Stellar Blade

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

Ah, this reminds me of the good ol' days where i literally spent 100 hours between the Alpha and Beta of Destiny lol. At least stuff over here carries on but if i am honest, despite the save stuff carrying over, i think it should be obvious the items people can boost with on the earlier levels and materials they have will probably get left behind by higher level materials and weapon requirements deliberately left out for the main game.

Maybe they think people spending 50+ hours could get burned out and not end up getting the game at launch as a result and waiting a while which is a more valid concern than anything.

More being overpowered early as the skull tree unlocks are just SP purchased. Though most just unlock moves and combos rather than being things that directly make you more powerful.

[Diesel]

I like the idea of progress from a demo carrying over into the full game but personally I’d never do it unless it was one of the Square demos where they are literally 10+ hours of the game or if it was one I tried for a game that is already out. For new release games I want that full experience of playing through the whole game normally.

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by Diesel

I like the idea of progress from a demo carrying over into the full game but personally I’d never do it unless it was one of the Square demos where they are literally 10+ hours of the game or if it was one I tried for a game that is already out.

I’m carrying mine over just because I grinded a little bit to unlock some abilities I wanted to try like making the perfect dodge and parry easier. I don’t want to have to unlock those again as the game feels much better to me with them.its a short demo so I don’t feel a need to repay that section even if I end up not getting this at launch.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

More being overpowered early as the skull tree unlocks are just SP purchased. Though most just unlock moves and combos rather than being things that directly make you more powerful.

I don't know how the levelling and progression system works for Stellar Blade but going on my prior experience with these sort of games, it's always been the case the early parts are to get you to grips with the combat and so on, then they have the full game to explore the real advanced and higher end stuff as well as story.

Originally Posted by Diesel

I like the idea of progress from a demo carrying over into the full game but personally I’d never do it unless it was one of the Square demos where they are literally 10+ hours of the game or if it was one I tried for a game that is already out. For new release games I want that full experience of playing through the whole game normally.

The timed "demos" which are basically just a timed version of the full game was an interesting concept to introduce but a part of me feels with how big games have gotten and requiring installs that sometimes needs to be deleted (and not getting full space back) is sometimes what puts me off trying them at all.

Back during the PS1 to even PS3 era, the sizes were a lot more manageable for games and i just wish we could go back to those much more smaller sized demos and hell, one day i swear it would be nice if we can get wholly physical media back. There's not been an optical disc advance in too long right now that will allow us to play games solely off physical media and that's a shame but i wouldn't mind if it was an NVMe style medium either.

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

I don't know how the levelling and progression system works for Stellar Blade but going on my prior experience with these sort of games, it's always been the case the early parts are to get you to grips with the combat and so on, then they have the full game to explore the real advanced and higher end stuff as well as story.

It's a mix of the skill tree unlocking abilities and some upgrades--that's just SP and one could grind and unlock everything in the couple of branches available and have more saved up for more as other branches unlock.

The other is the gear that provides varies buffs (you can swap a lot around in the extra boss challenge). You're right that it's unclear whether the upgrade mats and money people are farming in the demo will be useful for that all game or if people will have a ton of early game mats that aren't needed as new mats are needed for later upgrades/unlocks.

The gear makes a big difference though. While some of it was learning after playing the challenge boss a few times, I had a super easy time with it after changing in some attack speed and make parry timing easier gear after struggling a ton to beat it the first time with whatever gear the demo defaulted you to.

The timed "demos" which are basically just a timed version of the full game was an interesting concept to introduce but a part of me feels with how big games have gotten and requiring installs that sometimes needs to be deleted (and not getting full space back) is sometimes what puts me off trying them at all.

Back during the PS1 to even PS3 era, the sizes were a lot more manageable for games and i just wish we could go back to those much more smaller sized demos and hell, one day i swear it would be nice if we can get wholly physical media back. There's not been an optical disc advance in too long right now that will allow us to play games solely off physical media and that's a shame but i wouldn't mind if it was an NVMe style medium either.

I get the preference for physical media, especially on this site.

But what's the issue with file sizes? Slower internet and/or data caps? It used to bug me due to the latter when I was stuck with Xfinity who had a data cap (though had 1gig speeds), but AT&T Fiber came available early last year which has no data cap.

Storage space isn't great on these current consoles as SSDs were expensive back at their launch, but are pretty cheap now (well not Xbox with their proprietary one). I added a 2TB one to the expansion slot on my PS5 last march for $131.99 for the drive and $10.99 for a heatsink for it (covered both with reward points from my Amazon Visa card. So I'm set this gen. Less so on XSX, but I'm mostly a beat and delete gamer anyway and don't play as many games there as I do on PS5 anyway. XSX is mostly a Gamepass machine for me.

