Summary
WhileStellar Bladeisn’t a true Soulslike game, given it doesn’t feature the same level of punishment for failure the genre is known for, it still includes many mechanics commonly found in Soulslike games. A key part of the gameplay loop inStellar Bladeis the camps that players will come across that act as checkpoints along the players' journey through the ruins of a Naytiba-infested Earth. Veteran Soulslike players might notice that these camps share a lot in common withElden Ring’s Sites of Grace, but there are some distinct differences as well.
Soulslike games have a history of including these types of checkpoints throughout their worlds as a way of giving players a moment of respite from the dangers lurking throughout the game.Dark Souls' iconic Bonfire system has given way toElden Ring’s Sites of Grace, which nowStellar Bladehas adopted and iterated upon to fit the game’s specific design. As such, there are clear parallels toElden Ring’s system thatStellar Blademirrors, but the nature ofStellar Blade’s design allows its camps to deviate fromElden Ring.
Stellar Blade’s Camps Share Several Similarities with Elden Ring’s Sites of Grace
Aside from serving as checkpoints and places of rest, bothElden Ring’s Sites of Grace andStellar Blade’s campsact as places where players can perform several different types of upgrades to improve their stats and certain types of equipment. Sites of Grace are the main location whereElden Ringplayers can invest in upgrades for their stats, andStellar Bladesimilarly allows players to invest in new abilities on their skill tree at camp. Resting at these places in both games also comes with the downside of respawning enemies that players may have defeated on their way to these checkpoints.
Another important role both Sites of Grace and camps play in their respective games is being points of fast travel, allowing players to quickly revisit areas they’ve been to previously once they’ve unlocked access to that Site of Grace or camp. In an open-world game likeElden Ring, fast travel points are vital for exploring the game’s vast world, but fast-traveling inStellar Bladecan also be useful for backtracking during specific quests. However,Stellar Blade’s more forgiving Souslike elementsallow its camps to include functions that go beyond whatElden Ring’s Sites of Grace allow players to do.
How Stellar Blade’s Camps Go Beyond Sites of Grace
The primary wayStellar Blade’s camps build uponElden Ring’s Sites of Grace is by allowing players to upgrade equipment like theirweapons, Potion Inventory Limit, and Gear Socketswhile at camp.Elden Ringplayers typically have to visit one of the NPCs located in Roundtable Hold if they wish to enhance their gear, likely due to the vast number of weapons and armor pieces available throughout the game. SinceStellar Bladedoesn’t feature the same diversity of equipment asElden Ring, it makes sense that players would be able to improve their gear at the same place they acquire new skills.
Stellar Blade’s camps also act as shops where players can purchase useful items like potions and grenades to aid them in battle. WhileElden Ringdoes feature merchantswho sell similar items, they are not always available at Sites of Grace, givingStellar Bladeanother example of how it’s streamlined certain Soulslike mechanics to make the game more forgiving.Stellar Blade’s camps also contain a nice bonus detail in the form of the music player that allows players to change the song that plays while they’re in camp, giving these camps a more charming atmosphere thanElden Ring’s Sites of Grace.
