‘Stellar Blade’ Is a Stylish, Sexy Action Adventure: Video Game Review

Seoul-based developer Shift Up’s latest game, “Stellar Blade,” has gotten a lot of attention in the months leading up to its release. While some folks online have certainly shared their excitement for the combat mechanics and story, a much more vocal group has honed in on one particular selling point: the game’s hero, Eve, who is extraordinarily well-endowed in her chest and backside.

Eve’s generous assets have given way to a myriad of memes and an endless supply of Reddit threads about the game’s extra-bouncy “jiggle physics.” While Eve’s allure may be a key draw for the game (sex sells, after all), “Stellar Blade” has far more to offer than its protagonist’s physique.

“Stellar Blade” is set on a desolate Earth in the future, following airborne squad member Eve as she sets out to fulfill her life’s purpose: destroying the Naytiba, the malevolent force of insect-like monsters that have devastated the planet.

She’s flanked by two companions: Adam, a survivor who leads Eve to humanity’s last city of Xion, and Lily, an exuberant and youthful engineer. Adam’s a little lacking in personality, but Lily more than makes up for it with her endless charm.

While Adam and Lily don’t actually follow Eve into combat, they pilot a drone alongside her, providing scanning abilities and commentary on the action.

After a lengthy tutorial, players are thrust into the unforgiving open world of the Wasteland, which boasts an impressive variety of enemies and a slew of compelling side quests to complete. These side quests are a bright spot of the game, anchored by sympathetic characters like a young scrap shop salesgirl in search of her beloved lost sister. In fact, they’re often more interesting than the main story.

The plot often doesn’t make complete sense, left intentionally vague to build intrigue as Eve discovers the truth about her world. Unfortunately, it builds to a reveal that ultimately doesn’t pay off well enough.

That said, there’s still plenty to love here. The combat system, though unforgiving and oftentimes quite challenging, is incredibly rewarding. Learning how to precisely time perfect parries and dodges is the key to keeping Eve alive and vanquishing foes, with much of her branching skill tree built around elevating those two simple moves.

Difficult battles can prove to be immensely frustrating at times, due largely to the game’s nonsensical mechanic of depleting any used ammo and consumables before reviving. After losing a fight several times, it’s a hard pill to swallow when there’s no ammo remaining, making a tough battle even tougher.

Once the sparring is over, there’s a world of collectible goodies for Eve to discover. Early in the game, she finds an old soda can on the ground, vowing to display all she can find in a defunct vending machine. Most of these cans are clear nods to today’s brands (“Newfoundland Dry” ginger ale, for example), with a kitschy art style that makes them loads of fun to hunt for.

Eve also acquires an enviable wardrobe of new outfits during gameplay (some are quest rewards, while others can be found through exploration). From a “Sailor Moon”-esque schoolgirl uniform to a black leather catsuit, players will certainly be able to find a look for every occasion — as long as they’re cool with sky-high heels. Eve can be further customized with the help of a hairdresser on Xion, who can switch up her bangs and give her a fresh dye job.

Another highlight of “Stellar Blade” is its gorgeous soundtrack, created both in-house and with Monaca, led by famed composer Keiichi Okabe, whose work has been heard in the “Nier,” “Tekken” and “Drakengard” series. Whether it’s a moving ballad swelling to a crescendo at an emotional moment or a badass K-pop song punctuating a brutal boss fight, these songs won’t leave your head anytime soon after completing the game.

Whether you’re considering “Stellar Blade” for its buxom hero or its blisteringly frenetic combat, this is one stylish and well-polished game that’s certainly worth your attention.

“Stellar Blade” launches April 26 for PlayStation 5.

Score: 8/10

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