Phantom Blade Zero is not trying to be patient. After a playable demo at Summer Game Fest, critics came away describing S-Game’s upcoming action RPG as fast and combo-driven, a game that rewards aggression where Soulslike games ask for restraint. It was due to launch on October 29 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Faster than Dark Souls
CheckPoint Gaming’s hands-on preview found the demo focused almost entirely on combat. The look is familiar: a dark fantasy setting and an interconnected world design recall Soulslike games. The feel is not. Instead of stamina management and patient counterattacks, the game pushes relentless offense and long combo chains. CheckPoint called combat and traversal “fluid, fast-paced and full of combos,” and said it felt “more Ninja Gaiden than Dark Souls.” S-Game’s own label for the title is “kung-fu punk,” a blend of martial arts, fantasy and stylish action.
Weapons that change the rhythm
The weapon system drew most of the praise. Players carry two primary weapons and two secondary tools, and can swap between them mid-fight to stretch a combo or break an enemy’s guard. Axes and large hammers land heavy, weighty strikes. Twin blades are quicker and more mobile. Attack animations change with each weapon’s size and style, which nudges players to try different loadouts. S-Game showed several combinations during the preview to make the point.
Hard, but not cruel
This is still a demanding game. Enemies have varied attack patterns, and players who study them are rewarded over those who mash buttons. But the preview suggests the penalties are gentler than in the genre’s traditional entries. Dying does not cost players important resources, and difficulty settings are adjustable, which opens the game to a wider audience.
S-Game also showed press more gameplay behind closed doors. Details were under embargo, though the preview hinted at creative boss mechanics and unexpected emotional moments.
