Stellar Blade developer Shift Up quite clearly took a lot of inspiration from PS4 great NieR: Automata during the making of its soon-to-be-released PS5 exclusive, but in the case of Automata director Yoko Taro, he thinks that the student has already become the master. In an interview with IGN Japan (via Eurogamer), Taro says Stellar Blade "is a really amazing game. I'd say that it's much better than NieR: Automata."
The quote comes from a chat between the Japanese outlet, Yoko Taro, and Shift Up lead Hyung-Tae Kim. With the two directors constantly complimenting each other, Taro believes that Stellar Blade is the better game due to the "next-gen quality" of its visuals and the "cool male characters and cute female characters". He continues: "Shops in RPGs often have a close-up shot of the shopkeeper, which I don't like because I think it feels unnatural. Stellar Blade has a shot like that too, but the shopkeeper was so cute that I didn't mind! Her cuteness felt more important than any design choices."
Yoko Taro then goes on to explain how he knew comparisons would be drawn between the two titles after his first meeting with Hyung-Tae Kim, because while they play differently, "a delicate female character doing cool action is bound to draw comparisons. If Stellar Blade would have been the same game with a macho male character, I think people wouldn't have pointed out the similarities."
Kim was just as complimentary towards NieR: Automata during the interview, stating: "The more we talk about it, the more I feel like Stellar Blade can't compete. I consider myself a visualist, not a storyteller. I've been creating visuals all my life, so I can't quite match Yoko Taro when it comes to storytelling. I try to make up for this with gameplay."
Should the claim from Yoko Taro come true, then Stellar Blade will garner an incredibly positive critical reception. NieR: Automata holds a Metacritic rating of 88 based on more than 100 reviews, so Shift Up will deliver one of the best titles of 2024 if outlets agree with Taro come release day. Do you think there's a chance Stellar Blade really will be better than NieR: Automata? Let us know in the comments below.
[source ign.com, via eurogamer.net]
Comments 53
"but the shopkeeper was so cute that I didn't mind"
Classic Yoko Taro right there
Stellar Blade might have better visuals but i can't see it topping Nier Autamata's world, themes, story, characters and depth.
I thoroughly enjoyed the demo, so looking forward to the game.
Leave it to someone who hides their face to break the review embargo.
I HIGHLY doubt that. NieR: Automata is one of the very best games from last gen. Accessible but thrilling combat. Gorgeous music. Interesting themes. A fascinating story. And one of the most mind-boggling true endings I've ever seen in a game.
Gameplay and combat, maybe. But story, ost, characters, etc etc? i don't think so, man.
It’s funny to see everyone comparing Stellar Blade to Nier. To me, at least, it’s far more reminiscent of Bayonetta than Nier and I say that having played both games.
Its going to take alot for it to top Nier for me. I only played through to the first ending but i thoroughly enjoyed the game alot. I liked the SB demo too so we shall see.
Lol, no. But it's polite of him to say so.
Love the bromance these two got going on. I love Automata and I fully expect to love Stellar Blade as well. Very much looking forward to it next week!
NieR: Automata is a masterwork of video game storytelling. At this point, I don’t see the comparison but I’ll wait to pass judgement. Still, those are some big stilettos to fill.
High praise indeed. I'm willing to be won over, although the 2B character design won't be topped imo.
I highly doubt that but I'm still looking forward to the game of course. Combat might be better but definitely not the characters and world.
Lol nier replicant is better than automata so I'd rather he was praising it in comparison to that instead to really get hyped
Just based off the short demo, I do prefer the slower more methodical approach of stellar blades combat over automatas. If the music is consistent throughout the game, I think they'll have equally good music. And who knows about the story, but it seems interesting albeit cliche so far
I could've told y'all that for free
There is absolutely no way. Yoko Taro’s being very nice but Nier Automata is one of the most thought-provoking games of its generation. It actually has something to say.
@Kidfunkadelic83 please do yourself a favor and go through the multiple other endings... ^^ First ending makes Nier a great game, but story wise it becomes fantastic with alternative endings/perspective ^^
Nier Automata is my all-time favorite game, so I doubt it will be for me, but I can’t wait to possibly be proven wrong.
@Kalime78 i would love to buddy but ive just not got the time.
@DETfaninATL Bayonetta? Really? Other then both having a female lead and being action games i see zero similarities.
@Kidfunkadelic83 each addt'l playthrough gets shorter than the previous. I think 2nd playthrough is like 50% of first, and 3rd like 20%...
But yeah, too many games, too little time ^_^
Quite the praise from Yoko Taro. I really liked the demo and I'm excited for the full release. I love Nier Automata so this is exciting.
@Kalime78 on that basis then i think i will give it another go. How many times do i need to complete it? Just the 3?
Well that's nice of him to say but nier auto had a LOT going for it. I'm loving stellar blade but I doubt it'll be of nier's quality. It could be, but I doubt it.
@Kidfunkadelic83 it’s been a while, but if I remember right give times total. Each time gets quicker though. It is well worth going through all of the play throughs.
