Stellar Blade feels like a blast from the past in the best way possible. In everything from its setting to its combat, it wears its inspirations on its sleeves, and though the result is a game that doesn’t necessarily tread new ground in any meaningful way, its qualities are undeniable.

Its sci-fi post-apocalyptic world is brimming with scenery, its combat is fast and fluid and consistently a blast, and it boasts a staggering amount of variety in the enemies that you fight.

Sporting higher production values than many would expect, Stellar Blade brings its vision to life in impressive fashion, even if some non-combat related parts of the gameplay experience – like the platforming – can drag things down at times.