I imagine the PS6 and whatever Xbox does next will have bigger SSDs as prices drop and gaming goes more or fully digital.

[RocShemp]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

Tomorrow.
K-Pop star Bibi/Stellar Blade music video:


https://x.com/gematsu/status/1780591035753599014

Um, what is up with that thing on her nose? Please tell me that's just for the video, not some new horrid fashion trend?

[RocShemp]

Screw it. I restarted the demo. I'm gonna farm my way up to where I was before the monorail.

[eiknarf]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

Um, what is up with that thing on her nose? Please tell me that's just for the video, not some new horrid fashion trend?

Haha it’s just for the video

[Derb]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

You won't lose anything so long as you (A) don't confront the car park roof boss until you're ready to transfer your save to the full game, and (B) don't take the risk of solving the monorail puzzle.

Uh, couldn’t resist.

I wanted to find out what materials are needed for upgrades & suits. So you have Nano & Polymer you collect in the demo. I wanted to see the upgrade menu. Basically if you get a level 1 Exospine, you can then up its level to level 2 & then level 3 which is max. I didn’t upgrade mine at all even though I had a fair bit of everything needed which was just Nano & Gold. That said I was a bit surprised they do want a fair bit of Nano. I think they want level 1 & level 2 Nano.

So I expect when suits are available it will be similar situation. You’ll just need polymer instead.

It was easy doing blink to get behind the garage park. I only did a few things like unlock doors which take you back to the demo, 1 rest spot, & kinda regret upgrading EVE’s health as I found 2 more cores. I got Exospine gadget & found some text artifacts from humans.

I didn’t open this chest I found which looks similar to the demo one located away from the parking garage area. I also didn’t go near the objective. I don’t want to trigger any cutscenes. Also didn’t fight the demo boss. The rest spot outside the garage also doesn’t have a phone to fast travel.

[Derb]

Here is exact grind for Exospine level 2.

Nano Element - 100
Advanced Nano Element - 50
Gold - 500

I’m guessing Level 3 (Max) will want Extreme Nano Element + the 2 others & Gold.

[RocShemp]

Originally Posted by Derb

Uh, couldn’t resist.

I wanted to find out what materials are needed for upgrades & suits. So you have Nano & Polymer you collect in the demo. I wanted to see the upgrade menu. Basically if you get a level 1 Exospine, you can then up its level to level 2 & then level 3 which is max. I didn’t upgrade mine at all even though I had a fair bit of everything needed which was just Nano & Gold. That said I was a bit surprised they do want a fair bit of Nano. I think they want level 1 & level 2 Nano.

So I expect when suits are available it will be similar situation. You’ll just need polymer instead.

It was easy doing blink to get behind the garage park. I only did a few things like unlock doors which take you back to the demo, 1 rest spot, & kinda regret upgrading EVE’s health as I found 2 more cores. I got Exospine gadget & found some text artifacts from humans.

I didn’t open this chest I found which looks similar to the demo one located away from the parking garage area. I also didn’t go near the objective. I don’t want to trigger any cutscenes. Also didn’t fight the demo boss. The rest spot outside the garage also doesn’t have a phone to fast travel.

The only risk is solving the monorail puzzle. And just before said puzzle, there's another save station with a fast travel option. I did solve the chest you mentioned, but don't recall what I got for it. And I did find another beta core upgrade in an office building you can climb into.

Once the game proper is released, I feel we will find that area scanning is our friend. It not only reveals some hidden enemies, it also clues you in to chests and other potential goodies.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by RocShemp

The only risk is solving the monorail puzzle. And just before said puzzle, there's another save station with a fast travel option. I did solve the chest you mentioned, but don't recall what I got for it. And I did find another beta core upgrade in an office building you can climb into.

Once the game proper is released, I feel we will find that area scanning is our friend. It not only reveals some hidden enemies, it also clues you in to chests and other potential goodies.

Yeah. You’re right about monorail puzzle. I watched a video to see what I didn’t do.

You get a gear socket unlock in the chest I didn’t open. I did go to the office, it had 2 materials to upgrade the drone which you can’t obviously do without the mechanic. That’s about it as far as materials I got extra.

Also I didn’t go to the area where you unlock the garage door to access the underwater stuff with the elevator rope. I know past that area there is a new supply camp now.

