A Serendipitous Encounter at Gamescom
While navigating the bustling and slightly chaotic floor of Gamescom, I was fortunate enough to sit down and play Phantom Blade Zero. Although it took me some time to find my booth, once I got immersed in the game, I walked away genuinely impressed. The reactions of my fellow demo participants, one of whom beat the demo a full seven minutes before me (not that I’m upset), confirm my initial thoughts: Phantom Blade Zero might just be a sleeper hit in the making.
The Legacy of Phantom Blade Zero
Phantom Blade Zero is the brainchild of S-Game, a studio making its first major foray into game development. As noted by Rich Stanton from PC Gamer, the game draws its roots from a 2010 RPG Maker project, Rainblood: Town of Death. Despite these humble beginnings, the developers are eager to differentiate their latest title from the burgeoning soulslike genre. While it draws inspiration from this genre, it certainly stands on its own merits.
A Unique Blend of Influences
Upon playing Phantom Blade Zero, it’s clear that its DNA resembles Team Ninja’s Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty more than anything else. It takes the fundamental elements of FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and blends them into an exhilarating wuxia action game. The focus here is less on rugged exploration and more on perfected combat scenarios, especially boss fights. Unlike traditional soulslikes, enemies do not respawn after being defeated, placing an emphasis on skillful engagement rather than repetitive battles.
A Complex, Yet Rewarding Combat System
One of the standout features of Phantom Blade Zero is its intricate combat system, which demands precision and timing. Players have two primary attack types: one that necessitates a perfect parry and another requiring a well-timed dodge. Additionally, timed blocks can break an opponent’s stance. The game also introduces ranged weapons and spectacular moves powered by Sha-Chi essence. The combat scenarios in Phantom Blade Zero are impressively over-the-top, shunning grounded realism in favor of dynamic and thrilling action.
Looking Ahead
One memorable boss encounter involved dodging a weighted chain attack, predicting its trajectory based on the enemy’s movements. Such encounters are not just challenging but also serve as a delicious baseline for skill expression. Phantom Blade Zero assumes its players possess the prowess to engage deeply with its mechanics, resulting in an engaging and rewarding experience. Having spent some time with the game, my initial interest has now blossomed into full-blown excitement, and I eagerly anticipate its release.
