OldBoy

This is looking good. Demo up now. Really looks great and plays amazingly.







Stellar Blade™ - PS5 Games | PlayStation (US)

RocShemp

I'll just copy-paste my thoughts from the PlayStation 5 thread. But, TL;DR, I wasn't impressed. Although, I would like to add that, though I didn't like it, I also didn't hate it. I just don't think this is a day one game. But I'd think about it once it eventually drops into the $20 - $30 range.

OldBoy

I didn’t get that at all. I did think it was a cliched anime story, but it looked spectacular and played even better to me. The parrying and dodging at right times makes it kinda cool and keeps you on your toes, certainly.

RocShemp

I dunno. It felt old hat to me. As I said, I didn't hate it. But given the hype around it, I wasn't impressed. And the graphics looked fine to me, but nothing that felt like it was really pushing the PS5. That being said, this game is exceptionally optimized. At least in so far as what the demo showed us.

Oh and I will admit that the final boss of the main demo proved a far better challenge. Also, did you try the boss challenge, after beating the demo? That is a far tougher fight.

But, yeah, the story seems bland. I also didn't like the awkward flashbacks and freeze frames showing how Eve and Adam met and grew to trust one another. But I've seen worse stories in action games (anyone remember Wet?).

OldBoy

i did a boss challenge or two. it was tough, not going to lie, but i parried, blocked and rolled away and succeeded so i was instantly taken and had to buy. i just have to get the timing down better.

Maxflier

Demo didn't do much for me.

Noonan

You, sir are a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

OldBoy

^ those posts except for last are not even from this thread so what the hell are you talking about?

Noonan

I'm talking about the fact that you constantly say you don't like what's considered Souls games and then go describe yourself enjoying exactly what makes a Souls game a Souls game.

OldBoy

this is not a "souls like" game. not even close to Elden Ring or Dark Souls III. more in the vein of Bayonetta or DMC.

Noonan

If you're parrying, blocking, and rolling during combat, it is 100% what most everyone considers a Souls-Like. Bayonetta and DMC are button mashers.

OldBoy

fine, but it is in no way as difficult as the others i mentioned and more akin to DMC and Bayonetta mashing. how bout we just move on? no one should care what i buy, what i play, what i like, don't like, etc...

Noonan

So it's an easier Souls-Like game. Those two things are not mutually exclusive and that's OK.


I'm looking forward to checking out the demo when I have time this weekend.

OldBoy

fine. i'm done.

RocShemp

So I decided to replay the demo with my PS5's Audio Format (Priority) set to Dolby Atmos. It's actually worse. Whereas I was getting surround output during gameplay (although the surrounds are dead during cutscenes, and the center remains silent during both gameplay and cutscenes) with Linear PCM, all the audio is exclusive to the front left and front right channels if I switch to Dolby Atmos. This game needs a serious day one audio patch.

Oh and I just learned today that you actually can't lose the first boss fight.

I noticed the same during my Dolby Atmos test today. I had me ear pressed to my surrounds, so I wasn't paying attention to the fight. So I was surprised I "won" that boss battle while not putting up a fight.

RocShemp

New gameplay footage, from the middle of the game.

Decker

I played a bit and it did nothing for me. Not my kind of game. And like of last-gen graphics. I didn't really like the Devil May Cry games either, this is kind of like those. The voice acting felt off as well.

RocShemp

Yeah, that's why I say it feels like an older game that was simply rebuilt on a newer engine. However, in terms of gameplay, I wish it was like DMC or Bayonetta. The combat here, even in the video I posted above, is bland by comparison. Not terrible, but just very meh.

Decker

I enjoy Beyonetta games a ton but didn't like DMC and it's probably been a while since I played it, so I barely remember it. The weird, stilted extended dialogue-heavy cut scenes reminded me of DMC too. I always wished I could skip those and get back to fighting as the story never made much sense and I didn't care about it at all.

RocShemp

Of the four DMC games I've played (never played 5 or the reboot/remake called DMC), none of them stood out for their story. They were all simply scenarios to set up each level or boss battle. And I totally get why you get that vibe here (the story is seemingly so pointless they barely show how/why Adam and Eve team up). I just wish the combat was more of that DMC style that was arguably refined in the Bayonetta games, where you had a steep challenge but could still be flashy as hell while (initially) getting your ass handed to you. Here, even in the boss challenge, I don't get that sense of cool.

By the way, am I the only one who doesn't like the music in this game? It feels (though it doesn't sound like) elevator music to me, in that it's just in the background and eventually I just want it to stop. I am usually a fan of game soundtracks, but I find the music here repetitive, ill suited to the mood of a blasted, ruined earth, and gradually grating. I mention this because I see so many folks raving about the music with as much hyperbolic praise as they do for the rest of the game (even those that admit the game isn't all that perfect). It just sounds like Eve left her iPod on loop and won't turn it off. I even tried destroying the record players in the camps. I guess if I ever bother to try the full game (unlikely), I'll have to play with the music switched off in the settings menu.

mndtrp

The only DMC game I've plaved is... DMC. The one from 2013. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I don't care for the souls games, primarily because of the dying/repeating the area aspects. Stellar Blade looks kind of cool, but the gameplay has me concerned on whether or not I'll like it. Perfect candidate for a trial, so I'm glad there is one for this game.

nickdawgy

I thought the DMC games sucked. No interest at all in any of them.

OldBoy

^ the old or the new? I love the new. They are basically button mashers but pretty decent and look spectacular. Simple games, but fun.

RocShemp

Back on topic, the director of the game was recently interviewed and stated that, although there is a possibility of paid DLC down the road, post launch they will add New Game+ and additional costumes for free.

I may not be sold on this game, but I am in favor of such a gamer-friendly mentality.

nickdawgy

The old. It’s been years. Just wasn’t fun. Neither was Prince of Persia.