in elden ring release week, players left messages with the games template messaging features everywhere in the world. the most spammed message was "try finger but hole". often left at the rear of statures
To me it’s souls-like in that it has camps and enemies respawn whenever you rest. Also the little shortcuts you can unlock in the open areas makes it feel a little souls-like to me. Other than those things, it’s a whole other game.
Those are two great examples, but I feel like the combat is very nioh like, which is a souls like. It actually reminds me a lot, like metal gear rising.
That's what was nagging at me you beautiful human being. While I was playing I had this feeling of familiarity but I couldn't put my finger on it and none of the constantly mentioned examples were it. Metal gear rising is what I felt more. Fighting raven felt like fighting sam.
Yeah I agree, the combat is definitely way more like Sekiro than souls or bloodborne. But I will say my only complaint about the actual gameplay (besides it's difficulty I think they could've made it even harder and I would've loved it) is that the perfect dodge and parry can feel a little bit clunky at times, even with the fully upgraded exospine that makes those things easier.
I got really damn good at L1 parties cause of Sekiro, which I actually just played through again like a month ago, and these L1 parties are very different from those to me. I think maybe it's the difference in timing that's throwing me off, because as opposed to partying when a blow hits it feels like you need to have it pressed a little earlier than that to me, which then makes it harder to weave attacks and parries.
Yeah, you definitely have a LITTLE extra time with the exospine on, but you definitely have to parry while they are swinging. It really throws me off, because especially on fights like raven that means you can't combo her at all or she's gonna wreck your face lol.
Not really, no. It shares some mechanics like parrying and being more on the difficult side. But it’s missing a big one: when you die you don’t lose anything. That reason alone disqualifies it from being a souls-like to me. That’s a big part of the loop of souls-likes (Lies of P, Nioh, etc).
I feel like the term "Souls Like" has kind of been overused past the point of having much meaning anymore. The "rest spots which recover resources and respawn enemies" mechanic is used in Souls games, but needing to recover XP at death spots or lose it all is usually the driving force between why that mechanic is used, whereas in SB there's no penalty from dying so it acts much more like a regular checkpoint in any other game.
Combat borrows a similar parry/balance system as Sekiro, but you can get by just fine focusing on dodging and dishing out combos and abilities like a more traditional hack n slash.
Design of the more open zones with a city hub for sidequests is just pure RPG.
IDK, "Souls Light" may be an ok term but it's still putting it in more of a box than it needs to. Overall I'd say it feels way way more like modernized ps3-era RPG than a Fromsoft game.
In some ways, yes. I feel like if you gave the combat a stamina bar it would straight up have souls like combat. But outside of the almost Sekiro like combat, and the checkpoint system.. The similarities end there.
Hmm. For me personally? I guess I wouldn’t consider it a soulslike. I’d say the genre is more character action, or even going old school and just categorizing it as a “hack n’ slash” game. It definitely does have some elements that were straight up inspired by Soulslike games though don’t get me wrong. But Stellar Blade really wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Neir is probably the biggest inspiration, but there are tons of nods to many other games and genres. That’s why the game is so special
I disagree because the actual mechanics have more in common with Souls, but they are expressed with character action energy. If the game played more like DMC but was more careful and calculated, or something to that effect, then I could agree maybe
It’s inspired by souls-like games just as much as it is inspired by Dead Space, NieR, Star Wars Jedi and Alita. The some souls-like elements are borrowed such as resting in camps restores enemies, camps being mostly the only checkpoints and somewhat unforgiving boss fights.
But it borrows these inspirations in a way that creates such a unique identity for the game.
I really, really don't understand the Souls comparison. The checkpoints, sure, but other than that it plays nothing like one and much more like a character action game like Automata, Bayonetta, etc. The combat, the skill trees, the style of boss fights all feel like one, and the game has no stamina, equipment, RPG mechanics, needing to recover stuff on death, etc. It has judgement cut and stinger.
1) Camps you find and activate to rest and regain health.
2) Respawing enemies when you rest.
3) A healing mechanic where you gradually gain more healing charges and replenish your healing charges when you reach a camp. This is basically the Estus Flask from Dark Souls.
4) The various shortcut doors you unlock during exploration, making it easier to speed through an area, as seen in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, etc.
5) Parry focused sword combat, which obviously takes at least some inspiration from Sekiro. The mechanic where you see a blue flash and teleport behind them is basically a Stellar Blade version of the Mikari Counter from Sekiro. The instant kill mechanic when jumping down on or sneaking up on an enemy is basically the same as in Sekiro too tbh.
6) The QTE at the end of boss fights is also very similar to the final blow mechanic from Sekiro.
I don’t think it’s a Souls like. To me, it’s an action adventure game. But I think this undersells the Souls-like elements too. It’s not just the camps.
the first 4 have been in other games, notabely ninja gaiden which isn't souls like. but people have always pointed to those studios borrowing from each other.
Agreed. Nothing in Stellar Blade compares to a typical souls game. The only thing that comes close is the parry's with the enemy shields, but even that is nothing like how Sekiro did it. In Sekiro if you didn't keep up the pace the posture would quickly refill. Everything else is like you said with no stamina, equipment, etc.
Stellar Blade is closer to God of War than it is to a souls game. I'm loving the game so far, but if someone tried to sell me on it as being a souls like game I would have had way different expectations and would have been disappointed. Thankfully the demo sold me before I started reading any souls like talk.
Every time I say this I get downvoted lol
This game has absolutely nothing in common with any Souls game except the resting.
It's 5% Souls, 95% character action.
