Stellar Blade Wears its Nier: Automata, Soulslike Inspirations on its Sleeve

Despite taking things in its own direction, it’s clear that Stellar Blade draws heavy inspiration from successful action RPGs of the past. From the get-go, players familiar with the genre will likely notice that the world and story of Stellar Blade feel very reminiscent of Nier: Automata, while its gameplay takes a more clear-cut Soulslike approach. The blending of these two elements works in Stellar Blade‘s favor, allowing developer Shift Up to pay homage to the legacy of past titles while iterating upon them in a unique and interesting way.

There’s an air of mutual respect between Stellar Blade‘s director Kim Hyung-Tae and Nier: Automata‘s director Yoko Taro, with Taro recently praising Stellar Blade and even calling it better than Nier: Automata. This makes it evident that Stellar Blade is meant to be a love letter to Nier that also capitalizes on the current popularity of Soulslikes to recontextualize its themes and aesthetic with a new style of gameplay. However, there are distinctions between the way Stellar Blade incorporates its Soulslike elements and its Nier: Automata ones, creating a familiar yet refreshing experience for players.

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How Stellar Blade Incorporates Elements of Nier: Automata and Soulslike Games

Stellar Blade’s World Takes Cues From Nier: Automata

The world of Stellar Blade is one where humanity has been driven from Earth by creatures known as the Naytiba, forcing them into space Colonies. Protagonist Eve is sent by these survivors back to Earth to battle the Naytiba and reclaim their home, where she finds the remnants of humanity struggling to survive in the city of Xion. This premise feels very similar to that of Nier: Automata, and its atmosphere is complete with the backdrop of crumbling cities that paint a bleak, post-apocalyptic picture for the inhabitants of Stellar Blade‘s world the same way it does for Nier: Automata‘s version of Earth.

Similarly to Stellar Blade, Nier: Automata follows the story of 2B, 9S, and A2, three android members of YoRHa sent by humanity to fight the machines that have taken over Earth. While Nier: Automata and Stellar Blade share a similar theme of reclaiming Earth after humanity has been ousted by an invading species, the games differ in the details surrounding humanity’s fall and the lore behind their respective protagonists. However, fans of Nier: Automata and Stellar Blade will likely see parallels between characters like 2B and Eve, despite their stories taking them in different directions.

The Combat of Stellar Blade Pulls Mechanics from FromSoftware Soulslikes

On its surface, Stellar Blade seems to mirror Nier: Automata in its narrative and world design, but its combat sets it apart from this title by adopting several staple mechanics of the Soulslike genre. Stellar Blade isn’t a Souslike in the traditional sense, given it is much more forgiving in its punishment for failure. However, Soulslike fans will likely notice that Stellar Blade has several other hallmarks of the genre baked into its combat design, including a stagger meter, a parry mechanic, and an emphasis on precise attack and dodge timing.

The parry mechanic in Stellar Blade seems pulled right out of a game like FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, putting an emphasis on learning enemy attack patterns and nailing its parry window just right. Stellar Blade‘s camps where Eve can rest and upgrade her abilities seem to follow the formula of the Dark Souls series’ Bonfire system, which offers players checkpoints as they traverse a dangerous world with enemies lurking around every corner. The mix of Soulslike mechanics with themes and a world inspired by Nier: Automata helps Stellar Blade appeal to fans in both camps while still feeling like a cohesive package that stands on its own.

Stellar Blade

Released

April 26, 2024

Developer(s)

Shift Up

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Genre(s)

Action RPG