A Refreshing Action RPG We Need Right Now

It had been two years since I first received my arms on Phantom Blade Zero in a easy sales space at Summer time Recreation Fest. Again then, it was only a transient demo that includes a single stage and three boss fights, nevertheless it charmed me from the very first second, and I distinctly bear in mind strolling out pondering I had simply stumbled upon probably the most promising sport of your entire occasion.

Quick-forward to mid-2026, the place everyone seems to be caught up within the chaotic frenzy of Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake battling for dominance over our collective consideration (and, sure, I’m proper there within the hype practice with everybody else).

Amidst all that noise, I had the unbelievable alternative to fly all the way in which to China to reunite with the sport – not only for one other fast demo, however for an enormous four-hour hands-on session this time. And I left with that very same sense of marvel, solely amplified tenfold.

A Look Inside S-GAME’s Wuxia Desires

Earlier than diving into the mechanical nitty-gritty of what I performed, it’s value taking a step again to take a look at what Phantom Blade Zero really is – as a result of this is not your typical AAA undertaking.

Rooted in Chinese language historical past and martial arts culture, this motion RPG really started as an indie ardour undertaking created by a single Chinese language developer: Qiwei Liang, higher identified on-line by the immensely cool moniker Soulframe.

Again in 2010, he constructed a brief RPG titled Rainblood utilizing classic RPG Maker, and it was acquired surprisingly nicely by the indie group, ultimately pulling in over 4 million downloads worldwide. That sudden success empowered Soulframe to discovered his personal studio, S-GAME, laying the inspiration for the broader Phantom Blade franchise.

Now, greater than a decade later (after years of specializing in cellular titles), Phantom Blade Zero emerges because the studio’s bold debut for consoles and PC. Serving as a non secular successor to Rainblood constructed on Unreal Engine 5, it lastly permits the director and his group to execute the grand imaginative and prescient that was mechanically unattainable again within the 2010s.

And the craziest half is you could really feel that pent-up inventive starvation from the very first minute you maintain the controller! Becoming a member of the longest preview occasion for the sport previous to launch, I spent roughly 4 hours taking part in from the very starting via the opening chapters, and it made one factor crystal clear: they don’t seem to be taking part in round.

Simply as Cool as “Kungfupunk” Sounds

Phantom Blade Zero is ready in Wulin, a fictitious world closely impressed by China’s Ming Dynasty, which dominated from the 14th to the seventeenth century. If that is not already a refreshing setting for an motion title, S-GAME describes the sport’s general tone and visible id utilizing their very own distinctive time period: “kungfupunk.” It’s primarily a stylized reinterpretation of Wuxia, a traditional style of Chinese language martial arts fantasy, infused with a darkish, industrial steampunk aesthetic.

Inside this extremely trendy backdrop, we observe Soul, an elite murderer belonging to a strong, secret group who finally ends up being hunted for the homicide of a patriarch. However issues get much more dramatic: he suffers a near-fatal wound to his coronary heart throughout his escape and is saved by a mystic healer utilizing a forbidden approach.

Nevertheless, this short-term miracle comes with a brutal catch: Soul has a strict 66-day lifespan remaining. Along with his clock ticking down, he should embark on a journey throughout Wulin to discover a remedy, clear his title, and unmask the darkish conspiracy behind the patriarch’s dying.

Seems like a title that wants a breakneck tempo to work, and that’s delivered from the start. Oh, with out spoiling an excessive amount of, there’s additionally an fascinating dynamic between Soul and his childhood pal Zuo Shang – a rivalry that gave me off critical, early Naruto vs. Sasuke vitality that makes the protagonist’s private journey immediately partaking.

Can’t Deny the View

In terms of traversal and construction, Phantom Blade Zero feels prefer it possesses the soul of a traditional PlayStation 2 platformer in the very best means. The extent design is comparatively linear, but each single nook feels meticulously crafted, coaxing you to discover since you simply know one thing cool is tucked away behind that subsequent wall.

That means, you progress at a really nice tempo that feels remarkably fluid all through the story, with a little bit little bit of backtracking right here and there to search out some aspect quests.

I confess that on account of restricted time in the course of the hands-on, I stored my main deal with the primary marketing campaign whereas stumbling into a couple of aspect quests alongside the way in which. They felt simple but assorted, typically encouraging you to revisit acquainted paths to gather objects, defeat optionally available enemies, encounter intriguing NPCs with their very own backstories, and collect precious rewards that make Soul even stronger (which we’ll contact on shortly once we step into fight territory).

And the sport actively rewards your curiosity as nicely. Exploring hidden nooks permits you to uncover reminiscences within the type of blue flowers that enhance Soul’s most well being, whereas lifeless our bodies and deserted weapons scattered throughout the map carry tragic lore notes that paint a grim image of harmless civilians caught within the crossfire of Wulin’s chaos.

Whereas the environments begin off considerably linear, the eye to visible element is kind of staggering! Impeccable lighting, crisp reflections on rain-slicked paths, and moody, misty vistas always made me freeze in place simply to take a quiet breath and admire the environment.

