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Stellar Blade - Review Thread
- Thread starter --R
- Start date
I'm just going by Polygons review. Male-gazey camera is admittedly there.
If the story and characters were Stellar, pardon the pun, then I think this game definitely could have pushed above the mid 80s.
Although they have a great track record, Spider Man 2 didn't launch in a good state
I read that end paragraph thinking I completely agree lol so I re-read the quote and think I mistook it. For me, yes, I'd much rather be talking about the interesting elements of the game but instead we have to have this discussion because the developers couldn't resist pushing the sexualisation to an absurd degree. It's an important conversation to have and it should be the one we're having, and are having, now as a result of that. It is frustrating though because it's so easy to see how improved the game would be without it all, how unnecessary it is. You have sexualised designs in the game that, while may elicit discussion, aren't beige bodysuits and landing lights. There's already a game there with a feminine female lead, nice outfits, great combat and sound design, etc. Yet they couldn't resist taking it to such an extreme to where it's hard to see little other reason than to provoke for easy marketing. Which is just another side of the coin when it comes to cheapening the product as a whole, since the visual flair on the combat, animations and less egregious outfits would easily have carried this into people's interest.
Performance was pretty solid but it had quite enough bugs.
I would say GOW Ragnarok was the most solid release, or GT 7 if you want to count that one.
Didn't plan to get it for the PS5 and instead wait for the PC Version down the road in a couple of years.
But reading the game runs actually good and isn't a technical mess like 90% of the games that release today?
You get my money.
Good job for delivering a good and polished game.
A well running game after Dragons Dogma 2 and many other games that ran like shit in the past 12 months alone should earn you high scores.
But reading the game runs actually good and isn't a technical mess like 90% of the games that release today?
You get my money.
Good job for delivering a good and polished game.
A well running game after Dragons Dogma 2 and many other games that ran like shit in the past 12 months alone should earn you high scores.
All of this. Sad part is there's nothing wrong with sexy games. They couldn't even get that part right, though. These are self-inflicted wounds.
She feels more like an actual character instead of a sexy doormat tbf.
Often it's not up to the developers in what state a game will release, keep that in mind.
I think the phrasing was pretty poor.
My understanding is that the game isn't doing the "caught in a towel! 🙈 oops, boys in the girls sauna! 🙈 whoopsie I groped u when I stumbled tee hee! 🙈" stuff.
But yeah, just from the previews and trailers and known outfits, the camera is certainly encouraging players to go 👁👄👁
It's really not. Maybe I'm crazy but I don't think it's THAT "sexy" at all. In fact I think it's fairly tame compared to the discourse.
And there are multiple costumes which have her largely covered up. Yes, there are some that absolutely "expose" her, but there are also at least a dozen options which don't.
I don't have any issues with sexualised content and it bothers me far less than games which glorify anger and brutality. I'm biased and I do art for people fairly regularly which would make this all seem tame, but even I think they pushed some of this a little harder than they needed to. It does sell though, and it does catch people's attention. I wish I was wrong but I still think that if Returnal had gone this route with its character design that it would have sold better even if it changed nothing about the actual game.
I gave it 5/10. There is an OK game here but the objectification and dehumanisation of women is undeniable and inescapable.
Stellar Blade - Review | Progress Bar
South Korean developer Shift Up asks the question: What if NieR: Automata was less interesting and more horny?progressbar.com.au
--R
More reviews should be docking points for this shit instead of being like "oh if you choose to look past the absurd level of dehumanization and misogyny on display in basically every second of this game, its ACTUALLY FUCKING AMAZEBALLS"
The sexualization problem aside (which is an actual problem) I don't think Eve being dull is a problem at all, nor the weak story. They are both basically staples of Souls likes. It's not like this dude was oozing big personality:
I love how diverse the world is, because I feel the exact opposite. I truly despise sexualization but dig brutality in games a big chunk.
Probably didn't feel like dealing with death threats from right wing trolls.
Glad to see this turned out well, looking forward to jumping in when I get chance.
