Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into this new game called “Stellar Blade,” and I gotta tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I saw some folks online arguing about whether it’s a “Souls-like” game or not, and I figured, why not put it to the test myself and share my experience?
First off, I started the game and chose the normal difficulty, just to get a feel for it. Right from the get-go, the combat felt pretty intense. It wasn’t just button-mashing; I actually had to think about my attacks. Timing was everything. I learned real quick that if I didn’t time my parries and dodges just right, I was gonna get wrecked. I spent a good chunk of time just practicing these moves, getting the hang of the rhythm of each enemy’s attacks.
Then, I noticed something else that felt familiar: stamina management. Every time I swung my weapon, dodged an attack, or sprinted, it drained my stamina bar. I couldn’t just go in swinging like a maniac; I had to be strategic. It was like, attack a couple of times, then back off and let my stamina recover. This made every encounter feel like a deadly dance, especially with those tougher enemies.
I died a lot, like a lot. However, I don’t get angry at the game. I just learn the way the enemies attack and practice my parries and dodges. And each time I die, I was sent back to the last camp where I rested and guess what, all those enemies I had just defeated, except the big bosses, they were back too! It was a bit frustrating at first, but then I realized it was a chance to get better. I started seeing these respawns as practice runs, a way to hone my skills and get more resources.
Then I thought, “What if I crank up the difficulty?” So, I switched to the hard mode. Man, it was a whole different ball game. Enemies hit way harder, and their attack patterns seemed more complex. It definitely felt more like those “Souls” games everyone talks about. I had to be extra careful, studying every enemy’s moves and exploiting their weaknesses. It was tough, but also super rewarding when I finally took down a boss that had been giving me trouble.
But here’s the thing, while playing, I also noticed some things that felt different from those hardcore “Souls” games. The story, for example, it’s there, but it didn’t grab me the same way as some other games I’ve played. Also, the overall vibe of the game, it’s more, I don’t know, action-packed and flashy, especially with those cool-looking combos. It also felt a little bit like playing “Nier Automata,” the one made by PlatinumGames. I don’t know how to say it, maybe it’s because of the cool-looking female protagonist and the robots.
Here’s my final take:
- If you play on normal mode, “Stellar Blade” has some “Souls-like” elements, like the challenging combat and the enemy respawns. But it’s not as punishing, and it feels more like an action-adventure game overall.
- If you crank it up to hard mode, yeah, it definitely leans more into that “Souls-like” territory. It’s a real test of skill and patience.
- But even then, it’s not just a “Souls” clone. It’s got its own thing going on, with its unique style and gameplay. It’s like a mix of different action games, with a dash of “Souls” thrown in for good measure.
So, is “Stellar Blade” a “Souls-like”? It depends on what you’re looking for and how you play it. But one thing’s for sure: it’s a challenging and fun game that’s worth checking out, whether you’re a “Souls” veteran or just someone who loves a good action game.
Ultimately, I spent a lot of time to try and experiment with this game and finally found the answer, what a day!
