Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade tells the story of the soldier Eve, who returns to an abandoned Earth overrun by creatures called the Naytiba in order to clear a path back for the rest of humanity, living in an orbital colony. The game alternates tight, linear levels set in ruins and corridors with more open desert areas where you can explore more freely, complete side quests, and search for gear. Its presentation rests on the contrast between the elegant main heroine and exceptionally unsettling, biologically styled enemies.

The combat system is the core of the whole game and relies on precisely timed parries. Every enemy type has its own rhythm, and the player learns when to block, when to sidestep, and when to use a reaction that requires a specific input; a correctly timed parry opens the enemy up and charges abilities that are spent on powerful strikes. On top of that come skill progression, suit modules, a ranged weapon for distant targets, and a solid amount of side content including puzzles and collectibles. The difficulty is noticeable, but the game also offers gentler settings for those who came mainly for the story. The game gradually adds new combat combos and exploration tools, which opens up earlier areas and makes revisiting them worthwhile.

Technically, it's a very polished title that runs smoothly on PlayStation 5 and offers several graphics modes; the environments impress mainly through their lighting and material detail. The music mixes electronic sounds with vocals and is among the things players remember most, since it underscores the melancholic tone of the depopulated world. Reception was good, with praise for the combat and the soundtrack, while reservations were aimed at the storytelling and at how the game handles the main character's visual presentation, which also sparked a wider debate. Today it's one of the most distinctive new action titles on the console. It was the South Korean studio's first major console title, and its success showed that there's room for new action franchises even outside established series.