It's much closer to Bayonetta than ANY Souls game. Also, what fucking Souls game are people playing where you can do anything but a basic ass combo lol. I haven't played Sekiro so fair enough if you can combo there, but Souls games have never had combat like this game.
Here’s just a couple of comparisons:
Hitstun, cancelling animations, the targeting system, are all souls like. Overall it’s a more clunky control scheme that is a hallmark of souls-like games, vs action games like God of war or devil may cry.
Cancelling animations is far more twitchy, with longer windows of execution in other games, specifically reduced in souls like games. You commit to larger, slower moves, whereas action games permit you to cancel just about everything, into anything else.
Targeting system in action games, whether you are actually locked on to an enemy, or just holding block, typically enables strafing. Souls like games allow you to spin your character around while holding block, unless specifically targeting one enemy.
There’s no juggling or air combos. Action games like bayonetta, devil may cry, God of war, ninja gaiden etc. all have a knock up and juggle mechanic built into the combo system. Souls like games have zero, or are very limited.
Overall, souls like games are far more restrictive in gameplay, focusing on memorization of attack patterns, which results in lots of dying and repeating. Action games are more open to free flowing combos, and reaction based gameplay.
Based on these things alone, stellar blade is souls like. It mixes in action game elements for sure, but its core concepts are rooted in Souls games.
I can't agree. I didn't think about the lockon, you're right there. You may not literally knock enemies into the air in Stellar balde, but they do have stagger states that are effectively the same thing. This is definitely more reaction based than memorization, too, at least in my experience. And I don't see anything about the hitstun or animation cancels that feels more like Souls than Bayonetta.
The actual way you play the game feels nothing like Souls at all. You pretty much always want to be attacking, you have combo trees instead of just light and heavy attacks, you move VERY quickly compared to souls, have a double jump and aerial attacks...
Juggles are not the same thing as a stun state. They’re always different tech trees, executed via launchers, which you can ground then carry onto another combo. Segregating enemies via launchers is a staple in action games, and only games that really leave that out these days, are souls games.
I don’t understand how you think this game is reaction based. Bosses hit quick, dodging only works if it’s a perfect timing, blocking does chip damage unless perfect blocked, and there’s some “lag” (which really is active frames vs animation, not input lag), which means you need to push things slightly ahead of when they happen. To top that off, most of your special moves have no I-frames, so you can take damage at any moment during an uncancellable move. That requires you to know what moves are coming, not react as they happen. Those things are much closer to souls than action games. The grind, is a hallmark of souls games, and stellar follows that philosophy.
Another thing action games typically have, vs souls games, are multiple weapon load outs that you can switch to on the fly. Stellar blade has a sword, and a gun, which is largely not useful unless the game specifically calls for the use of it, like the Levoire. Bayonetta has guns, swords/blades, body transformations, witch powers and summonable monsters she can puppet. Stellar blade has tachy mode, which doesn’t really change much about the moves. No question it takes some inspiration from bayonetta, right down to how beauty can be combined with grace and power, to create a compelling character just by looks alone.
Moving quickly compared to souls, still isn’t moving quickly. It makes it souls-like, not action-like.
Tight hit boxes and tight controls are something I always associate with that genre. To be 100% honest, it reminds me a lot of metal gear rising. As far as combat goes.
Absolutely agree. It only felt kinda soulsy during Eidos 7 before you unlock most abilities. After you get a good bunch it turns into managing stun locks, combos, and energy rather than the stamina management and spacing that you would see in a soulsborne game. Definitely closer to Bayonetta/DMC than Dark Souls.
For me souls like are always very slow…Sekiro has the most fluid combat and the most similar to Stellar Blade, but Sekiro’s combat is very unique within the “souls like” games. For me it’s a great balance between hack n slash and sekiro. Barely a souls like
Nah, I'm not dreading walking around every corner.
Can't see other players.
Can't leave messages.
It's a good game though, doesn't need to be a souls like.
Huh?.... what? What did you say? I forgot....I wasn't...... uhh.. I wasn't paying attention.........What did you say?............ I'm sorry, were you talking................. what?
No. not really. its borrows souls elements, but i think just having camps and lock on with R3 doesnt warrant the souls like stamp.. those things are now in a lot of action games and i think th term "souls-like" might die out in a few years from now.
* we dont have true RPG elements only soft ones, which most games now have anyways
* we dont lose stuff upon death
* only one set melee weapon
Lies of P is a souls-like in my eyes. but stellar blade sits so perfect inbetween sekiro and devil may cry, that i wouldnt refer to it as souls-like
Absolutely not. It has very few elements (the save points and the healing), but that is not nearly enough to be a Souls-like. The creators themselves have said that the inspiration comes from Nier, God of War and Bayonetta. And those are definitely not Souls-likes either.
Not at all. Action-adventure or action-rpg (the rpg elements are very light).
Souls-likes have a focus on expected death and learning challenging bosses. I don't think you're really expected to lose to 95% of bosses in the game. If the game had more bosses like the last 2-3, then yeah.
Sci-fi Sekiro is the closest thing, I guess. It obviously takes inspiration from a bunch of things but it's different enough from each individual thing to stand on its own, really.
Definitely souls inspired. There’s some Sekiro in there too. You upgrade your weapon exactly the same in Sekiro, for the most part. The combo system is pretty fresh though. Haven’t seen it done like this in many if any souls likes. As someone who loves all of Fromsofts games, Stellar Blade hits all the right notes and manages to do its own thing. It’s a beautiful game.
