Summer Game Fest 2024 has officially started, and as part of the Summer Play Days I got hands-on with the upcoming action-adventure game, Phantom Blade Zerowhich I wiped away.
First shown at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase event, Phantom Blade Zero wowed audiences with its fluid, fast-paced action that honestly looked too good to be true, but it’s true, and it’s exceptionally good.
Watch the latest trailer for Phantom Blade Zero below if you haven’t seen it yet.
As a huge Dark Souls fan, Elden Ring And BloodborneI was immediately drawn to the game as I thought it would provide the same hardcore gaming experience that FromSoftware’s titles have given me over the years. However, if I want to make one thing clear Phantom Blade ZeroI’d say that while the inspiration is clear, it’s not your traditional soul-like experience, which is in its favor.
While there are plenty Sekiro: Shadows die twice comparisons can be drawn, the title has more in common with it Rise of the Ronin And Ghost of Tsushima than any FromSoftware game. Make no mistake though, Phantom Blade Zero is difficult, but it nevertheless remains accessible.
Developer S-Game has been clear about this since the game’s reveal, stating that while the game won’t be a piece of cake, it will be a little more forgiving in terms of gameplay and overall difficulty. After playing with the game for some time, I was able to see this design philosophy in practice and was impressed with how balanced the game felt in terms of challenge.
Sony interactive entertainment
During my playthrough, I played through a short tutorial, explored some linear areas full of enemies, and faced off against three incredible bosses, each more dangerous than the last.
Going into the game, I was curious to see how the flashy, expressive combat seen in the game’s gameplay trailers could be achieved in the game, and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.
The combat was indeed fast paced, with lots of slashing, dodging and parrying, but with a few unique mechanics that provided excellent variety. When an enemy becomes stunned or near death, you can finish them off with the press of a button, which triggers a beautiful takedown animation that felt immensely satisfying and didn’t feel intrusive to the flow of the battle. Every environmental backdrop, every explosive combo, and even the sparks that fly from your sword after a successful parry made the gameplay worth it.
During that gameplay, parrying is obviously your best friend, but players can also initiate a ‘ghost step’ move where your character runs after an enemy’s potentially fatal blow, draining a large chunk of their stamina and giving you an opening given for a lethal combination. This could be a series of button presses, or some sort of super move that deals a massive amount of damage to an enemy’s health bar. Ranged combat was also an option, equipping the player with a bow and arrow, or a huge cannon that could be charged up for a devastating explosive shot.
Sony interactive entertainment
Mastering the parries, sword strikes, ranged attacks and dodges was remarkable, and I was thoroughly impressed with how intuitive the game felt to play.
Speaking of mastery, I absolutely destroyed the gameplay demo, hacking and slicing my way through the entire thing in a, frankly phenomenal, eight minutes, something I’ll be proud of for a while. I only died once, during the demo’s final boss which had a one-shot kill move if you didn’t respond to their attack properly. As I mentioned before, I’m no stranger to challenging games, and even though I wasn’t captivated by the flurry of powerful attacks my enemies threw at me, I still left my session with a huge grin on my face and the desire to play it again.
Phantom Blade Zero feels like a game tailor-made for those who want to experience the thrill and pride of clearing a soul-like, without the inconsistent difficulty spikes that can often be a roadblock for players looking to roll credits. While many would call it a skill issue, I think games in the soulsike/action-adventure genre sometimes forget difficulties for the sake of difficulty, it doesn’t mean success, and I think games like Phantom Blade Zero And Lies from P are examples of titles that get that idea.
Sony interactive entertainment
Phantom Blade Zero has yet to receive an official release date, but when it does release it will be available exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PC. Whether you’re a long-time fan of soulful and action-adventure games, or are looking for a comfortable entry point into the challenging gameplay the genres offer, this is a release to keep an eye on (did I mention I’m really looking forward to it)? am good at)?)
Featured image credits: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony, Fromsoftware, Ghost Of Tsushima, Dark Souls, Bloodborne