In the world ofStellar Blade, members of the Seventh Airborne Squad are sent to Earth to cull the Naytiba threat from the planet’s surface. One of these elite soldiers is the player character, Eve, and in the opening moments of the game, we’re introduced to another, Tachy, before she is maimed and presumably killed by an Alpha Naytiba.
As it turns out, this brief interaction with Tachy is not the last time you’ll encounter her in the story, as you discover she’s become the very thing she sought to destroy. Yes, Tachy is the Alpha Naytiba Eve has been searching for, and thus you have no choice but to slay your former friend.
Sword Slashes
Tachy swings her sword at you multiple times.
Yes and no. The bulk of her strikes are parryable, but she may throw in some ending variations that require the use of Blink.
Blade Beams
Tachy’s sword pulses with energy, and she unleashes three slashing projectiles from her blade.
No.
Wing Shield
Tachy positions her metal wing in front of her to protect herself.
No, but you canRepulseoff of her and shoot her exposed weak spot.
The majority of Tachy’s attacks are sword slashes, giving this fight much more of a duel sensibility than the David and Goliath monster-slaying you’ve grown accustomed to.These swings are generally well telegraphed, and shouldn’t give you a ton of difficulty parrying or simply blocking. She takes her time in between barrages, souse this as an opportunity to get your own combos in.
The battle feels much more passive than those you’ve fought previously,with Tachy jumping awayand putting space between the two of you.Be patient; it will quickly become clear she has a few tricks up her sleeve.
Parrying some sword strikes will stun Tachy, leaving you a moment to counterattack!
After removing about a quarter of her health,Tachy will sprout a single black wing from her back. Clearly, the developers at Shift Up have a love for Final Fantasy 7!
It’s at this point thatyour fallen comrade becomes significantly more dangerous. On top of her standard repertoire of sword attacks,she adds a new series of animationswhere she flashes red and whips her sword around herself four times.The fourth strike is slightly delayed, potentially screwing up your timing and causing you to be hit.Make sure to hold block!
Tachy’s decision to run from you is no longer a welcome reprieve, asshe’ll launch three unblockable blade beams at youfrom across the stage.You’ll need to dodge twice, since the first dodge only saves you from the first two projectiles.
The wing does come into play as a practical tool, with her using it as a shield. You can remove Tachy from this state by performing a Repulse, shattering her defenses and exposing a weak point to shootlocated on her front shoulder.
Halfway through the fight,a cutscene will trigger sending both you and Tachy crashing down to the bottom of the reactor. At this point,she will sprout a second wing, this one made of fleshy, mutant biomass.
While she continues to power up,this final transformation won’t radically change her combat tactics. She adds a new combo ender to her sword slashes, butthis can be effectively countered by using Blinkand attacking her with powerful Beta or Burst skills during her stun period.
The only brand-new strategy Tachy employs istrying to land on you with her wings, but this isblatantly obvious and easy to dodgebecause it is preceded by her rising into the air and hovering,something she’s never done or been able to do before.
Once you have depleted her health bar, press Triangle to play the fight-ending execution animation and lay your former sister-in-arms to rest.