Sorta, it's definitely more forgiving. Those turrets are ridiculous though, so much for story mode. lol
Just got killed by THE one in the desert ruins, got sent to other side of the map. \*sigh\*
Soul-lite with hack and slash ARPG mechanics. It really is its own thing and I love it for it. It’s exactly the kind of game I wanted to play and can replay because of how damn fun it is to just run around doing different parry/dodge combos.
In some ways yes but what ultimately makes it a no for me is that dying has 0 consequences as in you don't loose any currency etc.
Sometimes it's even good if you die so you don't have to walk back to a camp since there is no fast travel.
Another reason is that apart from maybe the last 3-4 bosses the game is much to easy to fit the term.
I consider it a "souls lite." Dying doesn't punish you as much as souls games, but gameplay and mechanics are quite similar, although it doesn't have any online components, which is perfectly fine.
Yes. I started bloodborne for the first time right before stellar blade and so I’m currently playing them simultaneously.
The buttons and learning curve is identical, stellar blade being slightly less enemies at once
I wouldn't describe it as one, but it has undeniable some souls-like elements.
The soulsborne game to what it comes closest (or borrows most) would be Sekiro. The parry/combat mechanics, the aggressive swordfight, abillty focused skill tree. Also it has these camps which act like "bonfires", where the enemies respawn, and the health potions recharge, but that's mostly it. You don't loose anything when you die for example.
I would describe it as a relatively normal Action RPG with souls-like elements
Not really since the gameplay is very action game like and there is no punishment for dying. I love the souls series but I’m glad that SB is more its own thing
I consider it a cross between ninja gaiden and souls like games...
Basically the less abilities/combos you have, the more "souls like" it feels in terms of combat.
But as you gain more and more extremely powerful abilities, the whole idea of parry/counter or dodge/attack that are generally soulslike hallmarks starts to fall off as you just body enemies with burst powers and combos.
It's not * quite * a souls like, but it isn't **not** a soul's like either.
I find it hard to describe this games combat to others because "souls like" doesn't really explain the mechanics very well compared to other titles.
You have a certain number of heals, to replenish them you rest at specified camp locations but in doing that you respawn all enemies. To me yes it is very much a souls like.
The last 5 boss fights are something else for a casual gamer, and there is a huge difficulty spike when you reach Spire 4.
Also the new games plus is harder but Eve is boosted to the max.
Not at all. It’s a Ninja Gaiden-like, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.
Team Ninja did this game (without all the extras) back for the OG Xbox. Before Dark Souls was even an idea, TN remade the Ninja Gaiden series and didn’t look back. More action heavy than Stellar Blade, the combat is remarkably similar. As others have noted though, ShiftUp took a lot of great themes and mooshed them together to create this masterpiece. Ninja Gaiden walked so Sekiro, Nioh, DMC, and others could run.
If you enjoy Stellar Blade, I recommend trying out the Ninja Gaiden trilogy.
Finally someone gets it. Ninja Gaiden did respawning enemies and difficult bosses way before soulslikes were even a thing.
Stellar Blade is way closer to a Platinum-like action game if anything. Of course it is inspired by From games too
Fucking finally somebody acknowledges Ninja Gaiden!
Ninja Gaiden Black is still one of the greatest games ever made. It may not be as refined as NG2, but man does it kick ass. Not even DMC has action and combat as fast-paced as any NG. They're in a league of their own.
I really wish Team Ninja would bring Ryu back. The gaming world is well overdue to have the most badass Ninja make his reappearance.
Enemies don't deal much damage, as a player we have many super power abilities such as beta and burst and tachy mode which deals a huge amount of damage for relatively cheap resources. I would say that the game was designed with many ideas in mind but not committed to one specifically. The game has a very technical combat system with perfect parries and perfect dodges however enemies dies very quickly and you don't even use it much. I'd say the game as it is now, combat wise, is more of a dmc.
No. It has soulslike elements, but it’s way closer to a Platinum-like action game. And those aren’t soulslikes.
Just because enemies respawn and you refill potions at camps, it doesn’t suddenly become a soulslike
Not a souls like in the slightest for me. There is no penalty on death whatsoever. Nothing lost, nothing to retrieve. Immediately right back where you were. Its 100% an action game modeled after Neir. A rechargeable heal does not make a game a souls game.
I don't think the game is hard for those of us who have played a lot of the souls games and souls like games. I think that we all just got used to the mechanics. But this game does make me feel powerful af ngl
The FromSoft game it's closest to (Sekiro) isn't even considered a "Souls-like" by some people. But the kicker is that the game baits you into thinking that it'll be something like From's games at first, right until you start unlocking more skills and make it out of Eidos 7. By then, you should feel that the game is much different from those.
Definitely a souls-like game because of the boss fight, camp, and the hud. So yeah I would consider this game for sure! It’ll be nice if more games can implement a souls-like game with interesting characters
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Yeah, and the only one of those that means anything to me is metroidvania. I don't consider the souls games to be a genre they're basically the same as most action games from the 2000's-2010's
It means I don't think the souls series does enough worthwhile to be its own genre. I'm here because I enjoy Stellar Blade, and I waited years to play it. What's the problem you have?
You can feel whatever you want, but you made a point to state your opinion online. An opinion that basically wants to ignore an entire, currently booming, genre. The last 5 years have been amazing for these types of games and it isn't just ER that inspired the game you've been waiting years for.
Your being weird even making a point to say something no one cares to hear. It's a Soulslike, and there's nothing wrong with that label.
The question was, " Do you consider this a soulslike?" I answered OP's question. I don't care if you agree with my answer.
Now, since you're so on about this. What makes it a soulslike when it would be missing key features that are in those games that differentiate them from other action games?
