Phantom Blade Zero: A Unique Wuxia Action Game That Blends Chinese Martial Arts and Steampunk
Phantom Blade Zero, a third-person action RPG that combines elements of Chinese martial arts and steampunk, has been generating excitement among gamers since its announcement. The game's developer has confirmed that it is neither a Soulslike nor a traditional hack-and-slash, but rather a unique amalgamation of different genres that they have tentatively dubbed "Wuxia Action Game."
A six-minute gameplay trailer for Phantom Blade Zero was first displayed at a PlayStation event in January, followed by an announcement trailer in May. The trailers showcase a white-haired protagonist wielding a katana, making it likely that he will be the main playable character. The appearance of a stamina bar, boss fights, parry mechanics, and items that resemble Dark Souls' Estus Flasks has led some to draw parallels with Soulslikes, prompting the team lead to respond and clarify confusion.
According to Soulframe (Qiwei Liang), the CEO of S-GAME and creator of Phantom Blade Zero, the game started as an attempt to bring "Hack and Slash into a multi-layered map." However, during the course of development, the project evolved into something "rarely seen or experienced in games." Liang equates Phantom Blade Zero's attempt to carve out its own niche with how Bruce Lee's unique brand of films created a genre of their own, now referred to as "Kung Fu films, Wuxia films, or martial arts films."
Liang characterizes this new "Wuxia Action" genre with over-the-top action sequences, traditional Chinese lore and mythology, and cinematic story sequences. He emphasizes that trying to compare Phantom Blade Zero to existing titles is an exercise in futility as it is a unique title that doesn't neatly fit into established genres.
Phantom Blade Zero does not yet have an official release date, but the CEO has confirmed that the launch date announcement will be held before 2025 runs out. A hands-on demo for the game is being held at Shougang Park in China, and fans may be able to see more gameplay footage as venue-goers get a chance to try the title out. While there are rumors about a potential downloadable demo on PC and PS5, no official announcements have been made.
Regardless of which genre Phantom Blade Zero falls under, the level of polish, attention to detail, and the mouth-watering action sequences shown in the trailers have fans eagerly anticipating the full release. With its unique blend of Chinese martial arts and steampunk, Phantom Blade Zero has the potential to be the next Black Myth: Wukong and provide gamers with an unforgettable gaming experience.
