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The almost 6 year wait for the game is over. Starry Blade (2024) The project opened in 2019. It was originally a PC game : Nikke (2022) Destiny Child (2016) until this game, the company’s first giant AAA project, had a demo released on March 29th. Until it was just released in its full form as a PlayStation 5 game by Sony on April 25, just a few days ago. Also, this game also supports the well-translated Thai language. And now it has become a huge sensation and has received high scores from game critics, whether from Metacritic at 82% to the Opencritic website at 84%, with pre-orders at the top at One on Amazon’s website Including the demo version, almost seven hundred thousand active users every day. That’s almost twice as many players as the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo.
As I said, this is the company’s first AAA in the middle of the Korean game market which has turned to making mostly mobile games and in the last year there were hardly any console games from Korean companies. It is one of great risks and ambitions. As a result, ShiftUp has to use all its strength to gain confidence in the market, after it is released, Everyone will definitely want to play it. And one of the powers that this game can stimulate is the key designer Bong Joon-ho, the world-renowned director who won three Academy Awards in a row for the movie that swept the box office and awards like Parasite (2019), which also responsible for designing the strange characters in Stellar Blade related to Bong Joon Ho’s strange character in his old film The Host (2016).
Stellar Blade is an action adventure game. with realistic scenes and characters that are very hot and sexy We take on the role of Eve, who is designed to use a longsword to fight huge monsters. Make her every move very beautiful and attractive. It is even more intense when the enemy is vicious and terrifying. But it’s not hard to play at all. But it wasn’t too easy. Until there are various gear set upgrades that emphasize the dizzying proportions. That is, the more players want to change outfits to make Eve flash, the more dizzying it will be. His defense system would be even more flawed. It means if the player wants her to be sexual. Players must be skilled in playing because controlling any battle will be even more difficult. It is said to be a game that is not only realistic but also full of fun, cool and challenging, designed to fully meet all the needs of the players.
The main story of Stellar Blade tells of an Earth that has been invaded by a strange creature called Neytiba, causing mankind to take refuge in outer space. We, who play the role of Eve, are part of the 7th Air Squash team that returns to Earth on a mission to save the world by fighting these Neytibas. But the journey was not a smooth one. Almost every member died, leaving Eve to fight alone. During that time, he met two new friends: Adam, an earthling who was born on this planet and was unable to migrate into space. Give him the skills to survive and hide from the Neytiba. Adam’s goal is to find hypercell energy, while Lily, one of the remaining members of the fifth generation Airborn Squash, survives. Lily is an expert in engineering, so she can help Eve upgrade her equipment and unlock new skills Both of which act as sources of energy and weapons in the game
Eve’s goal is to travel to a city on Earth called Zion (the biblical word Zion is spelled Zion, but in the game it is spelled Xion, referring to the holy walled defense) which is home the last human group on earth. Hidden beneath the wasteland Eve’s arrival through space had caused people to call her an Angel. But not everyone welcomed her as the heavy weapons that Eve used caused some people to fear her. But when he saw that Eve had come to help get rid of the strange creature. Many people began to open their hearts and accept her.
Eve receives different missions from the townspeople, until one mission asks her to travel to The West Land, a country full of netibas. With machines and robots defecting to the enemy and conspiring to be a threat to humanity. Along the way, Eve will come across a stopping place known as a supply station. It was installed by the Airborne Squash group who came before us. Allowing us to restore and replenish items, various gadgets, including equipment upgrades and various skills, will also occur at these supply stations. After that, it’s no different from other games, as we have to hunt and defeat monsters step by step, all the way to big bosses, so that the world becomes a safe place for humanity once again.
The game’s CEO, art director, director and screenwriter, Kim Hyung Tae, told us about the origins. “The inspiration to create this game came unexpectedly. That’s when I saw the news about the strike among taxi drivers in Korea. And I think it’s a job that will be replaced by an AI system in the future. And I thought what would happen if it actually happened one day, if these AIs could completely replace humans. This curiosity became the starting point for Stellar Blade It’s a new game that will have you excited from the start. It’s a post-apocalyptic world. We have tried many things that we thought were impossible before. It will be a game that will surprise you.”
“The main villain of the game is Naytiba, a giant creature that has taken over the world and turned it into a wasteland. In the design process we wanted to do something a little different from the usual monsters. To fully bring out this feeling When living things do not match the human form. It must be designed to disturb the mind in a variety of different forms. It reminds me of the film The Host by director Bong Joon Ho, which I admire a lot. So I personally contacted the person who designed the monsters in that film.”
“For me, Jang Heechul was basically a real turning point for the game, he shared all the knowledge and experience he got from Weta Workshop with us, so much so that I feel like I’ve upgraded and unlocked’ r game the guild is on another level.”