I’m good with what I’ve explored & farmed materials so far… so I’m pretty sure I’ll leave that garage/water area alone. I might be tempted to unlock that chest.

1-week to go!!

[eiknarf]

My guess

Metacritic Pro Review Average: 79
Metacritic User Review Average: 92

[emailking]

They should patch glitch and it is unethical to use it. You shouldn't get what you didn't pay for.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

It's a mix of the skill tree unlocking abilities and some upgrades--that's just SP and one could grind and unlock everything in the couple of branches available and have more saved up for more as other branches unlock.

The other is the gear that provides varies buffs (you can swap a lot around in the extra boss challenge). You're right that it's unclear whether the upgrade mats and money people are farming in the demo will be useful for that all game or if people will have a ton of early game mats that aren't needed as new mats are needed for later upgrades/unlocks.

The gear makes a big difference though. While some of it was learning after playing the challenge boss a few times, I had a super easy time with it after changing in some attack speed and make parry timing easier gear after struggling a ton to beat it the first time with whatever gear the demo defaulted you to.

I get the preference for physical media, especially on this site.

But what's the issue with file sizes? Slower internet and/or data caps? It used to bug me due to the latter when I was stuck with Xfinity who had a data cap (though had 1gig speeds), but AT&T Fiber came available early last year which has no data cap.

Storage space isn't great on these current consoles as SSDs were expensive back at their launch, but are pretty cheap now (well not Xbox with their proprietary one). I added a 2TB one to the expansion slot on my PS5 last march for $131.99 for the drive and $10.99 for a heatsink for it (covered both with reward points from my Amazon Visa card. So I'm set this gen. Less so on XSX, but I'm mostly a beat and delete gamer anyway and don't play as many games there as I do on PS5 anyway. XSX is mostly a Gamepass machine for me.

I imagine the PS6 and whatever Xbox does next will have bigger SSDs as prices drop and gaming goes more or fully digital.

Here in the UK we get ripped off for fast internet compared to our European neighbours and to add to that trouble generally, i don't think many people realise the PlayStation network download speeds are generally capped from what i understand so even with the fastest internet speeds which isn't the majority, it can take a while.

I dunno, i just guess i wouldn't be bothered too much by the download speeds if the prices weren't crap typically for the majority of new digital releases and the lack of price drops post launch compared to how much physical games would.

Now you can't even really use grey market PlayStation purchases from foreign countries like you used to be able to help make the games cheaper. Another point in favour of the PC plan i might go with for the next gen.

Personally i think if a consumer is willing to go through the trouble of trying to pay in different currencies and so on, you're ultimately getting a fixed sale. For content you literally per T&Cs can have yanked off you because apparently we don't own anything these days anyways.

I'm generally not an advocate of piracy, but these corporations are literally happy to steal from you under the guise of IP ownership and so on, as well as locking you out of legitimate purchases just because its from their foreign market stores, so i have no qualms with whatever happens to them down the line. I genuinely hope companies happily adopting these scummy practices crash and burn. They're going to largely be the reason consoles start dying out imo.

PC markets got much more competition to help keep prices in check. The gated monopoly of each platform holders unfortunately allowed them and publishers to operate with impunity. Want a cheap example. Mobile game shovelware on consoles priced 2-3x higher than the Google Play store or sometimes where its free there, they charge a lot more on consoles.

Meh, i grumble like an old man these days it seems lol.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by emailking

They should patch glitch and it is unethical to use it. You shouldn't get what you didn't pay for.

Come now. Calm down dear.

Where the hell does ethics come into it for a bunch of pixels on a screen in something the developers released for free. Hell, if anything it's giving them even more attention and gamers playtime on the demo to boost their presence online and in the store.

Plus, it hurts literally nobody.

[emailking]

I think it's hacking/stealing. It's obvious it's not intended to be that way. Completely stand by what I said.

[Derb]

lol

I paid $111.99 for Stellar Blade Digital Deluxe back in February.

Anyway, progressed to the kill switch area of the Demo. Thanks to people here, I didn’t ruin my save file.

That 1 chest in the non-glitch area “Bar 99” I still haven’t got a password/code to open it. I have 2 omnicores. You need 3 to unlock a gear socket. I’ve seen a video of someone upgrading this. So somebody must have found the key to open that chest in the demo.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by emailking

I think it's hacking/stealing. It's obvious it's not intended to be that way. Completely stand by what I said.

Say that to the 1,000’s of people who play PlayStation games online on their PC. They ruin the experience for practically every online match I play.

[emailking]

Unless they're stealing the game I see no reason to say that to them.