Phantom Blade Zero delivers parry-driven combat in hands-on previews
Phantom Blade Zero delivers smooth parry-driven combat and rich exploration during hands-on previews, though high-end PCs experience frame stuttering ahead of its launch, according to the review.
Hands-On Combat and Style in Phantom Blade Zero
Playing through the opening six hours of Phantom Blade Zero reveals a fast-paced action game centered on continuous parrying and aggressive combos. Developer S-GAME infuses the title with distinctive martial arts flair, featuring cutscenes where a character portrayed by Donnie Yen balances a baby on a sword tip while dispatching assassins, alongside boss fights against lion-dance warriors in a Chinatown setting. Early choices include accepting a heart from a ghost monster, establishing a dark tone for the narrative. Although the title was initially met with hesitation due to the sheer volume of similar games released annually, hands-on time immediately distinguished the project.
Players can deflect multiple incoming daggers, leap acrobatically, and execute brutal finishers after breaking an enemy guard gauge. The combat design aims to make players feel exceptionally skilled through fluid animations and responsive inputs, drawing comparisons to the pacing established by Sekiro. Additional moves include riding atop a galloping carriage to deflect gunfire, and executing simultaneous double kicks against closing assailants.
Boss Battles Award Unique Weapons and RPG Upgrades
Exploration yields various melee tools with distinct playstyles. Defeating an optional boss awards a heavy greatsword that deals massive damage, while defeating a drunken master boss grants a drunken boxing style that allows players to deflect attacks unpredictably and use telekinesis to hurl swords from a distance. Mastering the unique combos, advantages, and disadvantages of each distinct weapon requires time, allowing players to dispatch the 100th minion within just 30 minutes without a single dull moment. The game incorporates light RPG mechanics, allowing players to upgrade weapon stats, unlock active dodge-cancel abilities, and improve the recovery speed of Sha-Chi energy.
Boss encounters scale in complexity from hooded figures wielding chain blades to agile snake women and armored lion-dance warriors. Donnie Yen appears in the game as a mysterious character with a role that extends beyond a standard cameo, featuring heavily in animations during key narrative moments.
Exploration and Narrative Center on a Terminally Ill Protagonist
Beyond combat, level design encourages thorough exploration of side areas, secret paths, and optional bosses that yield rare weapons and gadgets. Side quests offer brief narrative diversions and involve hunting specific monsters or gathering items, set against an aesthetic that blends industrial machinery with traditional martial arts themes.
The narrative centers on a terminally ill protagonist with 66 days left to live who seeks a cure while pursuing revenge. While the premise is familiar, interactions with Donnie Yen’s character suggest a deeper plot. However, technical performance remains a concern as the release approaches. During the preview sessions on high-end PCs, the game exhibited noticeable stuttering, suggesting it may not be fully optimized for its upcoming console debut on the PlayStation 5.
A Promising 2026 Release
Every element checked firsthand instills a stronger conviction that the title will go down in history as one of the most astonishing and marvelous action games to hit 2026.