Built to slash, tuned to shine
By Paul Hunter
Stellar Blade didn’t sneak onto shelves—it crash-landed with the kind of visual swagger and gameplay muscle that begs for attention. Developed by Shift Up and published by Sony, this sci-fi action RPG arrived on PlayStation 5 first, turning heads with its sleek combat, bold design choices, and unapologetic confidence. Now, it’s made the leap to PC, and it’s more than just a straight port. This version piles on improvements, from graphics tweaks to bonus content, giving you a complete package right out of the gate.
If you skipped it the first time, now’s your second chance. Shift Up didn’t just hit Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V—they brought over every update, seasonal event, and crossover while giving PC users more control under the hood. You can tweak visuals, plug in your DualSense, and crank the frame rate beyond what most console games can dream of. It’s a welcome upgrade, whether you’re stepping into Eve’s boots for the first time or coming back for another round of parries and particle effects.
The question is, with its stylized character designs, fine-tuned combat, and hefty bonus content—does Stellar Blade still hold up, or has the moment passed? Let’s find out!
Earth is a wreck. Whatever used to live on its surface has been crushed by the Naytiba—hostile bio-organic creatures that forced the last humans into orbit. You step into the role of Eve, a soldier from the 7th Airborne Squad, sent down to reclaim what’s left. Things go sideways fast. Most of your team doesn’t make it past the opening hour, and suddenly, you’re left alone, stranded, and responsible for turning the tide.
The mission starts as a clear-cut fight to take back the planet, but cracks in that simplicity show up early. As Eve pushes deeper into the ruins of cities like Eidos-7 and the neon-lit alleyways of Xion, she meets survivors clinging to what little remains. One of them, Adam, tags along with a drone that feeds you intel and dry commentary. Together, you start piecing together the truth about what happened on Earth—and maybe, what’s still happening behind the scenes.
Dialogue is concise and doesn’t waste time. You’ll hear just enough from side characters to keep the world grounded without turning every encounter into a lore dump. The original Korean voice acting especially stands out, giving Eve a mix of calm confidence and curiosity that makes her more than just another action figure with a sword. There’s humour, tragedy, and a bit of mystery under the surface, though it never slows the game’s pace for long.
The story gets moving fast. As soon as the first cutscene fades out, you’re in the thick of it—no hand-holding, no warm-up laps. Holograms shout warnings in smoggy factories, old tech coughs out broken messages, and the deeper you go, the more questions start to stack. Plot twists don’t rely on big speeches or sudden reveals; instead, they’re scattered across notes, hidden rooms, and the scars left behind. While there are moments where the narrative tries to pack in too much too fast, most of the time it stays focused, letting you drive the story forward at your own pace.
Stellar Blade doesn’t waste time getting to the good stuff. Right from the first enemy encounter, the combat demands your focus. Eve starts with simple three-hit combos, but stick with it and the system opens up. Dodges, parries, and aerial strikes link together in tight, satisfying rhythms. Nail a perfect dodge and time slows just enough to let you reposition. Land a parry, and enemy armour cracks wide open. It’s clean, sharp, and all about timing—not button-mashing.
Each fight plays out like a puzzle with a pulse. Standard enemies teach you the rules, but it’s the boss battles that really put you to the test. They mix wide sweeps with projectile patterns, forcing you to learn spacing and react fast. Late-game variants throw curveballs by switching attack patterns mid-fight. You can’t coast. I leaned into a build that reduced cooldowns for Beta skills (powerful active abilities) and made parries easier to time, which helped turn Eve into a walking blender, but the challenge never dropped off.
Progression feels steady. Skill unlocks arrive at a pace that never overwhelms, and the perks you equip actually matter. You’re not just tacking on passive buffs—you’re shaping how Eve fights. There’s also a sense of style baked into every move. Whether you’re chaining Beta Arts or juggling enemies mid-air, combat looks just as smooth as it plays.
There’s plenty to do between fights too. Optional quests add just enough variety without dragging down momentum. And if you’re coming in fresh on PC, the version includes all post-launch updates—like New Game Plus, streamlined fast travel, and seasonal hunts. I took on the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE crossover arena fight right after the first act. It wasn’t just some quick promo—it was a full-on duel with new gear to unlock and a jukebox track to prove I’d earned it. Little extras like that keep the world feeling active without turning it into a checklist.
