In a year packed with major game releases, Stellar Blade has carved its own niche. This post-apocalyptic action hack-and-slash, developed by South Korean studio Shift Up and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, puts players in the shoes of Eve, a space soldier battling monstrous threats to Earth and humanity. The game, initially revealed as Project EVE in 2019, became a PlayStation exclusive and was officially renamed Stellar Blade in September 2022. Now, thanks to PlayStation’s Black Friday sale, players have their first chance to grab the game at a discounted price.
A Blend of Action and Style: Stellar Blade’s Gameplay
Stellar Blade combines elements of NieR: Automata and Dark Souls, offering challenging yet rewarding combat with futuristic weaponry. This blend, along with its striking visuals, has garnered positive reception since its April launch. The game’s combat sequences and impressive graphics have been particularly praised, and now, the Black Friday sale provides an even greater incentive to experience them.
Grab a Deal: Stellar Blade on Sale Now
The PlayStation Store’s annual Black Friday sale features enticing discounts on a variety of titles, including Stellar Blade. This marks one of the first sales for the game, offering a 29% discount, bringing the price down from $69.99 to $49.69. This deal applies exclusively to the Standard Edition digital copy on the PlayStation Store and does not include the Digital Deluxe Edition, which remains at $79.99. The sale ends on December 3rd at 11:59 pm PST/2:59 am EST.
The official PlayStation Store link for the Stellar Blade Black Friday deal.
Controversy and Critical Reception
Despite its positive reception, Stellar Blade has faced some controversy regarding the protagonist Eve’s attire. While players can customize Eve’s appearance, some outfits have been deemed overly revealing. However, the developers added a humorous touch: if players stare at Eve for too long, she stares back. This playful interaction echoes a similar easter egg in NieR: Automata.
Stellar Blade currently holds an 81 critic score and a 9.2 user rating on Metacritic. While some criticize the story and pacing, many praise the gameplay, music, and visuals. The game is also nominated for Best Action Game and Best Score & Music at this year’s Game Awards.
NieR: Automata Collaboration and Future Plans
Given the comparisons to NieR: Automata, a recent collaboration between the two games, initially revealed at the September 2024 State of Play, launched last week.
A Prime Time to Play
With the recent NieR collaboration and the Game Award nominations, now is an opportune time to dive into Stellar Blade. The discounted price on the PlayStation Store, available until December 3rd, makes it even more appealing. A PC version and a demo are also in development.
