Stellar Blade PC Review (Steam Deck)
Summary: Stellar Blade on PC is just as good it not better than the PS5 version and a must play for fans of this genre.
5
STELLAR
The hit PlayStation 5 game Stellar Blade has sliced its way onto the PC and more importantly, it works on a whole range of different system configurations, including the Steam Deck… and yes, you heard correctly, it plays very well on this handheld, allowing me to easily transition from gaming rig to deck. For the uninitiated, Stellar Blade was developed by Shift Up and released on the PlayStation 5 last year and one of the highlights on that system. It features engaging gameplay driven by an equally engaging narrative and a hero who can literally kick ass. The hero behind Stellar Blade is Eve, who is based on the equally gorgeous South Korean model Shin Jae-eun, the template for this kick-ass protagonist.
To put the PC version on par with the PlayStation 5 Pro and for some systems to a whole new level, it supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 resolution scaling and frame generation, NVIDIA DLAA image enhancement and NVIDIA Reflex latency reduction features. As a result, it makes Stellar Blade look visually stunning on PC, just like Eve herself and also like our hero, it runs exceptionally fast. It also supports ultrawide (21:9) and super ultrawide (32:9) resolutions and on my Samsung Ultrawide screen, the world of Stellar Blade has never looked this good. Because the game is now on PC, it supports gamepads, keyboards and mice, including the DualSense controller (wired), which gives you access to all the haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features that are available on the PS5.
The Story
The narrative of Stellar Blade takes place in the distant future, where humanity has lost Earth to the Naytiba. As mankind’s survivors fled to the stars, it is now time to retake the planet with a calculated attack on these “alien invaders”. Players take on Eve, a member of the 7th Airborne Squad, who with her team manages to make it to the planet’s surface but things go devastatingly wrong quickly. With her squad cut short by the Naytiba, the responsibility for freedom (and revenge) falls upon Eve and her unique set of skills which puts Liam Neeson to shame as she explores the post-war city of Eidos-7, now infested with deadly creatures.
We also discover remnants of humanity still left on Earth, who need our help. Allies such as Adam with his trusty drone offer Eve the support she needs while she fights for redemption. As the story unfolds, nothing is what it seems in this post-apocalyptic universe and there are plenty of secrets to uncover. Also from the very first moment, the game throws you into the deep end as soon as the opening cinematic finishes, it’s sink or swim and you’d best pay attention to the small in-game tutorial, courtesy of your friend and leader, Tachy… RIP.
The Gameplay
The gameplay of Stellar Blade is an action-adventure title played from a third-person perspective which works perfectly for this story. As you progress, so do Eve’s skills, broken into a diverse skill set that includes Attack, Beta, Burst and Survival. This provides a skill tree to enhance combat prowess, from attack skills such as Rush Assault, to powerful Beta strikes like Shield Breaker and area attacks like Tempest Pulse. Survival skills include dodge, blink and threat detection, plus Eve has access to “Tachy Mode,” which provides power-ups in battle. There is a learning curve but once mastered, you and Even become a force to be reckoned with.
Given that, Stellar Blade is action-packed and feels like a Grade-B Blockbuster (in a good way) meets AAA gaming title and as you familiarise yourself with the controls and of course, the über-cool heroine, Eve, you realise that there is so much to this game in terms of mechanics and gameplay. If you think Stellar Blade is just another button masher, you’re sorely mistaken, as there is a careful mix of strategy and not just with boss fights but how you explore this world.
To quote an overused analogy, “The best defence is a good offence” and this holds true in Stellar Blade because mastering blocks, parries and dodges are a must. Attacks include melee (and aerial) plus ranged attacks, as Eve expands her arsenal throughout the game. Watching Eve perform these impressive manoeuvres is almost worth the admission price alone on PC because it is… well, Stellar. Eve also has a shield that allows her to reduce incoming damage, however, if you want to play the game like Dark Souls, you can equip the Nano Skin Suit, which disables her shield ability, making the game brutally difficult.
Graphics & Audio
As Stellar Blade is designed for a wide range of PCs, you do need a decent gaming rig to appreciate the amazing attention to detail across its large open-worlds and realistic post-apocalyptic alien invasion atmosphere. The developers make great use of level design, helping create an engaging, yet at times, scary atmosphere. Characters such as Eve and her team are well-modelled (they are gorgeous), including the diverse cast of enemies as you hack and slash your way to victory. You can adjust the game’s details to suit your PC, though on my gaming rig, it ran at full detail and never missed a beat. On the Steam Deck, the game automatically reduces detail, ensuring it runs smoothly.
The audio is equally impressive and if you want to take immersion to another level, a headset is a must. While voice acting can feel a little clichéd at times, it fits the characters and the world well. The sound design captures the background subtleties and the roars of monstrous creatures, adding to the intensity of the gameplay. Equally, the soundtrack enhances the action and the emotional cues of the narrative.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding gaming experience for PC, Stellar Blade delivers one of the best experiences of this year. Last year, it was for PlayStation gamers (and still is), but this year, it’s time for PC gamers of all different system configurations to help Eve take back Earth with deadly force! With stunning graphics, flawless gameplay, Stellar Blade aims for the stars and delivers an interstellar experience from start to finish!
Brilliant!
System Requirements
Minimum (low settings, 1080p at 60 fps):
- Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10;
- Processor: Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X;
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB);
- RAM: 16GB;
- DirectX 12;
- Drive space: 75GB.
Recommended (medium settings, 1440p at 60 fps):
- Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10;
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X;
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT;
- RAM: 16GB;
- DirectX 12;
- SSD space: 75GB.
High (high settings, 1440p at 60 fps):
- Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10;
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X;
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT;
- RAM: 16GB;
- DirectX 12;
- SSD space: 75GB.
Very High (very high settings, 4K at 60 fps):
- Operating system: 64-bit Windows 10;
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X;
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT;
- RAM: 16GB;
- DirectX 12;
- SSD space: 75GB.
Related Posts
Hisense Announces Local Availability for the HT SATURN Home Theatre Sound System →
Chery reveals price and specification for T7 & T8 Super Hybrids →
Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Review … born to hack! →