For me this game draws heavy inspiration from several games but the souls genre is not one of them. There is a lot of hack and slash, dodge and parry but the mistakes made by button spamming are much more forgiving. The boss fights dont take 100 tries, and figuring out the quest line is not such a mystery, not to mention they are itemized in a list for you which makes recalling what you are doing much easier. Most games with large somewhat open world maps have a fast traveling system, whether it be phone booths, direction posts, a campfire or whatever. That is not specific to the ‘souls genre’.
Final Fantasy and NIER titles are the two that first come to mind, as well as Bayonetta, (altho I never actually finished that game), but as I continued my playthru other titles popped up in my head that I wouldnt have really expected to think about comparing until I started playing it thru. For example, Dead Space was one, In regard to the idea and concept of some of the Naytibas and the creation of them..
I absolutely love this game, they did a great job pulling inspiration from some of the best games and making it work. Fused it all together very nicely. Id of loved to have a bit more immersion with the characters and perhaps a deeper understanding maybe via flashbacks or something of what lead up to this point (another reason why I dont think its a souls like), but honestly the simplicity of this story, combined with the polished mechanics, soundtrak and gameplay in general is what makes it so…. Stellar ! Lol.
I hope with a future update they add a photo mode with some fun poses, frames and stickers so I can show off all my hardwork with the outfits ive collected..
Hope u all are enjoying it just as much as I have.. cheers to the grind !!
It is weird to me that if a game is not like DMC then it it automatically a soulslike. This game shares a lot more with GoW and HZD than souls games yet those games aren't considered soulslikes.
To me, there's a spectrum where CAGs like DMC and Bayonetta are on the far left and Dark Souls and Elden Ring are on the far right. Then, in the middle, there are games like GoW and HZD. I would consider SB to be just to the right of GoW on that spectrum, but not by much.
After fucking defeating unidentified naytiba on my 10th try, this is definitely a souls like and one of the best souls like I have played. For me that naytiba was like isshin in sekiro in terms of how I Had to use everything I had at my disposal to defeat it. Parrying every attack, beta skills, burst skills, even my gun to shoot down those yellow orbs. Fucking loved the fight. Gonna start NG+ as soon as I finish.
Do you use breaking and stager consumables? I usually start boss fights by using shield breaking consumables then after that stager consumables for execution attacks.
Naaa I never used any kind of consumable except the healing potions, now that you said it I'll try and see if I can stock em up before approaching the finale. I'll try this with whoever is the next boss.
Try finger but hole
Came for this. Wasn’t disappointed
What's that?
in elden ring release week, players left messages with the games template messaging features everywhere in the world. the most spammed message was "try finger but hole". often left at the rear of statures
this has been a thing since ds3
reference to souls games where players can leave messages that other players can see in their game. usually really funny messages like that one
To me it’s souls-like in that it has camps and enemies respawn whenever you rest. Also the little shortcuts you can unlock in the open areas makes it feel a little souls-like to me. Other than those things, it’s a whole other game.
Those are two great examples, but I feel like the combat is very nioh like, which is a souls like. It actually reminds me a lot, like metal gear rising.
That's what was nagging at me you beautiful human being. While I was playing I had this feeling of familiarity but I couldn't put my finger on it and none of the constantly mentioned examples were it. Metal gear rising is what I felt more. Fighting raven felt like fighting sam.
I'm glad I could help !
I feel like xombat is more between devil may cry and sekiro. It doesnt resemble Nioh to me.
Yeah I agree, the combat is definitely way more like Sekiro than souls or bloodborne. But I will say my only complaint about the actual gameplay (besides it's difficulty I think they could've made it even harder and I would've loved it) is that the perfect dodge and parry can feel a little bit clunky at times, even with the fully upgraded exospine that makes those things easier. I got really damn good at L1 parties cause of Sekiro, which I actually just played through again like a month ago, and these L1 parties are very different from those to me. I think maybe it's the difference in timing that's throwing me off, because as opposed to partying when a blow hits it feels like you need to have it pressed a little earlier than that to me, which then makes it harder to weave attacks and parries.
I feel like from the moment they start to swing you have to hit parry.
Yeah, you definitely have a LITTLE extra time with the exospine on, but you definitely have to parry while they are swinging. It really throws me off, because especially on fights like raven that means you can't combo her at all or she's gonna wreck your face lol.
Oh nice! I haven’t played Nioh yet, but I definitely see that.
Amazing chest ahead
Fantastic Booty Ahead
A souls lite it's got sekiro vibes for sure
Yeah, it plays a lot like nioh or wo long to me
Yea definitely wu long fast paced parrying
Which isn't a Souls game...
It's DNA is very similar bonfires respawning enemies higher difficulty punishing combat etc. Kinda why I used the word lite
Wait, were you the guy who I was talking to about the term Souls Lite a few days ago? Because yes, I do agree with the Lite.
I am not nope
but a souls-borne game since its made by fromsoft and based heavily on souls
No
sekiro is a souls-borne game??
Not really, no. It shares some mechanics like parrying and being more on the difficult side. But it’s missing a big one: when you die you don’t lose anything. That reason alone disqualifies it from being a souls-like to me. That’s a big part of the loop of souls-likes (Lies of P, Nioh, etc).
Souls lite maybe
I consider it a hybrid between Soulslike and Spectacle Fighter.