Even after hours of play, combat stayed fun. The enemy types shift often enough to keep you on your toes, and the controls stay snappy. The camera can still trip up in tight corners, but it’s a rare hiccup, not a constant annoyance. Most of the time, you’re too busy dodging lasers and smashing corrupted monsters to notice.
Stellar Blade doesn’t just look good—it runs like a dream, especially on PC. With everything maxed out at 3440 × 1440 on a GeForce 5080, the frame rate well above 120, even in chaotic combat scenes filled with dust clouds, debris, and overlapping particle effects. DLSS 4 cleans up the image without tanking performance, and Reflex support cuts down input lag for tighter response in heated fights. Everything snaps into place with minimal fuss.
Ultrawide support deserves a nod here. From the first title screen, cutscenes and gameplay stretch to fill the display without weird cropping or letterboxing. That extra screen space helps during combat too—peripheral enemies are easier to track, and the environments open up in a way that suits the game’s mix of industrial zones and neon-soaked ruins. It’s not just eye candy. It’s practical.
Plug in a DualSense with a USB cable and you unlock the full haptic experience. The triggers resist just enough during charged attacks, and every clash of steel gives off a jolt that adds a little kick without going overboard. Even subtle feedback—like the thrum when Beta Arts connect—feels polished and well-tuned. It’s not mandatory, but it makes a difference if you’ve got the hardware for it.
The PC version also brings all the visual tuning knobs you'd expect. Tweak shadows, adjust post-processing, toggle depth-of-field—the works. That freedom means you can dial in visuals for either performance or fidelity without much compromise. And the menus are clean and responsive, even when flipping through inventory or scanning the map for the next objective.
On Steam Deck, the game holds its own surprisingly well. It doesn’t reach the high frame counts of a full rig, but with settings adjusted, performance remains stable enough for portable play. Load times are short, controls stay responsive, and the visuals hold their detail on the smaller screen. If you’re taking Eve’s mission on the go, it doesn’t disappoint.
Final Score: 9.5/10 - Amazing
Developer: Shift Up Corporation
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Stellar Blade didn’t sneak onto shelves—it crash-landed with the kind of visual swagger and gameplay muscle that begs for attention. Developed by Shift Up and published by Sony, this sci-fi action RPG arrived on PlayStation 5 first, turning heads with its sleek combat, bold design choices, and unapologetic confidence. Now, it’s made the leap to PC, and it’s more than just a straight port. This version piles on improvements, from graphics tweaks to bonus content, giving you a complete package right out of the gate.
If you skipped it the first time, now’s your second chance. Shift Up didn’t just hit Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V—they brought over every update, seasonal event, and crossover while giving PC users more control under the hood. You can tweak visuals, plug in your DualSense, and crank the frame rate beyond what most console games can dream of. It’s a welcome upgrade, whether you’re stepping into Eve’s boots for the first time or coming back for another round of parries and particle effects.
The question is, with its stylized character designs, fine-tuned combat, and hefty bonus content—does Stellar Blade still hold up, or has the moment passed? Let’s find out!
Earth is a wreck. Whatever used to live on its surface has been crushed by the Naytiba—hostile bio-organic creatures that forced the last humans into orbit. You step into the role of Eve, a soldier from the 7th Airborne Squad, sent down to reclaim what’s left. Things go sideways fast. Most of your team doesn’t make it past the opening hour, and suddenly, you’re left alone, stranded, and responsible for turning the tide.
The mission starts as a clear-cut fight to take back the planet, but cracks in that simplicity show up early. As Eve pushes deeper into the ruins of cities like Eidos-7 and the neon-lit alleyways of Xion, she meets survivors clinging to what little remains. One of them, Adam, tags along with a drone that feeds you intel and dry commentary. Together, you start piecing together the truth about what happened on Earth—and maybe, what’s still happening behind the scenes.
Dialogue is concise and doesn’t waste time. You’ll hear just enough from side characters to keep the world grounded without turning every encounter into a lore dump. The original Korean voice acting especially stands out, giving Eve a mix of calm confidence and curiosity that makes her more than just another action figure with a sword. There’s humour, tragedy, and a bit of mystery under the surface, though it never slows the game’s pace for long.
The story gets moving fast. As soon as the first cutscene fades out, you’re in the thick of it—no hand-holding, no warm-up laps. Holograms shout warnings in smoggy factories, old tech coughs out broken messages, and the deeper you go, the more questions start to stack. Plot twists don’t rely on big speeches or sudden reveals; instead, they’re scattered across notes, hidden rooms, and the scars left behind. While there are moments where the narrative tries to pack in too much too fast, most of the time it stays focused, letting you drive the story forward at your own pace.