FYI Weta Workshop
Special effects and props studio and video game developer based in Miramar Wellington, New Zealand (Weta is the name of a giant insect native to New Zealand). Avatar, Area 9, Elysium, Mad Max: Fury Road, Blade Runner 2049, Ghost in the Shell, Dune, Thor: Love and Thunder, M3GAN, etc.
Kim Hyung Tae explained that further “One of the special things about this game is that the monsters are designed in such a unique way. By first creating a sculpture model. This is a method obtained from Weta Workshop. This goes a long way in representing the enormous emotional mass of the strange characters compared to their normal human proportions. The result is a kind of creature that is very different from the others in some very strange ways.”
This doesn’t sound like it matters. But it’s a very big problem for game designers. That is, if you were designing a human character. You then draw pictures using real humans, letting the model draw different styles of sword fighting. But this doesn’t work when the characters are not human. Moreover, he is also a strange creature with a very strange face.
Jang Heechul’s solution to this problem was to create a model. Because the problem with computer drawing is “mass” no matter how big we draw the monster to make it look. When it finally appears in the game, it floats like an inflated balloon, looking weightless and unrealistic Modeling is old school. That is, instead of just drawing on the computer screen with the now commonly used program, ZBrush, Jang Heechul turned to the old technique. So when transferred to a 3D program, it will have realistic mass and weight. Especially when the weirdos bared their fangs. Or hit the trunk and ivory. Contract various muscles
Jang Heechul reveals that he designed a strange character in Bong Joon Ho’s famous film The Host. And he has also worked with Bong Joon Ho on other projects such as designing concept art for Snowpiercer (2013), being an art assistant for the vampire film Thirst (2009), and even the beloved monster in Okja (2017), all of them are Bong Joon Ho movies.
Jang Heesol said: “Actually, I graduated in fashion design. My major is costume design. And I have liked to draw since I was a child, probably around middle school. After leaving the army, I worked in an animation company and in advertising. Before moving into advertising agency JCE (later Joy City AD) and being responsible for the original artwork for the online game Priest, I felt a bit ashamed that my career was actually about design character scenes But it turns out that most people know me more through my work in films. This may be the first time people remember me for my work in the game.”
“My work is quite dark. I have had it since childhood. Even the cute characters in Okja have sad faces. I don’t know how to change this point of myself. However, I like it. The state of the contrast between dark and light, very dark and bright, like Bong Joon Ho’s work. There is not just one emotion. Although it can seem scary But at the same time it’s also funny.”
“For me, whether it’s a film or a game, there’s not much difference. Because we are both responsible for making sure the end result is what the director or game project owner wants.”
Bible Connection
Apparently many people are upset about naming characters like Eve or Adam (Some versions do not appear) after the Jewish legend Lilith is believed to be the devil. She is the wife of the demon Asmodeus. or Samael in some texts Even being the wife of Lucifer or Satan. Until she was nicknamed the Queen of Hell Some extra-biblical accounts claim that she was another of Adam’s wives. (Some versions say she was Adam’s first wife before he met Eve or Eva.) Some say she was his second wife after separating from Eve.)
While each strange creature, in addition to being called a Neytiba, they are collectively also known as a NATIVE or NA:TIVE In the story, each type is called a Brute, Abbadon, Corrupter, Gigas, Maelstrom, Stalker , Juggernaut, Bellal, Karakuri, Democrawler. , Unknown Native, Raven, Alpha Native, and Elder Native. The most powerful monster Last Boss of this game)
Director Kim Hyung Tae added, “If you look closely at some of the monsters, You will see that some of them have Baroque symbols (art from the early 17th century – 1750s, most artists created them with the idea of reaching closer to or worshiping the Supreme God) and fine faces. You may not be able to see them sometimes. Because the battles are very fast and lively. But don’t forget to keep an eye on him!…netiba He’s much more than a mindless killing machine. As we explore the world of Stellar Blade, we will understand its origin. and the motivations of these strange creatures Some of their characteristics suggest something frightening and inspiring. It already reflects their roots and their purpose.”
Read more details in an old article we wrote.
In an old article from that time, we used to say that Angels in the Bible do not have the appearance of human beings, with white wings and a bright halo on their heads as we understand them from living things. to Cthulhu, the sacred and ancient giant creature of Lovecraft’s universe.
The events of the game are therefore a fantasy depiction of the Biblical event known as the Rapture. which appears in the Bible version of Revelation which talks about the end of the world. The arrival of the angel and God
Director Kim Hyung Tae Finish by going back to the beginning and listening again: “In starting this Stellar Blade project, I began by asking one question: What is humanity? Can it be lost? Or can it be replaced by something else? I’m really excited to see how players feel about these issues being introduced in the game.”
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