Stellar Blade
Before playing it, I heard how Shift Up’s Stellar Blade was significantly influenced by NieR: Automata. The opening seems designed to echo the latter, between the loss of allied life and encounters with overwhelming odds. However, Eve’s journey through a post-apocalyptic, Naytiba-infested Earth slowly opened into its own moody action-adventure, one with gorgeous locales, stories of sacrifice and remnants of humanity.
The characterization could have used more work at the end of it all. However, no one can deny how enjoyable the ride was, whether it was exploring the giant open-world-esque expanses, riding through the Hypertube, or battling the body horrors that were the Alpha Naytiba. With solid mechanics, an impressive assortment of abilities, and enough customization, Stellar Blade’s combat anchored the whole experience while setting it apart from its inspiration. Whether it stands alongside the genre’s greats, it’s still an incredible single-player experience.
