'Stellar Blade' Release Date: Story, Gameplay, and More

Stellar Blade's plotline revolves around post-apocalyptic Earth's last stand against a race of alien invaders called the "Naytiba," who previously defeated humanity during a hard-fought war. Humanity's last hope lies in the hands of a female freedom fighter named Eve and her allies who have all been deployed from a central off-world location called the "Colony." Eve and her allies eventually make contact with a survivor named Adam and make their way to the last surviving city on Earth still populated by humans (that hub location is known as "Xion"). Eve also runs into another helper named Orcal, the elder leader who resides in that last bastion of humanity, and the rest of the city's inhabitants during her difficult journey. With their added assistance, Eve finds everything and everyone she needs to finally vanquish the Naytiba and reclaim planet Earth for the human race.

Fans of action-heavy third-person games such as Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden should find a lot to love with Stellar Blade. Eve heads into combat with her blade and her ranged wrist firearm at the ready. Besides pulling off flashy attacks with both of those weapons, Eve can use special abilities by tapping into the energy contained within her "Beta Gauge." This meter is filled by parrying and evading enemy attacks. Eve can also fill up her "Burst Gauge" by landing slick combos and parrying, which then leads to her being able to use that meter to activate stat buffs and even more powerful special moves. Most of your exploration will take place across a desert wasteland full of malfunctioning robots and Naytiba foes that present a tough challenge during combat.

Requests given to you on behalf of the people of Xion and random denizens you encounter throughout the rest of Stellar Blade's open world will come into play as you look to complete a myriad of side quests while out on patrol. Eve can make good use of supply stations and camps to purchase various items and ammo, plus she can also use these safe havens to acquire new combat skills and upgrade her equipment. "Soulsbourne" and "Soulslike" fans should be familiar with Eve's ability to take a break and refill her health by taking a break at the many camps she comes across. Besides the Naytiba, Eve will also find herself fending herself off from hostile human survivors and something far more sinister in the form of collosal unnamed monsters.