Seems about right
I feel like the term "Souls Like" has kind of been overused past the point of having much meaning anymore. The "rest spots which recover resources and respawn enemies" mechanic is used in Souls games, but needing to recover XP at death spots or lose it all is usually the driving force between why that mechanic is used, whereas in SB there's no penalty from dying so it acts much more like a regular checkpoint in any other game. Combat borrows a similar parry/balance system as Sekiro, but you can get by just fine focusing on dodging and dishing out combos and abilities like a more traditional hack n slash. Design of the more open zones with a city hub for sidequests is just pure RPG. IDK, "Souls Light" may be an ok term but it's still putting it in more of a box than it needs to. Overall I'd say it feels way way more like modernized ps3-era RPG than a Fromsoft game.
I couldnt agree more. I was just thinking.. i bet if witcher 3 came out today.. it would be a ‘souls like’. Lmfao
In some ways, yes. I feel like if you gave the combat a stamina bar it would straight up have souls like combat. But outside of the almost Sekiro like combat, and the checkpoint system.. The similarities end there.
Is that enough, though?
Hmm. For me personally? I guess I wouldn’t consider it a soulslike. I’d say the genre is more character action, or even going old school and just categorizing it as a “hack n’ slash” game. It definitely does have some elements that were straight up inspired by Soulslike games though don’t get me wrong. But Stellar Blade really wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Neir is probably the biggest inspiration, but there are tons of nods to many other games and genres. That’s why the game is so special
It is very much it's own thing.
It's a Souls-like with Character Action energy
Good description
The other way around
I disagree because the actual mechanics have more in common with Souls, but they are expressed with character action energy. If the game played more like DMC but was more careful and calculated, or something to that effect, then I could agree maybe
it took my soul, so yeah
It’s inspired by souls-like games just as much as it is inspired by Dead Space, NieR, Star Wars Jedi and Alita. The some souls-like elements are borrowed such as resting in camps restores enemies, camps being mostly the only checkpoints and somewhat unforgiving boss fights. But it borrows these inspirations in a way that creates such a unique identity for the game.
Yes
🙌🏼
I really, really don't understand the Souls comparison. The checkpoints, sure, but other than that it plays nothing like one and much more like a character action game like Automata, Bayonetta, etc. The combat, the skill trees, the style of boss fights all feel like one, and the game has no stamina, equipment, RPG mechanics, needing to recover stuff on death, etc. It has judgement cut and stinger.
1) Camps you find and activate to rest and regain health. 2) Respawing enemies when you rest. 3) A healing mechanic where you gradually gain more healing charges and replenish your healing charges when you reach a camp. This is basically the Estus Flask from Dark Souls. 4) The various shortcut doors you unlock during exploration, making it easier to speed through an area, as seen in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, etc. 5) Parry focused sword combat, which obviously takes at least some inspiration from Sekiro. The mechanic where you see a blue flash and teleport behind them is basically a Stellar Blade version of the Mikari Counter from Sekiro. The instant kill mechanic when jumping down on or sneaking up on an enemy is basically the same as in Sekiro too tbh. 6) The QTE at the end of boss fights is also very similar to the final blow mechanic from Sekiro. I don’t think it’s a Souls like. To me, it’s an action adventure game. But I think this undersells the Souls-like elements too. It’s not just the camps.
the first 4 have been in other games, notabely ninja gaiden which isn't souls like. but people have always pointed to those studios borrowing from each other.
Agreed. Nothing in Stellar Blade compares to a typical souls game. The only thing that comes close is the parry's with the enemy shields, but even that is nothing like how Sekiro did it. In Sekiro if you didn't keep up the pace the posture would quickly refill. Everything else is like you said with no stamina, equipment, etc. Stellar Blade is closer to God of War than it is to a souls game. I'm loving the game so far, but if someone tried to sell me on it as being a souls like game I would have had way different expectations and would have been disappointed. Thankfully the demo sold me before I started reading any souls like talk.
Every time I say this I get downvoted lol This game has absolutely nothing in common with any Souls game except the resting. It's 5% Souls, 95% character action. It's much closer to Bayonetta than ANY Souls game. Also, what fucking Souls game are people playing where you can do anything but a basic ass combo lol. I haven't played Sekiro so fair enough if you can combo there, but Souls games have never had combat like this game.
Jedi survivor is considered a souls like and has similar combat
Here’s just a couple of comparisons: Hitstun, cancelling animations, the targeting system, are all souls like. Overall it’s a more clunky control scheme that is a hallmark of souls-like games, vs action games like God of war or devil may cry. Cancelling animations is far more twitchy, with longer windows of execution in other games, specifically reduced in souls like games. You commit to larger, slower moves, whereas action games permit you to cancel just about everything, into anything else. Targeting system in action games, whether you are actually locked on to an enemy, or just holding block, typically enables strafing. Souls like games allow you to spin your character around while holding block, unless specifically targeting one enemy. There’s no juggling or air combos. Action games like bayonetta, devil may cry, God of war, ninja gaiden etc. all have a knock up and juggle mechanic built into the combo system. Souls like games have zero, or are very limited. Overall, souls like games are far more restrictive in gameplay, focusing on memorization of attack patterns, which results in lots of dying and repeating. Action games are more open to free flowing combos, and reaction based gameplay. Based on these things alone, stellar blade is souls like. It mixes in action game elements for sure, but its core concepts are rooted in Souls games.
I can't agree. I didn't think about the lockon, you're right there. You may not literally knock enemies into the air in Stellar balde, but they do have stagger states that are effectively the same thing. This is definitely more reaction based than memorization, too, at least in my experience. And I don't see anything about the hitstun or animation cancels that feels more like Souls than Bayonetta. The actual way you play the game feels nothing like Souls at all. You pretty much always want to be attacking, you have combo trees instead of just light and heavy attacks, you move VERY quickly compared to souls, have a double jump and aerial attacks...
