Reviewed on:
PlayStation 5
Platform:
PlayStation 5, PC
Publisher:
S-Game
Developer:
S-Game
Release:
Rooted in Wuxian storytelling and scale, built on an impressively detailed combat system, and wrapped in a bloody Chinese martial underground that’s a genuine joy to play in, Phantom Blade Zero is a feat. It joins an echelon of action pedigree that includes Sekiro, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and just about any other action game you hold in high regard. It hails from developer S-Game, which has dabbled in mobile and smaller-scale games, and I’m shocked by what it’s pulled off with its triple-A action inauguration. But make no mistake: though Phantom Blade Zero is this team’s first crack at a game like this, it is an incredibly confident, strong debut.
Protagonist Soul is a stoic martial arts master betrayed by the Order he’s sworn his life to; he dies and returns to life with only 66 days to live. That’s enough time to settle his debts, repay his betrayers, and end a villainous conspiracy to seize full power of the Wulin realm. This narrative is Phantom Blade Zero's weakest link, but its premise adds enough mystery and tension to keep this Wuxian journey exciting through to its final, realm-shattering moments. Narrative bombshells drop not just through the game’s general fantasy-realism art direction, but also through anime scenes, opera puppet shows, animated brushstroke sequences, and more, highlighting Chinese culture and its integral place in Phantom Blade Zero.
The game features a staggering number of unique enemy types, and though the final hours get a bit repetitive, it’s admirable how long S-Game maintains such a high level of combat-oriented ecstasy.
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