22/06/2025
🔥 WE BEAT STELLAR BLADE & UNLOCKED 2 OF 3 ENDINGS 🔥
(One on-stream, one off-stream — more below.)
After 112.2 hours of on-stream idling, off-stream sessions, and pure exploration across District 3 and beyond, this NieR-meets-Terminator dystopian action RPG had me rethinking the meaning of humanity — just like NieR: Automata did. Every Memorystick, Nano Suit, article, and character bio in Stellar Blade touches on something heavy — trauma, identity, hope. And if you’re paying attention, you’ll feel it.
But I’ll leave that part to you. Some things deserve to be experienced firsthand.
🎮 Gameplay & Structure:
This game flows. The balance between main story and side quests constantly had my completionist brain torn. Vast world, but still linear — a win for immersion, even if I wish the regions didn’t require loading screens. Still, it never broke the flow.
Side note 1: I STILL missed one Data Bank entry. Just one. One that was hard to miss, too. 😅
⚔️ Combat:
Almost spectacular. Seriously.
I wish enemies had more Retribution sequences (you get, like, two per enemy type), but perfect parries? God-tier. The loud CLANG, the follow-up slice — it’s so good it feels required to master. This game warmed me up for Lies of P and Sekiro — two games I’ve barely scratched but now feel more ready for.
Side note 2: I’m still trash at parries. Boss Challenge Mode is my new training ground. 😅
📸 Photo Mode & Selfie Mode:
ShiftUP nailed this. Best Photo Mode I’ve used in a game so far. World Lighting, depth of field, detail — you can capture everything from scenic landscapes to EVE in all her Nano Suit glory, mid-slash or mid-slay.
Then there’s Selfie Mode, unlocked through a side quest. Pose with Lily, Adam, or both. Take goofy or badass selfies. But man, I wish you could pose with Kaya, Enya, or Liam too. Also, give EVE more expressions, please! 🥺
🧭 Exploration:
Ridiculously rewarding. The collaborations with NieR: Automata and ShiftUP’s own “physics-heavy, girls-with-great-goods-and-guns mobile game,” GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE, add spice to the already rich world. These aren’t shallow cameos either — they give you quests and mechanics that feel earned.
It’s got strong Ragnarok Online, Dragon Nest, and Black Desert vibes. Nostalgic and fresh.
One request: ShiftUP, PLEASE collaborate with Bayonetta. It would complete The Holy Trinity. 🙏 I swear I can't be the only one asking for this. 🥹
🎵 Soundtrack:
SLAPS. Absolute bangers. “Don’t Forget Me” is still on loop in my head (that guitar solo tho 🤌 ), and the seasonal music + collectible vinyls are fire. Just turn on Seasonal Content, head to the Oasis in the Great Desert, and vibe.
🎣 Fishing Minigame:
There is fishing — and it’s not just filler.
There are quests tied to it, a couple of collectibles you can only fish for (especially if you missed them in a certain late-game region), and of course, detailed Data Bank entries for each fish you catch. Not everyone will bother, but if you're a completionist, this will scratch that itch — and then some.
🔚 Endings & Consequences:
Stellar Blade features three distinct endings, determined by two key things:
1. Whether you collected all required Data Bank entries from Eidos 7 to the Great Desert.
2. How you respond to Adam’s offer once you reach the Nest — this decision locks in your final boss battle path and autosaves immediately. The game doesn’t let you walk it back until after the final cutscene and credits.
➕ New Game+, Replayability, & Pro Tips:
New Game+ adds:
• Dozens of new Nano Suits
• More skills
• More reason to dive back in 😎
🔄 First-Time Recommendations:
• Voice Acting: Skip English. Use Japanese or Korean. Japanese is my personal go-to — more passion in every line.
• Before Orbit Elevator: Explore everything. Complete the Data Bank. Trust me.
• At the Nest: Adam’s offer autosaves. Choose carefully — you can’t undo it unless you finish the game.
• Difficulty: Start on Normal. Story Mode is too handhold-y (those combat cues are wild). Challenge yourself early!
💥 Final Verdict:
EVE is stunning. The NPCs are memorable. The combat is thrilling. The world-building is insane. The surprises? Oof.
ShiftUP deserves way more Western recognition — but hey, 3 million PC sales is no joke. 👏
Rating: 9.5/10. Can’t wait to jump into New Game+ and unlock the final ending.
📣 Your Turn:
• What’s your favorite moment in Stellar Blade?
• Thoughts on the DLCs so far?
• Favorite Nano Suit?
Drop your takes in the comments 👇
And yes, don’t forget to post your best EVE selfies too. 😄📸