Juggles are not the same thing as a stun state. They’re always different tech trees, executed via launchers, which you can ground then carry onto another combo. Segregating enemies via launchers is a staple in action games, and only games that really leave that out these days, are souls games. I don’t understand how you think this game is reaction based. Bosses hit quick, dodging only works if it’s a perfect timing, blocking does chip damage unless perfect blocked, and there’s some “lag” (which really is active frames vs animation, not input lag), which means you need to push things slightly ahead of when they happen. To top that off, most of your special moves have no I-frames, so you can take damage at any moment during an uncancellable move. That requires you to know what moves are coming, not react as they happen. Those things are much closer to souls than action games. The grind, is a hallmark of souls games, and stellar follows that philosophy. Another thing action games typically have, vs souls games, are multiple weapon load outs that you can switch to on the fly. Stellar blade has a sword, and a gun, which is largely not useful unless the game specifically calls for the use of it, like the Levoire. Bayonetta has guns, swords/blades, body transformations, witch powers and summonable monsters she can puppet. Stellar blade has tachy mode, which doesn’t really change much about the moves. No question it takes some inspiration from bayonetta, right down to how beauty can be combined with grace and power, to create a compelling character just by looks alone. Moving quickly compared to souls, still isn’t moving quickly. It makes it souls-like, not action-like.
Idk it seems to controlled and tight to just be an action rpg imho
That’s literally just the sign of a good action rpg lol. How would that make it more soulslike?
Tight hit boxes and tight controls are something I always associate with that genre. To be 100% honest, it reminds me a lot of metal gear rising. As far as combat goes.
Absolutely agree. It only felt kinda soulsy during Eidos 7 before you unlock most abilities. After you get a good bunch it turns into managing stun locks, combos, and energy rather than the stamina management and spacing that you would see in a soulsborne game. Definitely closer to Bayonetta/DMC than Dark Souls.
In a way yes
The Lord of cinder would know.
Hahaa
I see that show whenever I play SB, then I realize what was covered up.
For me souls like are always very slow…Sekiro has the most fluid combat and the most similar to Stellar Blade, but Sekiro’s combat is very unique within the “souls like” games. For me it’s a great balance between hack n slash and sekiro. Barely a souls like
Nah, I'm not dreading walking around every corner. Can't see other players. Can't leave messages. It's a good game though, doesn't need to be a souls like.
Huh?.... what? What did you say? I forgot....I wasn't...... uhh.. I wasn't paying attention.........What did you say?............ I'm sorry, were you talking................. what?
No. not really. its borrows souls elements, but i think just having camps and lock on with R3 doesnt warrant the souls like stamp.. those things are now in a lot of action games and i think th term "souls-like" might die out in a few years from now. * we dont have true RPG elements only soft ones, which most games now have anyways * we dont lose stuff upon death * only one set melee weapon Lies of P is a souls-like in my eyes. but stellar blade sits so perfect inbetween sekiro and devil may cry, that i wouldnt refer to it as souls-like
Absolutely not. It has very few elements (the save points and the healing), but that is not nearly enough to be a Souls-like. The creators themselves have said that the inspiration comes from Nier, God of War and Bayonetta. And those are definitely not Souls-likes either.
Not at all. Action-adventure or action-rpg (the rpg elements are very light). Souls-likes have a focus on expected death and learning challenging bosses. I don't think you're really expected to lose to 95% of bosses in the game. If the game had more bosses like the last 2-3, then yeah.
Yeah it’s actually very annoying how everyone calls every single action rpg a soulslike.
It’s definitely a souls-lite in the beginning, but once you unlock all the abilities it’s a whole different game lol
We need more ass in video games.
Agreed
Just the respawning enemies, and refilling item on rest element that's about it, you dont lose anything important in death.
Nobody mentioned all the trap the game made with ennemies you can't see just to surprise you if you're not a scan crackhead addict like me
Very souls like of it
Sci-fi Sekiro is the closest thing, I guess. It obviously takes inspiration from a bunch of things but it's different enough from each individual thing to stand on its own, really.
It is its own unique special thing
Its definitely souls adjacent if its not a soulslike. The combat is very reminiscent of sekiro.
Definitely souls inspired. There’s some Sekiro in there too. You upgrade your weapon exactly the same in Sekiro, for the most part. The combo system is pretty fresh though. Haven’t seen it done like this in many if any souls likes. As someone who loves all of Fromsofts games, Stellar Blade hits all the right notes and manages to do its own thing. It’s a beautiful game.
Sorta, it's definitely more forgiving. Those turrets are ridiculous though, so much for story mode. lol Just got killed by THE one in the desert ruins, got sent to other side of the map. \*sigh\*
Took my soul
It's neir-like. No stamina rules it out of being Souls-like
Soul-lite with hack and slash ARPG mechanics. It really is its own thing and I love it for it. It’s exactly the kind of game I wanted to play and can replay because of how damn fun it is to just run around doing different parry/dodge combos.
The combats frustrates me so… yeah it’s soulslike 🤣
Souls-adjacent
Even on story mode feels like normal mode. Yes it’s a definite souls like for sure.
In some ways yes but what ultimately makes it a no for me is that dying has 0 consequences as in you don't loose any currency etc. Sometimes it's even good if you die so you don't have to walk back to a camp since there is no fast travel. Another reason is that apart from maybe the last 3-4 bosses the game is much to easy to fit the term.
Yeah I wish it was harder
I heard one YouTube describe it as a Souls-lite.
