S - Game
I likedStellar Bladefor the PlayStation 5 when it launched in April , but I ’ll admit its gameplay was a piece slower than I had hoped . Shift Up ’s biz leaned more into itsDark Soulsinfluencerather thanNier : Automata‘s roots during combat . I ’ve been look for a new character - natural process secret plan that create me feel herculean with flashy invigoration , cock-a-hoop combo , and a immobile stride . After conk out hands - on with a demo ofPhantom Blade ZeroatSummer Game Fest , I think it ’s the game I was looking for all along .
I was actually a bit unbelieving gallery into my appointment forPhantom Blade Zero . Its reveal trailers were so flashy that I had my doubts that they were showing actual gameplay . While the camera study in those laggard is definitely a bit different than what ’s in - game , Phantom Blade Zero‘s fights are just as exhilarating to dally as they are to see . If you ’re attending any of the shows where a demonstration for it will be available this year , you have to give it a shot .
My demo began with a tutorial that eased me intoPhantom Blade Zero‘s scrap system . While the look of levels and lock - on camera are straight out of a Souls secret plan , it becomes abundantly clear thatPhantom Blade Zerois not a Soulslike as shortly as blades start swinging . For one , its attacks are mapped to confront buttons on the controller ( a personal penchant of mine ) , and participant are encourage to input different button combination to draw off various combos .
Even within this round-eyed tutorial , I had fun workshopping a few unlike strings of attacks to mow down enemies with . Plus , there are more Power Surge and Phantom Edge artillery tone-beginning that players can use if they require to treat a in particular powerful reversal . Whenever I was fighting an foe , Phantom Blade Zerowas one of the most entertaining thing I dally on theSummer Game Festshow floor .
I could stay on the offensive too because I could evade quickly with the press of the right bumper and embarrass pretty indiscriminately by holding down the left bumper . That does technically drain a “ Sha - Chi ” m , though , so the casual counterpunch is highly encouraged .
I was immediately impressed with the plot ’s character liveliness , which are a step above its peers . The optic flourish when it came to blocking attack or using a sidestep at the right sentence to ghoststep behind an enemy gave me a greater appreciation of developer S - Game ’s attention to item . When a biz makes what players are doing look coolheaded , participant willfeelcool . Phantom Blade Zerois a victory when it make out to that .
That momentum carry forward into gaffer battle , which I ’m glad to see . First , I faced off against Tie Sha the Frenzy , a mid - boss wielding a giant axe . It was an engaging but not too challenging first test of my quaint mastery ofPhantom Blade Zero‘s mechanics . thing ramped up against the next two boss : the aggressively aptly cleave - wield Commander Cleave and the ball - and - mountain chain - manage Huangxing , the Sunken Pillar of Kunlun .
These hirer had the depth of the ones found in Dark Souls biz , but I could fight them like I was play a Devil May Cry secret plan . Huangxing ’s fight is particularly memorable because I can run up the columns in his orbit to dodge attacks and get the upper script . Phantom Blade Zerostill seems like a somewhat difficult game , but I ’m looking forward to feeling a rush every fourth dimension I take one of these bosses down .
I do n’t like to be reductive when comparing game , so I ’m not read thatPhantom Blade Zerois extend to be a salutary secret plan thanStellar Blade . They ’re finally dissimilar beat . After going hand - on withPhantom Blade Zero , though , I can by all odds see that its faster - paced action mechanism is much more my speed ( literally ) . If it can keep up the frenetic impulse of this gameplay fade I tried , then S - Game has something very particular on its hands .
Phantom Blade Zerois in development for PC and PS5 .