And the sport actively rewards your curiosity as nicely. Exploring hidden nooks permits you to uncover reminiscences within the type of blue flowers that enhance Soul’s most well being, whereas lifeless our bodies and deserted weapons scattered throughout the map carry tragic lore notes that paint a grim image of harmless civilians caught within the crossfire of Wulin’s chaos. So, principally, wherever you look you’ll discover one thing fascinating to work together with – and even battle with. And that brings us straight into fight.

“Be Water, My Good friend”

Proper off the bat, I believe it is best to handle the elephant within the room. Sure, Phantom Blade Zero flirts closely with the Souls genre, particularly because of its imposing boss designs, ringing bells that act as save factors and fast-travel hubs, a trendy sheath strapped to Soul’s again, stealthy backstab instant-kills, and a brooding hero who hides half his face beneath a excessive collar.

Nevertheless, when you really interact in fight, it turns into pure hack-and-slash kineticism. In truth, the participant sitting on the station subsequent to me in the course of the hands-on was actually button-mashing his means via bosses and having a blast – which served as additional proof of the place the sport’s true style lies.

And the hack-and-slash element works exceptionally nicely for what the sport units out to do, provided that enemies and executives are fiercely aggressive, requiring you to reply in type. Soul can equip two totally different main weapons from an unlimited arsenal, that includes each quick and long-range choices. Additionally, there are 5 distinct talent bushes to empower your weapons, providing simple and concise upgrades centered on decreasing cooldowns, rising accent slots, boosting therapeutic probabilities, and extra – all designed to make the fight rhythm much more frantic.

One thing tremendous enjoyable is how the sport encourages you to experiment with totally different builds, going as far as to make the act of swapping weapons set off an additional assault fairly than a easy weapon change. Higher but, upgrading weapons or resetting stats permits you to refund assets everytime you wish to check a brand new construct with out a lot bother.

Past your main blades, you too can carry heavy secondary instruments like an enormous executioner’s axe, which may’t be used repeatedly, however is so rattling good to execute once you discover the precise proper opening! In fact, there are a couple of particulars that might use a little bit of tightening, equivalent to stealth approaches and aerial assassinations, which did not really feel fairly clean in my makes an attempt and appeared considerably scripted – primarily as a result of they solely constantly labored on the obvious goal fairly than secondary enemies close by.

Setting these minor quirks apart, by way of moment-to-moment gameplay, you’ll be able to actually weave mild and heavy strike combos collectively, launch enemies into the air, and pull off satisfying assassinations (particularly in direct fight) on unsuspecting grunts.

Talking of grunts, even commonplace enemies pose a reputable menace! I really watched an everyday mob dip his sword instantly into a close-by campfire to coat his blade in hearth and increase his harm. However, in fact, nothing beats the joys of dealing with off in opposition to imposing bosses. Throughout my 4 hours with Phantom Blade Zero, I encountered no fewer than seven boss fights, and I actually sweated via a number of of them.

My favourite by far was a drunken boss who, past showcasing S-GAME’s creativity in enemy design, proved that regardless of its critical aesthetic, the sport is not afraid to embrace playful, humorous moments. He always chugs wine in the course of the battle, leaving his assault animations free, slouched, and notoriously laborious to learn – as a fellow beer lover, I discovered it good, and it showcased the builders’ consideration to character element, even for foes with transient display time.

Importantly, regardless of sounding powerful, the gameplay is not overly punitive. I imply, the sport certain is tough and provides a wholesome dose of problem for these prepared to simply accept it, however you do not lose something upon dying, you’ll be able to experiment with totally different therapeutic objects, and two-phase bosses do not pressure you to repeat the primary section in case you fall in the course of the second. You possibly can even select between 4 issue settings starting from story-focused Wayfarer to the brutal 66 Days mode, which provides you precisely 66 lives for a permadeath run. So the sport provides loads of methods to tailor the journey to your playstyle.

If I had one minor subject, it is that just about each boss calls for the very same core execution: mastering parry timing. Basically, in case you do not parry, you are going to take a heavy beating. When you undertake that mindset, you may handle throughout most encounters, though their assorted actions make you count on distinct tactical approaches. So timing, parrying, and positioning are the keys to all the pieces round right here.

A Contemporary Take for Motion RPGs

As you may need seen, I’ve touched upon parts from a number of distinct genres when describing what Phantom Blade Zero brings to the desk. Hack-and-slash in fight? Sure! Souls-like in world construction? Certain! Platformer in exploration? Undoubtedly! RPG in mechanics? That too!

It’s exactly this wealthy mix that makes the title so laborious to field right into a single label – which, as I discovered after the hands-on, is S-GAME’s specific intention: to create one thing distinctive that pushes these genres ahead, doubtlessly carving out a contemporary area of interest of its personal. And I really imagine they’re on the fitting path for that.

When the press occasion wrapped up, I walked away with the distinct feeling that Phantom Blade Zero is definitely one of many freshest, most enjoyable motion RPGs I’ve performed all 12 months. It manages to honor the legacy of Wuxia cinema, respectfully translate Chinese language tradition to Western audiences, and in addition packages it inside an exciting fight loop that feels distinct in at this time’s gaming panorama. I merely can not wait to dive again into Wulin when the complete journey releases.

Methods

Launched

October 29, 2026

ESRB

Unreal Engine 5

Developer(s)

S-Recreation

Writer(s)

S-Recreation