Stellar Blade had much more substance than many give it credit for. The art design is gorgeous, and despite clearly taking inspiration from several different series and genres, it all comes together to make something unique. The story was a highlight for me, even if it’s presentation felt off at times.

The difficulty spikes dramatically at the very end of the game, and despite the encounters feeling mostly fair, it was touch higher than I would have liked and brought the game’s pace to a pretty dramatic halt. This was a fun experience and is definitely a game that would hold up in repeat playthroughs.