Stellar Blade has been making headlines lately due to the rather…gelatinous aspects of its protagonist, Eve’s body. Beyond the eye candy, though, the core tech behind it pushes the boundaries of character animation in video games.
Creative director Kim Hyung-tae has spilled the beans on how the game’s characters move and interact with their environment, emphasizing attention to detail and realism, enabled further by developing for PS5 hardware.
Eve’s Body And Hair Movements Were Inspired By Real Life
In a recent interview with Famitsu, Hyung-tae discussed the meticulous attention to detail poured into character animation, particularly the way Eve’s body and clothes move:
I think it’s beautiful in itself for people to move their bodies directly, but I also find it fascinating to see the flow of movement, such as costumes that move at a tempo behind the body or the sway of hair. We were very particular about the physical expression of the costumes, and the decision to make the main character’s hair long was a result of keeping that trend in mind.
Contrary to several detractors of the game who claim that Eve’s movements are exaggerated and over-sexualized, the impressive amount of detail in Eve’s animations is actually inspired by natural human movements, with costuming and hair animation being key contributors to her visual makeup as well.
Speaking of which, Hyung-tae confirmed that Eve’s long hair was a deliberate design choice that allows for a wider range of movement during battles. He hopes players will not only appreciate the game’s combat, but also the intricate animations of her clothing and hair throughout the fight.
Hyung-tae Credits PS5 For Stellar Blade‘s Animations
This dedication to visual storytelling is further enhanced by the capabilities of the PS5. Hyung-tae said, “I wanted to express a variety of sway during battle. I hope everyone will pay attention to that aspect and enjoy it, and I think that the reason we were able to realize the movement of the clothes and hair so beautifully was because of the rich functionality of the PlayStation 5.“
Sony funded and published the game, allowing Shift Up to focus only on one platform to make the most out of it. Hyung-tae’s comments confirm that the PS5 has played a crucial role in bringing the developers’ vision for character animation to life.
Eve’s sways and “jiggles” in Stellar Blade are clearly not for show, then. They’re part of a natural simulation of how she moves and interacts with her environment, allowing for a much more realistic and believable experience.
It’s not much of a stretch to say that Eve’s animations in Stellar Blade are some of the best we’ve seen this generation. Shift Up really has gone all out, from subtle details of her clothing to her hair swaying in combat. We’re in for a treat come April 26.
