Summary
Upcoming PS5 exclusiveStellar Bladewas first revealed back in 2019. In that time, a great number of screenshots have been released for the title—hinting toward much of what will be featured in the game.
Stellar Blade,previously dubbedProject Eve, is a sci-fi RPG that was recently delayed into 2024 and is being developed by Shift Up. The title will depict the story of a near-future humanity exiled into space after an alien invasion. Players will take on the role of Eve and lead their squad to take back the planet, fighting hordes of gruesome aberrations. Gameplay will require a mix of counters and combos, both of which fill a ‘Burst Gauge’ meter that grants various combat buffs.
All Official Screenshots From Stellar Blade Released So Far
A huge number of screenshots have been released forStellar Blade. Many of these show offStellar Blade’s standout graphics, which are more than inline with the current generation. This is demonstrated with not only a barrage of immensely detailed sci-fi pictures, but a variety of close-ups of human characters—both presenting the incredible detail in both. The game looks to be mixing a healthy dose of stylization with great levels of detailing in all elements.
Looking at screenshots according to their release,the earlier shots ofStellar Bladeare those that only display environments, including overgrown cityscapes and dilapidated rail networks. What’s interesting about these shots is that they heavily suggest that the utilities of Earth have been completely abandoned following humanity’s exodus. Cities have been entirely claimed by the wilderness, wreckage has gone uncleared, and utilities are unused. This reinforces what promotional material has thus far, that the NA:tive invaders are bestial in nature. That would beg the question as to how they managed interstellar travel, but it’s possible that the aliens we’ve seen are minions of a greater foe.
Stellar Blade Has Shown Off A Lot About Its Alien Enemies
Stellar Blade’s NA:tives have seen much speculation, but their design and naming conventions give away their potential meaning. These aberrant creatures frequently feature rings in their composition, particularly around the head area where they almost look like halos. Combine this with the seraph-adjacent monster in one of the game’s trailers, and it looks like these aliens could be angels. The game’s official X account even mentioned that the sword-wielding alien is named ‘Abbadon’—a name shared with an angel from the Book of Revelations that ravages the Earth with locusts during the apocalypse. Everything here, including the name ‘NA:tive’ which suggests these aliens may have roamed the Earth before humans, suggests that the game may take place in a post-rapture world.
As well as this, the images go a long way to show offthe body horrorStellar Bladewill contain. These enemies are incredibly gruesome, sporting fleshy spikes running out of their form, exposed innards, and corpse-like complexions. Many seem to lack any possible eyes to see or have physics-defying proportions, emphasizing a truly alien physiology.
The Unknown Role Of Lily
Lily is one of the few named human characters introduced so far. She saw some spotlight in the 2022 State of Play trailer, with her name being confirmed on X alongside the screenshots above. Not much is known about her role, but she has been seen hanging around with Eve and Adam. Given the religious connotations of her companions, as well as the many otherexplicit invocations of Christian mythology inStellar Blade, it’s likely that her name is no coincidence.
With the surrounding context, it’s easy to make the jump from ‘Lily’ to ‘Lilith’. Lilith is a figure that exists in various mythologies and cultures, but perhaps the most widely-recognized version is the one from Jewish folklore—where Lilith is a woman who rejected with Adam before Eve came into being. It’s unclear how this could manifest with Lily, butStellar Blade’s blend of sci-fi and folkloremakes this identity possible.
PS5
Sony’s PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.
