Phantom Blade Zero Preview – Stunning Visuals and Fluid Combat

I have long been a fan of action games such as Devil May Cry , so when I was given the chance to book a demo of Phantom Blade Zero , let’s just say I was excited. Developed by S-Game in China, Phantom Blade Zero has been turning heads with its flashy trailers and striking visual style, so I went in with high expectations. After playing through a demo and facing off against various enemies and bosses, I walked away excited to see more of the game’s fast-paced combat, stunning visuals and intriguing dark fantasy world.

I went into my Phantom Blade Zero demo with only the basic details revealed in the trailer, but luckily, I had a member of S-Game on hand to fill me in on the basics.  The game takes place in a place known as the Phantom World, a dark fantasy version of China’s Ming Dynasty era, spanning the 14th to 16th centuries. This world blends elements of Chinese Wuxia (martial arts fantasy), steampunk machinery, occult arts and mythological creatures, and it is nothing short of stunning.

Given the quick overview of the story as I sat down, I learned that it follows Soul, an elite assassin framed for the murder of the leader of The Order, the powerful organization he serves. Left for dead after a manhunt, Soul is saved by a mysterious healer, but the cure only gives him 66 days to uncover the conspiracy behind the murder. This setup makes for a compelling premise steeped in tragedy and revenge. I only got the quick rundown during my demo, but it is enough to make it feel urgent and exciting, and it does a great job setting up who you are and why you are so driven on this quest.

“Phantom Blade Zero feels like it could be a great gateway to introducing players to more challenging action games.”

The game takes place in a semi-open world made up of several hand-crafted maps rather than one massive environment. This allows the developers to fill each area with unique content, secrets and side quests without relying on repetitive filler. The dark, gritty art style makes the world atmospheric and dangerous, keeping players on their toes. It also serves to create a unique world that is actually worth exploring. The demo I played, unfortunately only gave a glimpse of what players can expect, but it was more than enough to pique my interest.

I was told during my playdate that Phantom Blade Zero builds on the foundation of Liang Qiwei’s 2010 indie RPG Rainblood , which he created on his own using RPG Maker while studying abroad. Over the past decade, S-Game has developed Rainblood into the Phantom Blade mobile franchise, which has amassed over 20 million players in China. Now, the studio is realising Qiwei’s full vision by rebooting the IP as a premium console title running on Unreal Engine 5. I was told players would not need to know anything about Rainblood to play Phantom Blade Zero, with this game working as a new starting point for the series.

Looking at the game from the trailers, you could be forgiven for thinking that Phantom Blade Zero is just another Soul’s Like in the vain of Bloodborne or Elden Ring , but having played it, Devil May Cry would be a fairer comparison. Combat revolves around the standard light and heavy attacks, dodging, blocking and parrying. The developers have made blocking easy by simply holding down a button, which they say is to lower the barrier to entry for players. But don’t think you can just block your way to victory. It all adds up to some fantastic combos that Phantom Blade Zero will have you leaning on early on to take on the many enemies you will encounter.

“Combat in Phantom Blade Zero felt fast and twitchy, rewarding players with good reflexes.”

Dodging and attacking will drain your stamina, but you can keep your combos going by switching to your second set of weapons in the middle of a combo to replenish your meter and keep the fight going longer. In the demo, I had a sword and a pair of daggers, as well as a bow for ranged attacks. I also had access to two special abilities, including a rechargeable cannon that could devastate enemies. I was surprised at how well the system worked, resulting in some tense but rewarding fights that had my hands cramping near the end of my time with the game.

Combat in Phantom Blade Zero felt fast and twitchy, rewarding players with good reflexes. Parrying at the right moment allows you to counter with a powerful attack, but some enemy moves can’t be blocked or parried, flashing red to indicate you need to dodge instead. Attacks that you can parry will flash in blue. I should note that you can’t parry every attack — parrying is set up for specific moves, while others need to be blocked or dodged. It took me a bit to get into the flow of combat, learning the tells and patterns of enemies, but it was satisfying once I did.

The enemy design in the demo was fairly basic, likely because this was many people’s first time seeing the game. I did face off against a boss shown in the second trailer, who wielded a large flail-like weapon that could break up his attack patterns. Learning his moves and tells was challenging but rewarding. I will be honest: this is where I hit a roadblock for my skills, and I had to enlist the developer on hand to show me how to take down the boss. His attack did result in an instant kill, and with the limited time I had for the demo, I did not manage to take him down.

“Visually, Phantom Blade Zero is stunning, with a dark fantasy world that is richly detailed and atmospheric, featuring impressive lighting and particle effects.”

While Phantom Blade Zero incorporates some Soulslike elements in its level design, it does not aim to achieve the punishing difficulty typical of the genre. Instead, the focus is on fast, fluid, combo-driven action that is exhilarating and rewarding rather than frustrating. To make the game more accessible, S-Game is implementing multiple difficulty options. This will allow a wider range of players to enjoy the stylish combat and intriguing story. Enemies won’t respawn after death or while resting at checkpoints, reducing repetition.

Visually, Phantom Blade Zero is stunning. The dark fantasy world is richly detailed and atmospheric, with impressive lighting and particle effects. The character models and animations are unique and responsive, making the fast-paced combat look and feel fluid and effective. Although the demo I played was linear and focused on showing off the combat, the trailers have shown glimpses of a more open world to explore. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the game’s stunning environments and discovering what secrets they hold.

Phantom Blade Zero feels like it could be a great gateway to introducing players to more challenging action games. The combat is intense but more forgiving than many Soulslikes, with a lower barrier to entry thanks to the easy blocking. At the same time, there is depth for players who want to master the game’s systems. The game is incredibly fluid and fast, even in the short demo I played. The team at S-Game has clearly taken time to iron out the mechanics, resulting in an experience that is fun, fast and rewarding.

With a projected 30-40-hour story campaign, deep character progression and a greater emphasis on accessibility than its Soulslike contemporaries, Phantom Blade Zero has the ingredients to welcome a wide audience when it launches on PS5 and PC. I was impressed by what I saw and am eager to see more of what the game has to offer. Unfortunately, that may have to wait, as Phantom Blade Zero isn’t due out until sometime in 2025. But from what I’ve played, I am hopeful it will be worth the wait.