要点
Phantom Blade Zero is emerging as a highly anticipated action title for the fall release calendar. During a four-hour preview event on Windows PC, the game showcased a unique blend of simple controls, intense parries, and stylish wuxia animations. While the narrative involving an assassin named Soul did not immediately resonate with the reviewer, the combat mechanics left a strong impression.
The combat system emphasizes martial arts choreography, with creative consultant Donnie Yen and action director Kenji Tanigaki helping to craft animations that mirror wuxia cinema. Players utilize a Sha-chi meter for powerful combos, which can be replenished by switching weapons mid-fight. This mechanic is described as offering depth similar to transforming trick weapons in Bloodborne.
Boss battles serve as the game's highlight, featuring challenging encounters with multi-phase designs and checkpoints between stages. However, the reviewer noted that standard enemy encounters can feel repetitive. Additionally, the game offers three difficulty settings, though lowering the difficulty to easy prevents players from increasing it again later.
The game is expected to be a largely linear experience with light Metroidvania elements, including traversal-based special attacks. It will feature over 30 weapons and 20 special Phantom Edges. Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled for release on October 29 for PlayStation 5 and Windows PC.
