Phantom Blade Zero: 20-30 Hours of Customizable Gameplay

Get ready for Phantom Blade Zero, boasting four difficulty levels and exciting gameplay features slated for a 2025 release. This article details recent development updates and what players can expect.

Phantom Blade Zero Development: Debunking the "Soulslike" Label

Contrary to initial comparisons, Phantom Blade Zero offers four distinct difficulty settings: Easy, Ordinary, Difficult, and Extremely Difficult. This directly counters the "Soulslike" comparisons stemming from its aesthetic and combat style, as Soulslike games are typically renowned for their unforgiving difficulty.

Game Director Soulframe clarified on Twitter (following the Summer Game Fest 2024 showcase) that creating another Soulslike was never the intention. The goal is "combo-driven, heart-pumping combat that is hectic, rewarding, and exhilarating." While the game's dark world and boss encounters drew Soulslike comparisons, Soulframe confirmed inspiration in the multi-layered maps and exploration, but emphasized that the similarities end there. He previously described the gameplay as "Ninja Gaiden Combat on a Souls Game Map," blending hack-and-slash action with extensive exploration.

Gameplay Details: Extensive Weapon Arsenal and Rich Content

Recent interviews revealed further details: Players will choose from over 30 primary and 20 secondary weapons, each with unique combat properties. Expect a 20-30 hour main story campaign, supplemented by an additional 20-30 hours of side content.

Boss fights feature at least two phases, with the convenient option to restart from the second phase upon death. A new "Li Wulin" mode lets players rematch defeated bosses, potentially unlocking hidden challenges. A game mechanic influencing the ending has been confirmed, though specifics remain undisclosed.

Phantom Blade Zero "Year of the Snake" Gameplay Trailer

The recently released "Year of the Snake" trailer showcases Soul, the protagonist, battling the "Chief Disciple of The Seven Stars," and highlights weapons like the "Weapon No.13 Soft Snake Sword" and "Weapon No.27 White Serpent and Crimson Viper." The trailer hints at a 2025 release date announcement. Soulframe also teased further exciting announcements on the official Twitter (X) page, promising revelations unlike anything seen before.

Phantom Blade Zero is currently under development for PlayStation 5, with a PC release also planned. A firm release date is yet to be announced. Stay tuned to our Phantom Blade Zero page for the latest updates.