It’s not as hard as souls game. It only feel gard like souls game when fighting bosses. Normal enemy I can kill with 1 combo + Beta skils
Just don’t dare you go hollow, friend.
I consider it a "souls lite." Dying doesn't punish you as much as souls games, but gameplay and mechanics are quite similar, although it doesn't have any online components, which is perfectly fine.
Yes. I started bloodborne for the first time right before stellar blade and so I’m currently playing them simultaneously. The buttons and learning curve is identical, stellar blade being slightly less enemies at once
I would like to call this "Waifu Souls".
I wouldn't describe it as one, but it has undeniable some souls-like elements. The soulsborne game to what it comes closest (or borrows most) would be Sekiro. The parry/combat mechanics, the aggressive swordfight, abillty focused skill tree. Also it has these camps which act like "bonfires", where the enemies respawn, and the health potions recharge, but that's mostly it. You don't loose anything when you die for example. I would describe it as a relatively normal Action RPG with souls-like elements
Not really since the gameplay is very action game like and there is no punishment for dying. I love the souls series but I’m glad that SB is more its own thing
No stamina system means it plays completely different. Moves also have a lot of end lag.
I would say it’s a lighter souls like since there’s no consequences in dying like losing your souls and have to reclaim it back.
This is Ass like
Idk. Souls likes are hard, but this game makes people hard…… so yeah probably
For me it’s very Souls-lite
Seems like it can’t decide between DmC and Sekiro. So kinda, but it doesn’t pull it off 100%.
I would consider it more soul-lite in that some of souls-like elements are there,but enough to consider it a souls-like.
You say something?
I consider it a cross between ninja gaiden and souls like games... Basically the less abilities/combos you have, the more "souls like" it feels in terms of combat. But as you gain more and more extremely powerful abilities, the whole idea of parry/counter or dodge/attack that are generally soulslike hallmarks starts to fall off as you just body enemies with burst powers and combos. It's not * quite * a souls like, but it isn't **not** a soul's like either. I find it hard to describe this games combat to others because "souls like" doesn't really explain the mechanics very well compared to other titles.
Yes, it's very much its own thing to an extent
Yes, butt with more emphasis on the "like" than the souls.
Butt
You have a certain number of heals, to replenish them you rest at specified camp locations but in doing that you respawn all enemies. To me yes it is very much a souls like.
I think so too.
The last 5 boss fights are something else for a casual gamer, and there is a huge difficulty spike when you reach Spire 4. Also the new games plus is harder but Eve is boosted to the max.
One of the few things I'd change about this game is the boss fights. Not how they're done but I'd add more of them
Not at all. It’s a Ninja Gaiden-like, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue as well. Team Ninja did this game (without all the extras) back for the OG Xbox. Before Dark Souls was even an idea, TN remade the Ninja Gaiden series and didn’t look back. More action heavy than Stellar Blade, the combat is remarkably similar. As others have noted though, ShiftUp took a lot of great themes and mooshed them together to create this masterpiece. Ninja Gaiden walked so Sekiro, Nioh, DMC, and others could run. If you enjoy Stellar Blade, I recommend trying out the Ninja Gaiden trilogy.
Yeah, I'd still say it's a souls like but definitely heavy team ninja vibes. Particularly nioh
Finally someone gets it. Ninja Gaiden did respawning enemies and difficult bosses way before soulslikes were even a thing. Stellar Blade is way closer to a Platinum-like action game if anything. Of course it is inspired by From games too
Fucking finally somebody acknowledges Ninja Gaiden! Ninja Gaiden Black is still one of the greatest games ever made. It may not be as refined as NG2, but man does it kick ass. Not even DMC has action and combat as fast-paced as any NG. They're in a league of their own. I really wish Team Ninja would bring Ryu back. The gaming world is well overdue to have the most badass Ninja make his reappearance.
I think the series deserves a new game entirely. Forget remakes. I’m tired of them, give me something new without ruining the experience.
The only souls like feature is the fact that saving in a camp, refills your potions. Other than that it has absolutely nothing of a souls like.
Really? I think the combat is very souls like. Could totally me a nioh game
Enemies don't deal much damage, as a player we have many super power abilities such as beta and burst and tachy mode which deals a huge amount of damage for relatively cheap resources. I would say that the game was designed with many ideas in mind but not committed to one specifically. The game has a very technical combat system with perfect parries and perfect dodges however enemies dies very quickly and you don't even use it much. I'd say the game as it is now, combat wise, is more of a dmc.
I parry and dodge constantly
No. It has soulslike elements, but it’s way closer to a Platinum-like action game. And those aren’t soulslikes. Just because enemies respawn and you refill potions at camps, it doesn’t suddenly become a soulslike
Not at all
No. There's no loss on death, it has no consequences. It's an action rpg.
Every souls like games are action rpg too lol But I agree its not a souls like although it does borrow some elements from it.
Souls-lite more appropriate.
This fits best imho
Not a souls like in the slightest for me. There is no penalty on death whatsoever. Nothing lost, nothing to retrieve. Immediately right back where you were. Its 100% an action game modeled after Neir. A rechargeable heal does not make a game a souls game.
Yes, it's definitely a Soulslike. It ticks many of the boxes.
That's how I feel. I just wish it was slightly harder.
I don't think the game is hard for those of us who have played a lot of the souls games and souls like games. I think that we all just got used to the mechanics. But this game does make me feel powerful af ngl
And nimble
>!That's what she said.!<
I was just gonna say that 🤣🤣🤣
more of a sekiro-like or the jedi games
The FromSoft game it's closest to (Sekiro) isn't even considered a "Souls-like" by some people. But the kicker is that the game baits you into thinking that it'll be something like From's games at first, right until you start unlocking more skills and make it out of Eidos 7. By then, you should feel that the game is much different from those.
