden treasure chests and optional enemies, suggesting a world with depth. The paragraph concludes with a note on the game's release date for PlayStation 5 and a teaser for more upcoming games.

Keywords

💡Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade is the central subject of the video, referring to an action-adventure game with a post-apocalyptic setting. It is characterized by its emphasis on both defensive and offensive combat skills, offering players a deep and varied gameplay experience. The game is mentioned multiple times throughout the script, highlighting its unique mechanics such as parrying, dodging, and the use of special skills.

💡Defensive Skills

Defensive skills in the context of Stellar Blade refer to the player's ability to parry and dodge enemy attacks in a well-timed manner. These skills are crucial for successful combat, as they not only help the player avoid damage but also set up opportunities for counterattacks. The game places a significant emphasis on these defensive maneuvers, rewarding players who invest time in learning enemy attack patterns.

💡Combat Mechanics

Combat mechanics in Stellar Blade encompass the various actions and strategies available to the player during fights. This includes both offensive moves, such as using different types of attacks, and defensive actions, like parrying and dodging. The game's combat is designed to be engaging and skill-based, with a particular focus on the player's ability to time their moves effectively.

💡Post-Apocalyptic World

The term 'post-apocalyptic world' refers to the game's setting, which is a world devastated by some form of catastrophe that has left it abandoned or drastically altered by its previous inhabitants. This setting provides a backdrop for the game's narrative and influences the game's atmosphere, environmental design, and the nature of its challenges.

💡Character Abilities

Character abilities in Stellar Blade refer to the specific skills and techniques that the player's character, Eve, can utilize during gameplay. These abilities include both offensive actions, like using various weapons and attack combos, and defensive tactics, such as parrying and dodging. The game encourages players to master these abilities to succeed in combat and explore the game world effectively.

💡Exploration

Exploration in Stellar Blade is a gameplay element that allows players to discover the game world beyond the main path. This can involve finding hidden treasure chests, optional enemies, and uncovering secrets. The game is designed to reward curiosity and encourage players to seek out all it has to offer.

💡Game Difficulty

Game difficulty refers to the level of challenge presented to players in Stellar Blade. The game offers different difficulty settings, such as normal mode and story mode, to cater to a range of player skill levels and preferences. The difficulty settings adjust the overall challenge and risk in the game, allowing players to choose an experience that suits them.

💡Puzzles and Platforming

Puzzles and platforming are gameplay elements that involve problem-solving and movement challenges, respectively. In Stellar Blade, these elements provide variety to the combat-focused gameplay by requiring players to think strategically and execute precise movements to progress.

💡Game Atmosphere

Game atmosphere refers to the overall mood and feel of the game world, which is influenced by its visual, audio, and narrative design. Stellar Blade's atmosphere is crafted to be immersive and engaging, with attention to detail that enhances the player's experience.

💡Character Development

Character development in the context of Stellar Blade refers to the growth and evolution of the player's character, Eve, throughout the game. This can involve learning new skills, acquiring better equipment, and uncovering the character's backstory and relationships with other characters in the game.

Highlights

Stellar Blade, directed by Kim Hun, is inspired by Square Enix's 2017 hit game.

Stellar Blade emphasizes defensive skills, requiring players to master parries and dodges.

The game introduces unique dodging skills like blink and repulse to counter specific attacks.

Mastering the timing for parries, dodges, and counterattacks is crucial for success.

Stellar Blade offers a balanced combat system with both defensive and offensive skills.

Beta skills in the game can cancel an enemy's attack and open opportunities for counterattacks.

The game allows players to use a long-range gun type weapon in addition to melee combat.

Boss fights in Stellar Blade feature changing attack patterns and phases.

Stellar Blade offers two difficulty settings: normal mode and story mode.

Game design draws inspiration from the Soulsborne genre, with checkpoints and exploration elements.

Camps in the game serve multiple functions, including health restoration and learning new skills.

The game provides flashbacks and events at camps, adding depth to the world and characters.

Stellar Blade includes puzzles and platforming elements for variety.

Exploration is encouraged, with treasures and optional enemies hidden off the main path.

Stellar Blade's release is eagerly awaited for its unique combat and exploration gameplay on PlayStation 5.

