Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tough, bloody action RPG has an overtly sexualized hero.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Stellar Blade
Parent and Kid Reviews
What’s It About?
STELLAR BLADE begins with Eve, a soldier from an offworld colony, crash landing on a ruined and desolate Earth that has been overrun with monsters. After losing a comrade in arms to a particularly vicious creature, she's saved by Adam, apparently one of a handful of human survivors. He enlists her to help him save and restore Xion, the last human city, setting her on a series of quests in and around the planet's ruins to fetch key pieces of technology. She's forced to fight the monsters as she goes, using her sword and other weapons to kill them with cinematic style. Players need to learn enemy tactics in order to expertly dodge, parry, and counterattack, slowly charging up special abilities that can save the day in specific situations, such as a shield-breaking attack. Her abilities and strength grow as players earn skill points and invest them in different types of attacks and moves. She also finds and crafts mechanical upgrades for her suit. As the game goes on Eve is shocked as she discovers secrets about the monsters, humanity, and herself, and the decisions players make along the way will alter the story's ending.
Is It Any Good?
The overt sexualization of Eve disappointing, especially for a female lead character with strength and skill. Stellar Blade's combat is a real test, but one that action RPG players are bound to enjoy. It's all about timing and reading enemy intentions, and the game isn't very forgiving when you fail.
The real draw here, though, is the story. As Eve and her squadron descend upon the battlefield, their mission to save humanity seems clear. And even though things go sideways to start, Adam seems to know how to help Eve get back on track. But it's not long before seeds of doubt begin popping up, which eventually lead to some jaw-dropping revelations. The writing is a little dry in places, but the actors -- particularly Rebecca Hanssen, who voices Eve -- do well with what they're given, investing emotion into lines that easily could have come off as flat. That, plus the challenging-but-fair combat, is what will likely keep pulling mature players back to play Stellar Blade through to the end credits.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexuality in the media. Stellar Blade's lead character, Eve, is overtly sexualized, but she proves to be strong, smart, and skillful. How do you reconcile what she wears with who she is and how she acts? What are some of the impacts in presenting women like this in video games?
Talk about how players with different gender identities and sexualities might interpret Eve's appearance. Do you think Eve's character design was intended for a specific audience?
Parents and caregivers can use our helpful tips to talk to kids about violence in video games.
Game Details
- Platform: PlayStation 5
- Pricing structure: Paid ($59.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release date: April 26, 2024
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Robots , Space and Aliens
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Last updated: June 5, 2024
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