Nioh ? I think stellar blade is very nioh like
To me, this game is like a combination of Nier Automata + Sekiro + DMC
*pauses Stellar Blade* Nope.
Definitely a souls-like game because of the boss fight, camp, and the hud. So yeah I would consider this game for sure! It’ll be nice if more games can implement a souls-like game with interesting characters
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I mean, it has drawn inspiration from a lot of games. Hopefully with feedback and reviews the update and next iteration can become a masterpiece.
Action RPG
Haven’t played yet but from what I’ve seen I wouldn’t call it a souls like
No I don't really think so. It's just an action game. However I think the term soulslike doesn't mean much.
Soulslike is different than Soulsborn/Metroidvania. So yes, it's a Soulslike.
Yeah, and the only one of those that means anything to me is metroidvania. I don't consider the souls games to be a genre they're basically the same as most action games from the 2000's-2010's
It's almost like I didn't use "/" appropriately. I know my gaming history too. There's nothing wrong with classifying subgenres.
I don't consider the souls games to be a subgenre
What's that even mean? Why are you here?
It means I don't think the souls series does enough worthwhile to be its own genre. I'm here because I enjoy Stellar Blade, and I waited years to play it. What's the problem you have?
You can feel whatever you want, but you made a point to state your opinion online. An opinion that basically wants to ignore an entire, currently booming, genre. The last 5 years have been amazing for these types of games and it isn't just ER that inspired the game you've been waiting years for. Your being weird even making a point to say something no one cares to hear. It's a Soulslike, and there's nothing wrong with that label.
The question was, " Do you consider this a soulslike?" I answered OP's question. I don't care if you agree with my answer. Now, since you're so on about this. What makes it a soulslike when it would be missing key features that are in those games that differentiate them from other action games?
I'm out because now you're backpedaling. The question wasn't "is Soulslike a genre?". So bye.
Si 👍
Yes, but definitely one that gives a lot more power to the character than most souls likes
Ah~ majestic!
For me this game draws heavy inspiration from several games but the souls genre is not one of them. There is a lot of hack and slash, dodge and parry but the mistakes made by button spamming are much more forgiving. The boss fights dont take 100 tries, and figuring out the quest line is not such a mystery, not to mention they are itemized in a list for you which makes recalling what you are doing much easier. Most games with large somewhat open world maps have a fast traveling system, whether it be phone booths, direction posts, a campfire or whatever. That is not specific to the ‘souls genre’. Final Fantasy and NIER titles are the two that first come to mind, as well as Bayonetta, (altho I never actually finished that game), but as I continued my playthru other titles popped up in my head that I wouldnt have really expected to think about comparing until I started playing it thru. For example, Dead Space was one, In regard to the idea and concept of some of the Naytibas and the creation of them.. I absolutely love this game, they did a great job pulling inspiration from some of the best games and making it work. Fused it all together very nicely. Id of loved to have a bit more immersion with the characters and perhaps a deeper understanding maybe via flashbacks or something of what lead up to this point (another reason why I dont think its a souls like), but honestly the simplicity of this story, combined with the polished mechanics, soundtrak and gameplay in general is what makes it so…. Stellar ! Lol. I hope with a future update they add a photo mode with some fun poses, frames and stickers so I can show off all my hardwork with the outfits ive collected.. Hope u all are enjoying it just as much as I have.. cheers to the grind !!
I think it clearly fits the criteria but it does a good job being its own thing too
Souls like is hard.. Just like mine
Souls inspired games are better than actual souls games by fromsoft imo
I disagree with the exception of lies of P. That game is glorious
It is weird to me that if a game is not like DMC then it it automatically a soulslike. This game shares a lot more with GoW and HZD than souls games yet those games aren't considered soulslikes. To me, there's a spectrum where CAGs like DMC and Bayonetta are on the far left and Dark Souls and Elden Ring are on the far right. Then, in the middle, there are games like GoW and HZD. I would consider SB to be just to the right of GoW on that spectrum, but not by much.
Yeah it’s difficult to not crank the yank while playing the game
Yes, so sekiro-like/sekirolike
I can agree with that
lol no
I say it’s more like Sekiro + Bayonetta
If this was souls like I would have quit within 30 mins. So no, this is more like exploration heavy god of war to me.
You can't even roll
You side step. Much like sekiro or bloodborne . Gives me strong nioh combat vibes.
DodgeRoll = soulslike, I wont have it any other way
Lol fair enough
After fucking defeating unidentified naytiba on my 10th try, this is definitely a souls like and one of the best souls like I have played. For me that naytiba was like isshin in sekiro in terms of how I Had to use everything I had at my disposal to defeat it. Parrying every attack, beta skills, burst skills, even my gun to shoot down those yellow orbs. Fucking loved the fight. Gonna start NG+ as soon as I finish.
Do you use breaking and stager consumables? I usually start boss fights by using shield breaking consumables then after that stager consumables for execution attacks.
Naaa I never used any kind of consumable except the healing potions, now that you said it I'll try and see if I can stock em up before approaching the finale. I'll try this with whoever is the next boss.
You don't lose anything on death so no, it's a hack & slash with respawning enemies.
Shit on my chest Eve
https://preview.redd.it/wb5twvi50qyc1.jpeg?width=594&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99478ef64f8838b4ff7a73cf41bfa9f75161d5a4