Transcripts

this place is

dangerous take my

hand if stly wielding a sword as an

anime style Female warrior traversing a

post-apocalyptic World left behind by

its inhabitants sounds anything like

near adada well that's because St blade

director Kim hun was directly inspired

by square enix's 2017

hit I'm probably not the only one who

imagined Stellar blade would play

similarly to near as well a styish but

casual action game that allows you to

beat the crap out of your enemies

without too much stress however from the

moment I got the hold of the controller

I realized that I was going to have a

much more nerve wrecking experience than

I expected but in the best possible way

Stellar blade puts a much bigger

emphasis on defensive skills than I

would have thought reading the timing of

enemy attacks for well-timed pares and

Dodges is almost as important as it was

in Securo Shadow died twice parrying

multiple attacks to disrupt your enemy's

balance allows you to perform a special

attack called

retribution

besides your regular Dodge mechanic

Stellar blade introduces blink and

repulse both are dodging skills that

counter the enemy's attack but they can

only be used against specific attacks

blink is utilized by pressing the circle

button and moving the analog stick

forward simultaneously while repulse

requires you to press Circle and move

backwards at first it can be challenging

to instantly know and react to an enemy

attack that can be countered by blink or

repulse but once you get the hang of it

parrying and dodging a series of attacks

only to deliver a devastating counter

attack at the end feels incredible it

makes you realize just how much Stellar

blade rewards the time you take to learn

attack

patterns in games that put a high

emphasis on parrying and dodging I often

find myself playing a bit too

defensively thanks to a great set of

offensive tools I didn't have the same

problem with Stellar blade beta skills

which can be utilized once your gauge is

full can cancel an enemy's attack if the

timing is right there's also an attack

that allows you to quickly get close to

the enemy after dodging from a distance

delivering a series of attacks with the

square and triangle buttons canceling

your enemy's attack with a well Ed beta

skill only to finish them off with yet

another combo can feel just as great as

the parrying and dodging Stellar blade

equally provides the player with both

great defensive and offensive skills

which makes it feel balanced and deep

being able to take different strategies

depending on the enemy type is great in

itself but it feels like Stellar blade

has enough depth and variety for players

to find their own unique style to tackle

the challenge in combat

at a certain point in the game Eve will

become able to use a longrange gun type

weapon as well while melee combat

Remains the main focus some instances

require the use of your gun in order to

advance and apparently some stages are

designed for this weapon but I didn't

get to play any of those I did get to

use the gun in a fight against stalker

one of Stellar blad's creepy bosses by

successfully countering a specific

attack with repulse a weak spot is in

field next to stalker's head heavy

damage can be dealt if you are quick

enough to fire at this weak spot I also

found myself relying on the gun whenever

I was out of potions as attacking from a

distance wasn't nearly as risky as

attacking with my

blade at the very least the gun should

function as yet another option instead

of blad's already robust

combat the bosses I got to fight all had

a wide array of attack patterns that

fundamentally changed once they headed

into a different phase while

overwhelming at first after a few tries

I realized how the attacks were designed

for me to utilize the parrying dodging

and Auto skills that stter blade had

taught me at that

point stter blade has two difficulty

settings normal mode and story mode

while calling it a soul slide would make

it sound more difficult than it actually

is in normal mode regular enemies can

kill you if you let your guard down on

my first few attempts bosses felt quite

challenging as well from a game design

perspective St blade does draw a lot of

inspiration from The Souls born

genre camps feel just like bonfire Teck

points you can unlock shortcuts that

lead you back to those checkpoints and

be prepared for surprise attacks from

enemies placed just around the

corner when playing a story mode the

game feels a lot more forgiving and you

can turn on an accessibility option

called action assist that tells you the

right timing for pairing and dodging in

QT

fashion I like that camps don't just

function as a place that restores your

health and refills your potions but

provides some actra relaxation for Eve

and the player watching Eve kick back on

her chair while playing your choice of

song on the record player is a good way

to take a break at these camps Eve

occasionally has conversations with her

friends and the game can reward you with

flashbacks and other events some events

only occur at specific camps so finding

all the camps functions as a nice extra

for completionists or those who want to

dig deeper into St blades world and

characters you can buy items and learn

new skills at camps as well newly

obtained skills can be tried out in the

game's training room but even if you

don't Stellar blade will remind you of

that skill during the next combat

session in the main game Stell blade has

many small details like this that made

me feel like I was being taken great

care of for example whenever the beta

skill gauge is full the game's UI will

notify you of this while it might sound

like an afterthought for someone who

often gets caught up in the acent and

forgets to look at the gauge like me it

goes a long

way while Stell blade is combat focused

I experienced some simple puzzles and

platforming as well entering a code in

order to open a door was so

straightforward that I didn't even feel

bad to refer to the hint

feature well not particularly

spectacular platforming sessions like

moving wooden boards on a water Surface

by swimming to then climb on them and

jump to a nearby Lea were decent enough

to provide some welcome variety speaking

of swimming Eve can swim underwater as

well which I found somewhat rare for a

combat focused action game like Stellar

blade in typical video game fashion

swimming to the bottom of the water

rewarded me with a treasure chest what

else would you

expect while mostly linear the stage I

got to play was wide enough for a few

detours with other hidden treasure

chests and optional enemies I got the

impression that Stell blade takes

exploration seriously as well at least

for an action game in the main game

players can explore a city called Zion

as well as some less linear

areas while the depth of its exploration

remains to be seen C Blade's action

alone was more than enough for me to get

excited for its April 26 release on

PlayStation 5 for more upcoming games

stick with

idea