On a side note, because I'm perversely curious, it was suggested to me today by the staff of my local game shop that they haven't ordered that many copies in because they expect it to sell better digitally. Their reasoning being they think a lot of people want to play it but would be too embarrassed to walk into a shop and buy it. At the time I thought they were overreacting but seeing some of the comments here I wonder if they were right. Is that really a common sentiment?
On a side note, because I'm perversely curious, it was suggested to me today by the staff of my local game shop that they haven't ordered that many copies in because they expect it to sell better digitally. Their reasoning being they think a lot of people want to play it but would be too embarrassed to walk into a shop and buy it. At the time I thought they were overreacting but seeing some of the comments here I wonder if they were right. Is that really a common sentiment?
We're definitely in accordance. You might have fewer issues with sexualised designs than I do, but in turn I have fewer issues with them than others. I refined my thoughts more into what I think is probably the best way I've summed up my feelings as a whole so far, in the post above:
Which echoes you on the pushing it harder than they needed to, while also coming to the same conclusion of marketing and sales. Which isn't a surprise to either of us I'm sure, but equally appealing to the most sales is appealing to the majority, and I think there's an equilibrium to be struck there. Which we've seen many times, as we know games don't have to lean as hard as Shift Up have in order to be massively successful. It helps within a certain demographic, but there's arguments to where it can become indistinct as well in a gaming landscape that still frequently leans that way.
Your line might not be crossed, but that does not mean it's tame or totally fine. Enough people have explained why the sexualized character designs and overall charactericts of the main character (and more, but her specifically) is problematic and it would be nice if people could just acknowledge that and don't come with some arguments against it or waving it away like it's no big deal.
I don't judge people who play it for the game's mertis (which is obviously has), but let's not act like it's all good and dandy please.
As someone that spent about 40 hours with the game trying to do everything, it's been a wild ride reading the discourse over the past few weeks and the slew of reviews that came out. Been scrolling through a few all morning at work and during my lunch and I don't expect its most divisive elements will win over those who have no taste for it.
What's been great to see is a handful of people remarking how Stellar Blade feels like a game from about 20 years ago, because I expressed those same feelings several times in my review. It does feel like a hot potato undoubtedly. I would have loved a few more bosses and about a dozen more basic enemies, my real gripe was merely that the two "open" zones feel a little samey. But even then, the game is mechanically rewarding and I'm no expert player by far and I think having Hard Mode unlocked at the start would have presented more of a challenge because a few bosses in the first half only killed me once or twice. It will be really interesting to see how vets of DMC and Sekiro and so on will open the mechanical pit up and make the game more appealing than anyone could in a traditional review period.
In regards to EVE, there's definitely some outfits that are blatantly aware of what they are doing and many I found visually appealing that didn't show much skin. It was also fun being able to give her various hairstyles. I do wonder how being forced to unlock/craft her outfits with a relatively easy currency might land for certain groups but at least the game makes you try a bit to tailor her to a specific aesthetic.
It's an old feeling game and I think that's going to win a lot of people over, especially those who miss the truly bizarre shit from the PS2/PS3 era where anything went. And honestly, it's nice to know see a heavily realistic game get such high billing. I just hope people can be measured in their feelings!
What's been great to see is a handful of people remarking how Stellar Blade feels like a game from about 20 years ago, because I expressed those same feelings several times in my review. It does feel like a hot potato undoubtedly. I would have loved a few more bosses and about a dozen more basic enemies, my real gripe was merely that the two "open" zones feel a little samey. But even then, the game is mechanically rewarding and I'm no expert player by far and I think having Hard Mode unlocked at the start would have presented more of a challenge because a few bosses in the first half only killed me once or twice. It will be really interesting to see how vets of DMC and Sekiro and so on will open the mechanical pit up and make the game more appealing than anyone could in a traditional review period.
In regards to EVE, there's definitely some outfits that are blatantly aware of what they are doing and many I found visually appealing that didn't show much skin. It was also fun being able to give her various hairstyles. I do wonder how being forced to unlock/craft her outfits with a relatively easy currency might land for certain groups but at least the game makes you try a bit to tailor her to a specific aesthetic.
