Phantom Blade Zero is shaping up to be an astounding achievement for the action genre, prompting a desire to experience its full offering before a final verdict can be rendered. This review-in-progress highlights the game's immense quality, with the expectation of a high score upon its completion. It marks a significant debut for developer S-Game, a studio previously known for mobile and smaller-scale titles, now entering the AAA space with a game that clearly demonstrates a deep understanding and analysis of action genre greats. By studying the successes of titles like Devil May Cry, Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Bayonetta, S-Game aims to create a game that not only honors its predecessors but also pushes the genre forward.
The game centers on Soul, a stoic martial arts master betrayed by his Order. His quest for justice uncovers a conspiracy within the Wulin, a martial arts underworld. Players will encounter a vast array of enemies, including puppets, secret sects, god-like creatures, and monstrous beasts, ensuring combat remains fresh throughout the extensive journey.
A core strength of Phantom Blade Zero lies in its diverse weapon system. Every weapon is distinct, featuring its own unique moveset and abilities, akin to selecting a new character in a fighting game. Upgrading these weapons unlocks new abilities, and the Soul Temper system allows for the addition of a game-changing perk. The combat system is further deepened by Phantom Edges, powerful limited-use weapons, and a vast array of accessories and medicine types, leading to potentially thousands of combat kit permutations. Players can experiment with builds focused on status effects like bleed, elemental attacks, or even unique fighting styles such as a drunken fighter whose combat effectiveness shifts based on his state.
After more than forty hours of gameplay, the game has offered the experience of playing as dozens of different 'Souls' due to the sheer variety of build types available. S-Game encourages experimentation by providing ample upgrade materials and currency, making it rewarding to try new weapons and strategies. Exploration of Phantom Blade Zero's open-area biomes is also a significant pleasure. Players are consistently rewarded for venturing off the beaten path, often finding valuable upgrade materials or encountering bosses that yield new, desirable weapons. The intricate level design, with its interwoven buildings, alleys, caves, and cliffsides, evokes the architectural brilliance and rewarding shortcut discoveries found in FromSoftware titles.
Despite elements that might suggest otherwise, Phantom Blade Zero is not a Soulslike. While it features challenging bosses, an interconnected world, and 'Phantom Bell' checkpoints akin to bonfires, its difficulty is more approachable, with adjustable settings and accessories to assist with timing parries and dodges. A notable difference is the permanent death of enemies; once defeated, they do not respawn after interacting with checkpoints. This mechanic adds a tangible sense of progression and worldbuilding, reinforcing the narrative of Soul cleansing the world of evil.
While the game's narrative is considered its weakest element, it still provides enough mystery and thrill to propel the player forward. The story is told through numerous in-game texts, such as scrolls and books, which offer deeper insights into the Wuxia world of Phantom Blade Zero. Character interactions, however, are often presented in a static, two-person dialogue format, though this is effectively complemented by dramatic cutscenes featuring compelling villains, emotional revelations, and intense moments.
Production values are exceptionally high, showcased through impressive animations and a beautifully rendered dark fantasy China. Character models are lifelike, with close-ups revealing fine details that enhance the excellent Chinese voice performances. While the English voice acting has its merits, the protagonist Soul's English voice is described as boring, making the Chinese vocal track highly recommended.
Boss fights are a particular highlight, drawing clear inspiration from Chinese cinema and delivering a sense of awe and scale rarely seen in the genre. With potentially close to 100 unique bosses, the game offers a remarkable variety of challenging encounters. The inclusion of checkpoints between boss phases is a welcome feature, mitigating the repetition often associated with replaying early stages of a multi-phase boss fight.
The scale and excitement of combat extend to even the most common enemy encounters, though these may begin to feel slightly repetitive as the end of the game approaches. While mashing buttons can produce visually appealing results, utilizing each weapon's specific inputs and abilities unlocks a deep level of detailed action. The player's control over Soul's movements transforms even mundane fights into spectacles of dynamic martial arts.
With the game nearing its conclusion, the reviewer expresses a strong desire to return to playing, underscoring the profound enjoyment derived from Phantom Blade Zero. A final verdict is expected within the week.