Summary
Phantom Blade Zero’s director claimed the upcoming title does not fall under the Soulslike genre. Gameplay trailers forPhantom Blade Zerohave invited comparisons to several popular Soulslike titles, such asNioh,Dark Souls, andSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. However, users who were lucky enough to play the offline demo during the recent Summer Game Fest have rejected the label and instead praised the series for its thrilling, fast-paced combo-focused combat system and stylish wuxia-inspired moves.
This year’s Summer Game Fest had no shortage of major announcements from a variety of beloved video game franchises. It was therefore somewhat of a surprise that one of the most eye-catching titles to be featured during the event came from a relatively unknown Beijin-based developer, S-GAME, which arrived at the festivities with a gritty action-packed gameplay trailer along with an offline demo ofPhantom Blade Zero. Announced back in 2023 during PlayStation’s State of Play,Phantom Blade Zerodrew attention from gamers bewildered by its majestic combat and its dark “kungfupunk” setting, which inevitably drew comparisons toseveral of the most beloved Soulslike titles.
Now, in the wake of Summer Game Fest 2024, the game’s director, known by his moniker Soulframe, released a message addressingthe Soulslike comparisons throughPhantom Blade Zero’s official Twitter account. Soulframe notably stressed thatPhantom Blade Zerowas never intended to fall under the Soulslike banner and that developers envisioned it would instead revolve around “combo-driven, heart-pumping combat that is hectic, rewarding and exhilarating.” The director additionally clarified thatPhantom Blade Zeroincludes features typically not found in a Soulslike, with Soulframe confirming that the game will have multiple difficulty settings and mobs that don’t respawn after a player dies or uses a checkpoint.
Phantom Blade Zero Features Dark Souls-Style Level Design
While the game is not a soulslike, Soulframe additionally confirmed that they did take some inspiration from the genre, particularly in regards to their approach to the world. The director implied thatPhantom Blade Zero’s maps would heavily rely onDark Souls-esque interconnected vertical-level design, with different areas stacked atop each other and then linked through multiple avenues scattered around the world. Soulframe further hinted that many of the game’s secrets were hidden away in the darkest corners of the map much like other Soulslike games but also emphasized that was where the similarities ended.
It will still be up to players to decide whetherPhantom Blade Zero’s intense wuxia-style combatlives up to expectations. WhilePhantom Blade Zerohas yet to receive an official release date, more offline demos will be held during several upcoming events this year. Soulframe has additionally confirmed that the game will launch on both PlayStation 5 and PC.