It's an old feeling game and I think that's going to win a lot of people over, especially those who miss the truly bizarre shit from the PS2/PS3 era where anything went. And honestly, it's nice to know see a heavily realistic game get such high billing. I just hope people can be measured in their feelings!
Stellar Blade wasn't on my list, but FightinCowboy always nails it when it comes to reviewing action games. Guess i'll have to play it.
This does depend what you're calling "mental gymnastics" here though which could use some clarification, as it stands it feels very dismisses of people who are at conflict with the sexualization and the other aspects of the game yet would still like to play. Discussing these things and being put off by the former and still figuring out if you want to play isn't "mental gymnastics".
Again though, could use elaboration on that.
Yeah they pushed too hard. This being their first step out, especially coming from the mobile/ Gatcha market which is pandering to a level we rarely see in the console space, I sorta get why they did but they've made a good game. They didn't need to. They have at least provided lots if costume options for those of us that prefer classy kickassery, which I appreciate.
Yup. Costumes and combat. Main reason I'm here lol. Plus the cute animations like the coin flick at the vending machine and the sword-twirl mid-combo.
Do the Bible mention leaves at all? If I had to guess that probably came later
Even the ones that don't show a lot of skin often have the classic video game exaggerated boob jiggle. Even if you do have options, 'sexy' costumes are a big part of this game's reward economy. I remember doing this shooting gallery mission in an optional part of the desert that took a while to explore, only to get a ridiculous bunny suit costume at the end of it. If you're not into that, it can feel like a waste of time. This is the most sexualized heroine we've had in a big mainstream video game in years. She doesn't even own it like Bayonetta does, it's all purely titillation.
This reminded me how a pretty big and annoying crowd were constantly calling Aloy soulless in every HZD thread, and therefore the game sucked. Not the same genre, but still. She had to be the perfect emotion trigger people seemed to have formed in their minds, because reasons.The sexualization problem aside (which is an actual problem) I don't think Eve being dull is a problem at all, nor the weak story. They are both basically staples of Souls likes. It's not like this dude was oozing big personality:
There is something subjective about sexualization and that is that in my case, I find Stellar Blade... unpleasant, rather than offensive. Of course all fictional characters are created by someone and that someone decides how they feel, but with Eve there seems to be a deliberate sense of voyeurism.
Aphrodite in Hades II is more sexualized but she doesn't give me that "This is wrong" feeling. Maybe because Aphrodite doesn't look like a doll.
Aphrodite in Hades II is more sexualized but she doesn't give me that "This is wrong" feeling. Maybe because Aphrodite doesn't look like a doll.
Yes they wear fig leaves because they become ashamed of their nudity after Eve eats the forbidden apple
If they wanted to be biblically accurate there would be no clothes at all. Cowards.
Thanks to you and others for advice. Spoke to my wife about it and she seems interested in checking it out. Think I'll wait till it's out and some generic gameplay hits YouTube.
I think it's perfectly reasonable to give the Stellar Blade devs benefit of the doubt for that "hard r" thing.
But I will say, if only there was a company that Sony regular consults that could have helped Shift Up notice this before it made it past the finish line. hmmmmmmmm.
But I will say, if only there was a company that Sony regular consults that could have helped Shift Up notice this before it made it past the finish line. hmmmmmmmm.
yeah this is where I'm at. I'm not sure why bayo and nier were completely okay for me but something about this character design is weirding me out? No judgement towards people who play this though
If someone dislikes the sexualization of Eve enough to feel real life embarrassment from playing it, I think they shouldn't play it. I mean why would you even want to spend money on it at all if it made you feel that way?
Personally, for me while I see both sides of the argument. I just think at some point you have to decide this game is or is not for you. It's really not to intended to be dismissive of anybody just acknowledging that some may find this game offensive and others may not and you just have to make that decision.
All the little flourishes are very welcome. They clearly enjoyed making this. There are too many incidental hints of joy in here for anyone to convince me otherwise.