Image via Shift Up
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I like the NieR: Automata Stellar Blade crossover. The outfits looked great. The commonalities between the two series’ themes, characters, and atmospheres ensured it work. Now that I experienced the Stellar Blade Goddess of Victory: NIKKE DLC though, I like like it’s a stronger addition. It is very much geared toward people who love both Shift Up titles, as you might expect, but the execution blends things together better than I expected.
To start, I appreciate how everything gets started. Eve meets Scarlet and Volt in the Wasteland. Even if you aren’t familiar with Scarlet and NIKKE, this introduction establishes her awareness and skill, since can see Eve’s sword right away. It sets up the series of side missions involving robots and the theft of their items. There’s an excuse for Volt to be a vendor for the items inspired by NIKKE characters in Stellar Blade. There’s not too much exposition, so it’s more of an “if you know, you know” situation, but the set-up is sound.
Once you get into these missions, the gameplay style shifts to actual Goddess of Victory: NIKKE experiences in Stellar Blade. Eve hides behind cover, just as the NIKKEs do. You shoot down opponents. Your assault builds up a Burst gauge for a major hit like the NIKKE Burst skills. It’s really fun to see that style of gameplay in this setting, and it still works and fits in with what we know about Eve and her abilities.
The costumes are also especially well-suited to the situation. Eve can dress as Alice, Anis, Dorothy, Modernia, Rapi, and Scarlet. Given this crossover involves a game from the same developer, they’re intimately familiar with the designs. It also means a more realistic look at each outfit after seeing the live 2D types of looks before. It’s a best of both worlds situation, honestly. People who like Stellar Blade only get more costumes for Eve that generally look cute and fit the sci-fi theme. Those who love Goddess of Victory: NIKKE as well see all of these outfits in a new way for the first time. I like Dorothy’s Elegant Dress and Alice’s Cooling Suit as they don’t look a lot like anything else in Stellar Blade right now, but do fit right into the game perfectly.
The crowning jewel of the crossover DLC ended up being a fight I really found fun because it happened after I’d perfectly learned how to dodge and parry in Stellar Blade. Once you complete all the missions Scarlet assigned Eve, she requests a “lesson.” She’ll be added to the Boss Challenge. This takes you to the Moonlit Valley to face her and take part in the lesson. It’s a fast-paced fight that involves trying your best not to be hit while also trading blows. Trying to stagger her is ideal, since that can also give you a moment to back away to get space and heal. It does end up feeling like a fight between sword masters, which I appreciated.
The Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Stellar Blade DLC is such a well-executed addition. It really pulls in so many elements from Shift Up’s mobile game. Scarlet ends up being a perfect spokesperson for the title, especially given her own background with the sword. It feels like a lovingly handled pairing of two titles that do share quite a bit in common.
Stellar Blade is available on the PS5 and PC, as is its Goddess of Victory: NIKKE DLC pack. Goddess of Victory: NIKKE is on the PC and mobile devices.
Published: Jul 3, 2025 09:00 am