Summer Game Fest 2024 is officially in full swing, and as part of Summer Play Days, I tried out the upcoming action-adventure, Phantom Blade Zerowhich I deleted.
It was first shown during the 2023 PlayStation Showcase event, Phantom Blade Zero wowed audiences with its smooth, fast-paced action that honestly seemed too good to be true, but it is, and it’s exceptionally good.
Watch the latest trailer for Phantom Blade Zero below if you haven’t seen it yet.
As a huge fan of Dark Souls, Elden Ring and BloodyI was immediately drawn to the game as I believed it would offer the same hardcore gaming experience that FromSoftware titles have given me over the years. However, if I had to make one thing clear Phantom Blade ZeroI’d say that while its inspiration is obvious, it’s not your traditional soul-like experience, which is to its benefit.
While plenty of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice a comparison can be made, the title has more to do with Rise Of The Ronin and Ghost Of Tsushima than any FromSoftware game. But make no mistake, Phantom Blade Zero it’s tough, but it doesn’t fail to be accessible.
Developer S-Game has been clear on this since the game’s reveal, stating that while the game won’t be a cakewalk, it will be a bit more forgiving in its gameplay loop and overall difficulty. After some time with the game, I saw this design philosophy in action and was impressed with how balanced the game felt in terms of its challenge.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
During my play session, I went through a short tutorial, explored several linear areas full of enemies, and went up against three incredible bosses, each more dangerous than the last.
Going into the game, I was curious to see how the flashy, distinctive combat from the gameplay trailers could be achieved in the game, and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
The combat was really fast paced, with lots of slashing, dodging and parrying, but with some unique mechanics added for excellent variety. When an enemy is stunned or nearly dead, you can finish them off by pressing a button to trigger a beautiful takedown animation that was extremely satisfying and didn’t disrupt the flow of the battle. Every environmental backdrop, every explosive combo, and even the sparks flying off your sword from a successful parry made the game rewarding.
During this game, parrying is obviously your best friend, but players can also initiate a move that could “ghost step” where your character stops behind a potentially fatal blow from an enemy, chipping away at a huge chunk of their stamina while giving you room for a deadly combo. This can be a series of button presses or some kind of super move that deals immense damage to the enemy’s health bar. Ranged combat was also an option, where the player was equipped with a bow and arrow or a huge cannon that could be charged for a devastating explosive shot.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
The mastery of parrying, sword slashing, ranged attacks and dodging was remarkable and I was absolutely amazed at how intuitive the game was to play.
Speaking of mastery, I absolutely demolished the game demo, hacking and hacking my way through the whole thing in a frankly phenomenal eight minutes, something I’ll be proud of for a moment. I only died once, during the final boss of the demo, which had a one hit kill move if you didn’t react to their attack the right way. As I’ve said before, I’m no stranger to challenging games, and despite being unphased by the barrage of powerful attacks my enemies threw at me, I still left my session with a huge smile on my face and wanting to play it again.
Phantom Blade Zero it feels like a game tailor-made for those who want to experience the thrill and pride of clearing souls, without the inconsistent spikes in difficulty that can often be a hindrance to players looking to earn credits. While many would call it a skill issue, I think that sometimes games in the soulsike/action-adventure genre forget about difficulty, because difficulty doesn’t equal success, and I think that games like Phantom Blade Zero and Lies P are examples of titles that understand this idea.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Phantom Blade Zero has yet to receive an official release date, though when it does, it will be available exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC. Whether you’re a long-time fan of soulslike and action-adventure, or looking for a comfortable stepping stone into the challenging gameplay the genres have to offer, this is a release to keep an eye out for (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