Since it was first revealed years ago, Phantom Blade Zero has been on a lot of radars and wishlists. There have been several trailers during that time, and each one has looked better than the last. From its fluid combat to its ancient Chinese aesthetic mixed with steampunk and contemporary elements, it looked to have all the makings of a must-play action game from a developer who is making their AAA debut after spending years making smaller indie titles.
It turns out, that’s exactly what Phantom Blade Zero has turned out to be: a phenomenal action title with dozens of weapons to upgrade and master, plus a semi open-world to explore with over 50 bosses.
You play as Soul, an assassin who’s been framed for his master’s murder. After receiving a wound to his heart, he has only 66 days to live in which to clear his name and unravel a grand conspiracy. S-Game describes the world as ‘kungfupunk’ with its fusion of fantasy, technology, and oppressive decay. There are eight different endings, three difficulty options, plus a perma-death mode in which Soul can only die 66 times. After that, the game is over and you have to start from the beginning.
Also, Donnie Yen from John Wick: Chapter 4 helped with the motion-capture and choreography, personally providing the facial work and motion capture for the character of Mo Yuan, Soul’s father.
So if Grand Theft Auto isn’t for you, there are other big games releasing in the next month as well, and this is one of them.
Phantom Blade Zero is out now for PlayStation 5 and PC. Check out the launch trailer below:
A LONE JOURNEY AGAINST FATE
Framed for murdering his master, Soul suffers a devastating wound to the heart, leaving him just sixty-six days to live. Alone and hunted, he roams the Wulin, determined to unravel a conspiracy that has ensnared the martial world.
Through rain and blood, kindness and vengeance, he embarks on a journey where love and hatred intertwine in search of a heart.
INTO THE PHANTOM WORLD
Explore the mysterious Phantom World, where shifting light and shadow conceal mysteries at every turn.
Memory Flowers, the Wulin and the Discordance, Transcension, the Lady of the Veil, Inanis’ Dreamscape…
Every secret leads to another, and every corner hides a new story.
When one path ends, another begins. Hidden passages and intricate mechanisms await those who dare to explore.
A SEAMLESS DANCE OF BLADES
In the Wulin, your weapon is your life.
Master over 30 primary weapons and more than 20 unique Phantom Edges, wrested from the hands of fallen foes.
Rooted in traditional martial arts, combat flows through seamless combos that are easy to learn yet rewarding to master. Only true masters will uncover the deadly intricacies within every technique.
Blades clash in showers of sparks. Dodge, deflect, counter, and strike in one seamless flow, where victory and defeat are decided in an instant.
Will the next turn leave the sands stained with blood, or lead you back from the brink of death?
KUNGFUPUNK: A NEW VISION OF WUXIA
The golden age of wuxia cinema collides with punk fantasy in Phantom Blade Zero.
Martial arts, cold steel, mechanical prosthetics, crumbling industrial ruins, traditional Chinese aesthetics, and modern rock music.
Together, they create the dark, unmistakable aesthetic of kungfupunk.
REAL KUNGFU IN EVERY MOVE
Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and cutting-edge motion capture technology, renowned martial arts choreographers from the golden age of wuxia cinema collaborated to bring authentic Chinese kungfu to life. Every strike and stance in Phantom Blade Zero is rooted in real martial techniques.
Experience the timeless allure of Chinese kungfu through breathtaking cinematic action.