Nier Automata is one of my favourite games of all time. I highly doubt that this will be better but I'm very open to being proven wrong.
Yoko Taro is so humble. He must be treasured at all costs.
After the demo I genuinely can’t wait for Stellar Blade, but for it to truly capture what made NieR: Automata so special? We’ll see… because nothing else has come remotely close since.
Not gonna judge anything until I play and complete Stellar Blade.
@DETfaninATL I don't get the bayo comparisons. Besides both having a hot female mc. As for nier there are a few things. The music (same composer I think), hot female mc who's fighting in a war, several of her teammates die in the beginning, there's a little drone companion that helps you in combat, post apocalyptic world, and whatever else. The nier comparisons seem more understandable
@DennisReynolds @Pepsiman_100
The body style of the main character (including the longer legs - not just the 'painted on' costume), running style, music, combo-based attacks all harken back to Bayonetta for me. Plus, when I was playing the demo, I seem to recall there was a pause menu or section of the game where you could try out diffrent attacks and it would show you what inputs you were hitting which was extremely close to what Bayonetta did on it's loading screen.
Don't get me wrong - I do see some comparisons to Nier as well. And I know the game director (I believe it was?) said Nier was an inspiration for Stellar Blade. But for me I just see the DNA of Bayonetta in this game moreso than Nier.
And I'll just throw it out there and be 'that guy', but I think Nier is rather overrated. It's a decent game and all but I don't get everyone's wild praise for the game. It was 'just OK' IMHO.
I love Nier Automata and despite my hype for Steller Blade I find this hard to believe.
@Kidfunkadelic83 it's been some time so not 100% sure anymore, but I believe 2, and 3.a were the most important. But then 3.b. and 3.c were just a few more hours, so by that time, you can just platinum the game ^_^
I think each addt'l playthrough has less and less chapters...
Storywise no chance. But Stellar Blades gameplay was smooth and the visuals are great.
@DETfaninATL Fair enough.
NieR Automata is the GOAT. I don’t think it’ll be close.
I always take Yoko Taro comments with a huge pinch of salt, but it's a promising sign if he thinks Stella Blade will be great.
Look at these gentlemen throwing flowers at each other.
Na. Stella Blade doesn't have Cherami Leigh in it.
And now for an unpopular opinion.
I don't think that is difficult at all. Nier Automata was a more boring Nier (gestalt). The story was not at all very different nor the save shannenigans and the world. I guess some robotic rear end made it more appealing for the kiddies that missed out on the first one.
To be honest, nier automata is only lacking a little visually. Everything else is arguably perfect, from the satisfying combat, to the insane storytelling and incredible music. Also I don't think any country can best Japanese voices.
So if Taro isn't satisfied, he should work on another great action game set in an insane world.
I feel Nier Automata was overrated the world was bland I wasn't bothered by the story characters are instantly recognised at least.
@MonkeyDLuffy19
I actually agree with this sentiment. While I wouldn't go so far as to call it bland, I found it pretty annoying that you had to replay the game multiple times to get the full context. It felt more like padding than anything else. Still, the combat was decent and the characters ARE pretty interesting once you get through it and it still has one of the best endings in gaming in my opinion.
@Nem let's not pretend that Nier Gestalt didn't have Kainé to appeal to the "kiddies" as you put it.
I loved Nier Automata when I played it a few years ago.
I just tried the SB demo last week and I couldnt get into it. I found the combat a bit too basic, maybe because I just finished Nioh 2, which is phenomenal?
I guess its gameplay vs story/world building
Nier: Automata was such a huge surprise for me. I dabbled in it a few times and not really leaving much of an impression until I finally committed to finish it and was not expecting the themes and story to grip me like it did.
It’s so much more than an action title!
I really need to commit to finishing Nier Replicant at some point.
I really should give Stellar Blade a try as well.
I think Stellar Blade will be a great game but Nier: Automata is one of those games people will still be talking about 20 years from now.
@ATaco That is a good point. I totally forgot. haha.
But yeah, kaine wasn't the main character.
Stellar Blade will outsell NieR: Automata
Nier: Automata story is almost nonsensical. It's like a bunch of ideas shoved together that don't actually fit together correctly. It lacked a design vision. Stellar Blade might end up being good. We'll have to see if it's deeper than a sexy main character.
@DETfaninATL Yeah you're not wrong to see Bayonetta similarities because he actually said Nier Automata, Bayonetta and Sekiro were his inspirations for Stellar Blade.
@Kalime78 The story still sucked even in the subsequent playthroughs.
Played both Demo, and Stellar blade is terrible in my opinion, i felt i am playing Heavenly Sword 2007 meaning the game style felt very old, Nier automata felt like 10 games in 1, because of the camera positions and play ship shooter and 2d fight and ship fight is amazing.
There is no comparison between both games.
Stellar Blade, i only wanted to finish the demo because i hated it from the beginning and finishing the demo, Didnt change my mind.
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