Summer Game Fest 2024 is officially underway, and as part of Summer Play Days I got a look at the upcoming action-adventure game, Phantom Blade Zerowhich I deleted.
First shown during the PlayStation Showcase event in 2023, Phantom Blade Zero wowed audiences with its fluid, fast-paced action that seemed too good to be true, but it was true and extremely good.
Check out the latest trailer for Phantom Blade Zero below if you haven’t seen it yet.
As a huge Dark Souls fan, Elden Ring and Bloodborne, I was instantly drawn to the game, believing it would offer the same hardcore gaming experience that FromSoftware’s titles have given me over the years. However, if I have to make one thing clear Phantom Blade ZeroI’d say that while its inspiration is obvious, it’s not your traditional soulful experience, much to its benefit.
While many of the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice comparisons can be made, the title has more in common with Rise of Ronin and Ghost of Tsushima than any FromSoftware game. Don’t be fooled though, Phantom Blade Zero it’s hard, but it doesn’t fail to be accessible.
Developer S-Game was clear on this after the game’s reveal, stating that while the game won’t be casual, it will be a bit more forgiving in terms of gameplay cycle and overall difficulty. After some time with the game, I was able to see this design philosophy in action and was impressed with how balanced the game felt in terms of challenge.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
During my session, I played through a short tutorial, explored some linear areas filled with enemies, and came face-to-face with three incredible bosses, each more dangerous than the last.
Going into my time with the game, I was curious to see how that flashy, expressive combat from the game’s trailers could be achieved in-game, and I wasn’t the least bit disappointed.
The combat was really fast, with a lot of punching, dodging and parrying, but with a few unique mechanics sprinkled in for excellent variety. When an enemy is stunned or nearly dead, you can finish them off with the press of a button, which initiates a gorgeous takedown animation that feels extremely satisfying and doesn’t feel intrusive to the flow of combat. Every environmental background, every explosive combo, and even the sparks flying off your sword from a successful parry made the game feel rewarding.
During this gameplay, parrying is obviously your best friend, but players can also initiate a move, possibly a “ghost step,” where your character steps behind a potentially fatal enemy strike, draining a huge chunk of their stamina, as well as your allowing for a deadly combination. This can be a series of button presses or a type of super move that deals a huge amount of damage to the enemy’s health bar. Ranged combat was also an option, with the player equipped with a bow and arrow or a huge cannon that could be charged for a devastating explosive shot.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Mastery of parrying, sword slashing, ranged attacks and dodging was remarkable, and I was thoroughly impressed with how intuitive the game felt.
Speaking of mastery, I completely demolished the gameplay demo, hacking and slicing my way through the whole thing in a frankly phenomenal eight minutes, something I’ll be proud of for a while. I only died once, during the final boss of the demo, which had a one-shot kill move if you didn’t react the right way to their attack. As I said before, I’m no stranger to challenging games, and while I wasn’t disappointed by the flurry of powerful attacks my enemies threw at me, I still walked away from the session with a huge smile on my face and wanting to play it again.
Phantom Blade Zero it feels like a game that’s tailor-made for those who want to experience the thrill and pride of clearing a soul game, without the erratic difficulty spikes that can often be a hindrance to players looking to dump credits. While many would call it a skill issue, I really think that soulsike/action-adventure games sometimes forget that difficulty for the sake of difficulty does not equal success, and I think that games like Phantom Blade Zero and The lies of P are examples of titles that understand this idea.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Phantom Blade Zero has yet to receive an official release date, but when it does, it will be available exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Souls-like action-adventure games, or looking for a comfortable stepping stone into the challenging gameplay the genres offer, this is a release to keep an eye on (did I mention I’m really good at it?)
Featured image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony, Fromsoftware, Ghost Of Tsushima, Dark Souls, Bloodborne
