Shift Up’s free demo for Stellar Blade goes live on March 29th, but in the meantime, various publications like Game Informer received early access and showcased some fresh gameplay. If you’re one of the few who didn’t try the demo when it accidentally went live early, it showcases the initial portions of the game as Eve battles through various Naytiba.
Though NieR: Automata was driving force for the project, Stellar Blade’s combat is often more deliberate and slower-paced, especially when facing larger enemies. Parrying is especially useful since it charges up a skill to inflict massive damage, as exemplified against some of the Naytiba bosses.
As for the exploration, it’s pretty straightforward, with objects to gather, underwater chests to open and so on. Progress from the demo carries over to the game, and there’s a replayable boss rush section for those who want to polish their skills.
Stellar Blade launches on April 26th for PS5. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.