When I saw the first gameplay demo for Phantom Blade Zero, my first thought was, “There’s no way this can be done on modern consoles.” The combat was so smooth and reactive to so many things happening from every direction that I was convinced it had to be a “vertical slice” video similar to what Sony said was a “demo” for Killzone 2 back in 2005. But I had this same thought the first time I saw No Man’s Sky, and I was mostly wrong about that, so I was willing to give this game the benefit of the doubt.
I honestly can’t remember a time when I have been so wrong, and so in awe of just how wrong I was. Phantom Blade Zero is an absolute achievement in the action hack-and-slash genre—combining the straightforward, high-octane design of games like Devil May Cry with the nail-biting intensity of games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In many ways, it feels like the kind of action game that would’ve come out in the seventh generation, but with far more style, challenge, and excitement than anything I’ve played before.
“Simply put, Phantom Blade Zero has one of the best combat systems I’ve ever experienced.”
In Phantom Blade Zero, players take on the role of Soul—a powerful warrior who has seemingly been betrayed by the Order he once fought for. At the end of a vicious battle with his former best friend Zuo Shang, the two stab each other in the heart; however, Soul is offered a second chance through an enchanted heart that will keep him alive for 66 days. Now Soul must fight across the corrupted land of the Wulin to find a way to extend his life and uncover the truth behind the fall of The Order.
The story is incredibly captivating, combining elements of wuxia, dark fantasy, and mystery to continuously keep players invested. Not only that, but it structures its story a bit like a Soulsborne game, where so much of it is wrapped in secrecy and leaves a bit of room for the player to interpret what’s going on through in-game text logs and strangely speaking NPCs.
It comes out swinging—it started the game with the battle between Soul and Zuo Shang, before cutting to a tutorial set in the past showing their friendship, and then immediately throwing players back into the battle, now set to a badass heavy metal track that the devs knew was good, because they include the lyrics on screen.
The story is also punctuated by its twisted interpretation of ancient China, much like a Soulsborne game, where the world becomes as much a part of the narrative as the storytelling itself. Landscapes stretch beyond believable proportions, while buildings twist into architectural aberrations, creating a world where its very essence, Sha-Chi, has been corrupted. Discovering why this corruption has taken hold makes the game’s narrative all the more compelling.
“…while cutting down standard enemies is plenty of fun, facing off against immense, monstrous bosses is where the game truly shines.”
But where Phantom Blade Zero really stands out is in its gameplay. It’s hard to know where to begin describing it because it feels so familiar while simultaneously defying convention in countless ways. Much of that comes from the games that clearly inspired it, particularly when it comes to combat. Simply put, Phantom Blade Zero has one of the best combat systems I’ve ever experienced. It’s incredibly fast, fluid and approachable, yet also remarkably precise and deep. Much of the system revolves around Sha-Chi, which not only plays an important role in the narrative but also functions almost like a stamina bar during combat.
One of the most notable elements is the game’s Guard system. Holding down the guard button allows Soul to deflect almost any incoming attack from any direction. However, maintaining this defence steadily drains Sha-Chi, with blocked attacks consuming even more. Time your blocks correctly, though, and you can parry incoming attacks without draining your own Sha-Chi. Instead, parrying depletes your opponent’s Sha-Chi, eventually leaving them vulnerable to a guard break and devastating follow-up attacks. Naturally, players also have access to a backward dodge, while perfectly timed parries or dodges allow Soul to unleash a Shadow Step attack, dealing massive damage at the cost of an equally substantial amount of Sha-Chi.
The combat is insanely satisfying, giving players a wide array of moves from the very beginning, alongside a blocking and dodging system that provides plenty of opportunities to avoid damage while rewarding those who pay attention and use their abilities effectively. But what really makes the combat work is just how fluid everything feels. Unlike other hack-and-slash games I’ve played, there’s virtually no slowdown in Phantom Blade Zero. From switching between standard and heavy attacks to blocking, parrying, and even executing finishers, everything flows together in one continuous motion, making every encounter feel incredibly satisfying.
“Much like a Soulsborne game, I would describe it as beautifully bleak, presenting a world that feels ethereal, dangerous and yet unbelievably beguiling.”
And when it all clicks together, hoo boy, does it really work. One thing I realized while playing was just how strongly Phantom Blade Zero commits to the “Rule of Cool.” The game never lets Soul do anything in a cutscene that players don’t feel they could reasonably pull off themselves during gameplay. Combined with the intricacy of its animations, this makes every combat encounter feel incredibly organic and free-flowing.
You get into such a satisfying rhythm that when enemies start working together to unleash special moves, or Soul pulls off blocks against multiple enemies before launching into a sweeping counterattack, you don’t even think twice about it. The combat works so seamlessly that something spectacular seems to be happening at every moment.
And while cutting down standard enemies is plenty of fun, facing off against immense, monstrous bosses is where the game truly shines. These encounters are intense, incredibly challenging and unbelievably fun to experience. Once again, Phantom Blade Zero does an exceptional job of incorporating its fluid combat animations into boss fights, while weaving in some spectacular quick-time events (QTEs) to add an extra bit of excitement to each encounter. Not only that, but this is the first game I’ve played where dying during a multi-stage boss fight doesn’t force you to start the entire encounter from the beginning, and I will forever be grateful for that.
“If my criticism has ever meant anything, then hear me when I say you NEED to play this game.”
And this sense of flexibility extends into nearly every facet of gameplay. There is a staggering number of weapons to unlock, and each feels distinct, adding another layer of depth to every encounter. When you first start playing, you might mistake Phantom Blade Zero for a Soulslike, as players progress in a relatively linear fashion from one area to the next. However, these areas are large and seamlessly connected, with save points scattered throughout. Unlike traditional Soulslikes, these save points restore your health and allow you to enhance your abilities, but they don’t respawn enemies (which is kind of a shame, considering just how much fun the combat is).
Players can discover small side quests by speaking with non-hostile NPCs or collecting text logs hidden throughout the world. These quests lead to new areas and encounters with incredibly challenging bosses, constantly encouraging players to explore and pay attention to their surroundings. Much like the combat, everything unfolds so organically that the experience never feels like it slows down, even during quieter moments when there isn’t much happening.
And Phantom Blade Zero is an absolutely gorgeous game, both technically and thematically. As I mentioned earlier, the game’s exaggerated Eastern landscapes and Chinese architecture, combined with the incredible level of detail made possible by Unreal Engine 5, create a world that is both haunting and richly detailed. Much like a Soulsborne game, I would describe it as beautifully bleak, presenting a world that feels ethereal, dangerous and yet unbelievably beguiling. This is complemented by an incredible soundtrack that ranges from exhilarating to unnerving and genuinely sorrowful, giving each area an underlying sense of tragedy before picking up the intensity whenever the action begins.
Phantom Blade Zero is a game that, when I started playing, I genuinely didn’t want to stop. As an action game, it feels to me like how Lies of P felt as a Soulslike—incredibly engaging and genuinely genre-defying. If my criticism has ever meant anything, then hear me when I say you NEED to play this game.
