When Stellar Blade first unsheathed itself onto PS5, it made a lot of noise for a debut project. South Korean devs Shift Up turned heads with their ultra-slick sci-fi action RPG, and while some critics initially suspected style over substance, my fellow critics and I largely flipped once hands were on controllers.
How could we not with such striking visuals, a deep combat system, and confident genre fusion? Despite a less than ideal demo debut, commercial success followed—especially in Asian markets, where pre-orders smashed expectations. I slapped an 8 on it at embargo lift (and was gratified to see it average out to a Metacritic 81). All told, people loved the obvious inspirations of Nier: Automata but also lauded how well Stellar Blade carved its own path.
people loved the obvious inspirations of Nier: Automata but also lauded how well Stellar Blade carved its own path.
Blink-dash to today, and we have a PC version that slices in with sharper edges and some meaty upgrades. Ultrawide support is in, DLSS 3 and ray-tracing bells are ringing, and framerate caps are gone like Eve’s modesty armour. Those jumping in fresh will also enjoy post-launch DLC costumes and tweaks to game balance.
Personally, I played this the right way: on a 4090 GPU, cranked to 120 fps through a 4K 32:9 monitor. Truly, it was a retina-melting experience just with the extra screen real estate alone—shadows fall longer, colours hit harder, and Shift Up’s already meticulous world-building absolutely sings when unleashed from console constraints.
Better yet, the performance with everything cranked to Very High (and motion blur / grain filter disabled, because I hate them so much) is more than rock solid. The only complaints I can level at this port are minor. I love that the cutscenes have been reworked to take into account 32:9 peripherals. I did note that some especially explosive scenes cause 10-15 frame losses. It’s also a small shame that nobody thought to expand Eve’s various upgrade menu screens to go beyond their original 16:9 format. We’re in them so often; it wouldn’t have taken much to improve them.
Beyond that, the PC visuals here are as fetchingly flawless as its protagonist. I found it an absolute treat to replay, despite this being my fourth run through. The new Crimson Kimono skin? Definitely used in that run, and the silk material tech it showcases was sublime.
Eye candy aside, I should probably bring you newcomers up to speed with how Stellar Blade gets down. When it comes to setting and aesthetics, this hack ‘n’ slasher bears more than a passing resemblance to Nier: Automata. That’s no accident. PlatinumGames’ Yoko Taro gave Shift Up the nod and even called it the superior product. Bold, but not unwarranted.
It doesn’t take long to see why that comparison holds water. You play as Eve, a cyberpunk battle angel shot down to a ravaged Earth by a cosmic entity called Mother Sphere. You’re part of an elite Angel unit, sent on a doomed mission to cleanse the planet of mutant filth known as Naytibas. Eve survives, stranded and forced to rally with a few eccentric locals to take out four nastier-than-average Naytibas known as Alphas.
Your supporting cast is small but serviceable. Adam, a mysterious local who helps early on, falls flat in the voice acting department. Thankfully, Lily, a cheery sidekick and tech wizard, delivers stronger support and actual laughs.
Adam, a mysterious local who helps early on, falls flat in the voice acting department.
Narratively, Stellar Blade offers a solid 25-ish-hour ride with a twisty thread that genuinely surprised me. There are a few branching decisions, multiple endings (some of which feel ambiguous at best), and some light-hearted side activities like fishing and soda-can hunting. Happily, the New Game+, which was AWOL at launch, is included here, a challenge that retains your character progress but offers the chance to unlock new abilities and more of Eve’s often risque costumes.
Eve’s perk tree is a triple threat—enhancing combos, making defensive timing more forgiving, and unlocking stealth finishers. Then there’s the Beta skill system, a set of flashy special attacks powered by momentum and tactical timing. Think Sekiro with sparkles. Visual cues telegraph whether to parry, dodge, or (very long) leg it. Combined with a lovely, flowing combo system, combat sings and constantly evolves.
As you level up, Burst skills add even more spice: juiced-up Beta moves that look bonkers and hit harder. Mid-game introduces a rage mode and a surprisingly robust gear system, allowing you to fine-tune Eve’s build with trinkets that modify attributes.
Beyond the hack ‘n’ slash, there’s a stew of minigames, light puzzles, blade-surfing, and chest unlocks that often require exploration or backtracking. Stealth assassinations are more satisfying than expected, especially when Eve sticks a blade in someone’s unsuspecting butt (unintentionally, due to hastily keyed kill animations).
Not everything lands, though. The gunplay feels undercooked and ammo-stingy. Platforming, meanwhile, is consistently frustrating. Too many missed jumps and cheap deaths for a super soldier heroine. It’s the one pillar of Stellar Blade that feels dull and unhoned.
assassinations are more satisfying than expected, especially when Eve sticks a blade in someone’s unsuspecting butt
Visually, I should reiterate that Stellar Blade is still a knockout. Whether it’s the brooding streets of ruined cities, glittering tech labs, or rust-riddled desert colonies, Shift Up’s world feels lived in. Shadow and lighting systems do heavy lifting. And playing in 32:9 ultra-widescreen with every bell and whistle enabled? Obscenely good-looking.
Xion, your main hub, evolves beautifully as you complete side quests. Level design swings between linear gauntlets, branching corridors, and wide-open sandboxes. Despite the literal deserts, variety is strong throughout.
If I did have to whinge about this world, it’d be about the loss of access to some intimate areas later in the game. Loot goblins, beware; this game locks doors behind you.
Sound design slaps, too. The blade clangs, impact sounds, and audio cues are crisp and meaningful. The ethereal soundtrack is a joy to return to, especially the campfire tunes. Still, more variety in field music would help. Some themes wear out their welcome on longer scavenger hunts.
How does it run on Steam Deck? Much like the PC demo you might have already played, Stellar Blade performs impressively on Valve’s handheld beast, delivering a smooth and enjoyable experience. Shift Up has optimised the game specifically for handheld play, incorporating a dedicated Deck preset that balances visual fidelity with performance. I clocked frame rates ranging from 40 to 50 FPS during exploration, with minor dips during intense combat sequences.
The inclusion of AMD’s FSR 3 upscaling technology aids in maintaining performance, though it can introduce slight visual artefacts in certain scenes. Despite these minor issues, the overall gameplay remains fluid and responsive. Basically, I reckon it’s well-optimised for portable gaming junkies.
At the end of the day, Stellar Blade holds up and in many ways exceeds expectations. Shift Up may be newcomers, but they really did swing hard with this one. The thirst-bait marketing might have suggested shallow waters, but there’s depth here. Not quite Nier-deep, but close enough to earn respect.
It’s a slick, confident, over-the-top debut that borrows well and builds better. On PC, it’s sharper than ever. And I say again, if Shift Up is keen to franchise this and announce a sequel, I say unsheathe it.
Thanks to PlayStation AU for providing a review code of Stellar Blade on PC.