Stellar Blade doesn’t waste time getting to the good stuff. Right from the first enemy encounter, the combat demands your focus. Eve starts with simple three-hit combos, but stick with it and the system opens up. Dodges, parries, and aerial strikes link together in tight, satisfying rhythms. Nail a perfect dodge and time slows just enough to let you reposition. Land a parry, and enemy armour cracks wide open. It’s clean, sharp, and all about timing—not button-mashing.
Each fight plays out like a puzzle with a pulse. Standard enemies teach you the rules, but it’s the boss battles that really put you to the test. They mix wide sweeps with projectile patterns, forcing you to learn spacing and react fast. Late-game variants throw curveballs by switching attack patterns mid-fight. You can’t coast. I leaned into a build that reduced cooldowns for Beta skills (powerful active abilities) and made parries easier to time, which helped turn Eve into a walking blender, but the challenge never dropped off.
Progression feels steady. Skill unlocks arrive at a pace that never overwhelms, and the perks you equip actually matter. You’re not just tacking on passive buffs—you’re shaping how Eve fights. There’s also a sense of style baked into every move. Whether you’re chaining Beta Arts or juggling enemies mid-air, combat looks just as smooth as it plays.
There’s plenty to do between fights too. Optional quests add just enough variety without dragging down momentum. And if you’re coming in fresh on PC, the version includes all post-launch updates—like New Game Plus, streamlined fast travel, and seasonal hunts. I took on the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE crossover arena fight right after the first act. It wasn’t just some quick promo—it was a full-on duel with new gear to unlock and a jukebox track to prove I’d earned it. Little extras like that keep the world feeling active without turning it into a checklist.
Even after hours of play, combat stayed fun. The enemy types shift often enough to keep you on your toes, and the controls stay snappy. The camera can still trip up in tight corners, but it’s a rare hiccup, not a constant annoyance. Most of the time, you’re too busy dodging lasers and smashing corrupted monsters to notice.
Stellar Blade doesn’t just look good—it runs like a dream, especially on PC. With everything maxed out at 3440 × 1440 on a GeForce 5080, the frame rate well above 120, even in chaotic combat scenes filled with dust clouds, debris, and overlapping particle effects. DLSS 4 cleans up the image without tanking performance, and Reflex support cuts down input lag for tighter response in heated fights. Everything snaps into place with minimal fuss.
Ultrawide support deserves a nod here. From the first title screen, cutscenes and gameplay stretch to fill the display without weird cropping or letterboxing. That extra screen space helps during combat too—peripheral enemies are easier to track, and the environments open up in a way that suits the game’s mix of industrial zones and neon-soaked ruins. It’s not just eye candy. It’s practical.
Plug in a DualSense with a USB cable and you unlock the full haptic experience. The triggers resist just enough during charged attacks, and every clash of steel gives off a jolt that adds a little kick without going overboard. Even subtle feedback—like the thrum when Beta Arts connect—feels polished and well-tuned. It’s not mandatory, but it makes a difference if you’ve got the hardware for it.
The PC version also brings all the visual tuning knobs you'd expect. Tweak shadows, adjust post-processing, toggle depth-of-field—the works. That freedom means you can dial in visuals for either performance or fidelity without much compromise. And the menus are clean and responsive, even when flipping through inventory or scanning the map for the next objective.
On Steam Deck, the game holds its own surprisingly well. It doesn’t reach the high frame counts of a full rig, but with settings adjusted, performance remains stable enough for portable play. Load times are short, controls stay responsive, and the visuals hold their detail on the smaller screen. If you’re taking Eve’s mission on the go, it doesn’t disappoint.
The Verdict
Stellar Blade’s PC release sharpens every edge of the original—combat hits harder, visuals scale beautifully, and the full slate of updates and crossover content make this version the one to beat. Eve’s journey stays gripping from start to finish, the action system evolves with real bite, and both high-end rigs and Steam Decks handle it with ease. A few camera hiccups and story stumbles pop up, but they never derail the momentum. For newcomers or returning fans, this isn’t just a solid port—it’s a second swing that cuts deeper and cleaner.Final Score: 9.5/10 - Amazing
Stellar Blade details
Platform: PCDeveloper: Shift Up Corporation
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.