While many of you have likely seen the title Phantom Blade Zero during various PlayStation showcases, including the most recent Summer Game Fest 2024, I was fortunate enough to get some hands-on experience with the game. I can confidently say that Phantom Blade Zero is not a Soulslike title, and I found it to be a lot of fun.
This Is No Soulslike, Boy. No Soulslike
Many had assumed the game was just another Soulslike based on previous trailers and the game’s design. However, after spending 20 minutes playing Phantom Blade Zero and countless hours hovering around the game station at the event, I can assure you that it isn’t. A representative from the S-Game team confirmed this during my session. When I mentioned the common assumption that it was Soulslike, he clarified that while the game includes some elements of the genre, the combat style is distinctly different. He described it as “Kung-Fu Punk,” highlighting how S-Game has integrated martial arts combat with mechanics from recent action RPGs.
Thanks to S-Game, I finally got hands-on with Phantom Blade Zero, and I couldn’t stop smiling! As soon as I started the game, I was presented with a tutorial level clearly demonstrated how far removed this game is from the Soulslike genre. Once players have the chance to experience it, they’ll see that it offers a different kind of gameplay altogether.
For instance, combat features multiple fast-paced attacks, allowing you to chain button presses or use different buttons for varied moves. It’s satisfying to execute both simple combat strings and more complex combinations. The protagonist has access to various weapons and can switch between them seamlessly, reminiscent of Nioh. In the demo, I could choose from short blades, an Odachi, another unidentified sword, a secondary bow for ranged attacks, and a powerful Tiger Cannon that can be charged up to three levels for massive damage.
Both the protagonist and enemies have a stamina meter that acts as a stance meter, which depletes with constant attacking. Once depleted, it opens up opportunities for significant damage. When an enemy’s health is nearly gone, a finishing move option appears with a button icon over them. If you execute this stylish move before defeating the enemy with regular attacks, you’ll unleash a flurry of strikes that looks incredible in action.
Parry Away Most Of Your Troubles
In Phantom Blade Zero, there’s a way to parry almost all attacks, except for the red or killer attacks, which will knock you down if you attempt to parry them. Successfully parrying an attack allows you to follow up with a deadly riposte, a mechanic I found myself relying on frequently. It only took me a few tries to master the parry system, and it feels well-balanced in its current state. As for those pesky killer attacks, while you can’t parry them, timing your dodge just right will execute a ghost step, positioning you behind the enemy and setting you up to deal massive damage.
Check out 12 minutes of Phantom Blade Zero Gameplay from Summer Game Fest 2024.
This All Seems Familiar
Phantom Blade Zero’s combat draws inspiration from games like Nier: Automata, Sekiro, and Ninja Gaiden. It’s visceral and fast-paced, allowing players to be creative in their attacks rather than being stuck in repetitive patterns. Additionally, trying to turtle in this game will quickly lead to defeat, as your stamina gauge will deplete, leaving you vulnerable.
After discussing my impressions with the S-Game team, I found that they were right on the mark. Their goal was to create an action game that doesn’t fall into the Soulslike category, especially since there are already so many of those available. This is why the typical stamina gauge is absent; S-Game wants players to move and attack freely without restrictions. Furthermore, there haven’t been many recent action titles that pay homage to classic action games like Phantom Blade Zero. This game demonstrates that the genre still has plenty of life and, when executed well, can shine just as brightly as its contemporaries.
I didn’t get to explore much beyond combat, but I can confirm that enemies do not respawn after being killed, even if you die during combat. Whether this mechanic will remain in the final version is still unknown.
Overall, I NEED To Play More Of This
Although this was just a demo created for the event, the game both looked and played great. However, S-Game mentioned that it still needs more work before they feel it’s ready for release. The game is currently running on Unreal Engine 5. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask which system the demo was running on when I spoke to the staff. I’ll be sure to follow up on that when I return to Summer Game Fest.
Right now, I genuinely believe that S-Game has something special here. I wish I had more time with the demo—20 minutes wasn’t nearly enough. I’ll try to schedule more hands-on sessions during the event to see what I might have missed, but I’m not sure if that will be possible. Unfortunately, the team at Summer Game Fest 2024 remained tight-lipped on whether the game will receive a public demo.
If you’re tired of the many Soulslike games on the market and are looking for something different, keep an eye on Phantom Blade Zero. Based on my experience, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Phantom Blade Zero is currently in development for PlayStation 5, and PC for now. A release date has yet to be announced.
