Story Highlights
- The Summer Game Fest provided an in-depth look into Phantom Blade Zero’s exquisite gameplay.
- With fast-paced, flashy combat that looks straight out of a movie, the game’s visual appeal is insane.
- Blinking-fast blocks, last-minute dodges, and the nerve-wracking parry intervals were mind-boggling.
What started as a peculiar, “masochistic” game design has now grown so large that it has an entire genre dedicated to it. I still remember playing Demon’s Souls for the first time, and thinking “What the hell is this game?” Dying constantly and pulling my hair over the frustrating design philosophy, never did I imagine it’d become my favorite kind of game in a few years.
After following the genre and its growth for years, it’s safe to say that I hold it dear more than anything else. And while it was only FromSoftware’s turf back then (and even now, truth be told), Souls-like spring up like mushrooms these days. Not that I’m complaining, it means I get to enjoy more of this formula. Today, let’s take a look at Phantom Blade Zero.
Fast-Paced Action Like You’re In A Movie
Ever since Phantom Blaze Zero was announced a year ago, I’ve been keeping an eye on it. A game with Souls-like elements but blazing-fast combat, who wouldn’t love that? Now, the Summer Game Fest and subsequent previews have provided an in-depth look into the core gameplay mechanics, and I must say that I fell in love from the first second.
I literally can't tear my eyes away from that gorgeously fluid combat 👁️👁️
Watch Phantom Blade Zero's new gameplay trailer right now. pic.twitter.com/XCX8dTe3LU
— PlayStation UK (@PlayStationUK) June 10, 2024
First of all, I’d like to applaud the devs for showing an accurate representation of the gameplay in a trailer. Usually, you find later that the trailer was exaggerated, but not in this case. The hands-on gameplay preview that came not too long after confirmed the gameplay is as smooth and fast-paced as it looked.
As I’ve mentioned, Phantom Blade Zero has Souls-like elements, but its combat is more akin to something like Devil May Cry, with slick combos shredding the hell out of enemies. In addition, your character has access to multiple weapons that can be switched on the fly, like multiple melee options, as well as a bow and arrow and even a full-blown hand canon.
Above all, Phantom Blade Zero prioritizes the cinematic appeal of its combat. The different moves you execute are so flashy and intense that it’s a cathartic feeling, being in control of what plays very much like a high-adrenaline sword fight in an action flick.
Multilayered levels with different paths, 30 weapons, many combos and with realistic animations, stealth, wall running/scaling, plus great graphics and tons of detail from being a UE5 game
I'm so hyped for Phantom Blade Zero on PS5 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uHkbOxGZl5
— Jay (@TrueGamer1111) June 9, 2024
If you also got a movie feeling from all these cinematic, “sparks flying” combat, then it’s because the choreographer of the Rurouni Kenshin films, Kenji Tanigaki, is flexing his muscles here. The fact that the sound design and fast-paced animations of clashing swords feel so mindblowing is proof that he has done a splendid job.
Phantom Blade Zero — Parries And Counters Galore
Next, let’s take a look at some of the combat mechanics. One thing’s perfectly clear though. The devs saw Sekiro, and thought, “What if there was more speed?” You’ll need lightning-fast reflexes to keep up with the crazy assault of your opponents.
The core gameplay of Phantom Blade Zero revolves entirely around parries, counters, and quick dodges. You see the character blocking and parrying 10 attacks in, like, a second. I was getting tense just by watching that. Give the guy a break, sheesh.
I just played the Phantom Blade Zero demo at the Summer Game Fest Play Days…
OH MY GOD I NEED IT NOW!!!! The combat is so smooth & boss fights are epic!!!! It's a day 1 game for me! So hyped 🎉 pic.twitter.com/RGhNycBpg4
— Miranda 🎮 (@Mirandalorians) June 10, 2024
Similar to Sekiro, enemies and your character have a posture meter. Attacking and parrying attacks seems to deplete that posture, after which a “death blow” can be executed. Similarly, you can do a precise dodge to essentially teleport behind the enemy in a burst of smoke and do a back attack. Certain attacks cannot be blocked/parried and thus require this tactic.
One thing that I found pretty exciting in Phantom Blade Zero was how enemies blocked your blazing-fast assault with equal finesse. When you continuously hit away at an opponent, they’ll start blocking your attacks, and continue to do so until you make them stumble. This means you can’t blindly start hacking away, the consequences will be grave.
All in all, super-fast parries that require nerves of steel will be the core of your experience. And it’s not like these fast parries just get lost in the speed when it comes to impact. You feel each and every hit pretty heavily, despite the blinking speed. Every hit you land and every strike you parry looks and feels brilliant and authentic.
My Wallet’s Not Feeling So Good
In a nutshell, if you ever thought “What if I put Sekiro and Devil May Cry together?” you have the answer now. The difficulty and learning curve of a Souls-like, combined with lightning-fast combat requiring quick reflexes and impulse control, Phantom Blade Zero is shaping up to be a game you should never miss.
There’s one little problem though. Phantom Blade Zero is among the multiple Souls-like that look great and are right around the corner. Ballad of Antara, Where Winds Meet, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring SoTE, and now this. As excited as I am to see all this as a Souls-like fan, my wallet is probably cursing at me this very moment.
Thanks! Do share your feedback with us. ⚡
How can we make this post better? Your help would be appreciated. ✍
Join Our Community