As promised, S-Game revealed much more of its upcoming hack-and-slash action RPG Phantom Blade Zero, from the story to the world design. The story revolves around Soul, a former assassin of The Order, who’s on a journey to find a cure for his condition. After falling in a duel to his blood brother, Zuo Shang, a mysterious individual known as the Flesh Sculptor gives him a new heart, but with only 66 days to live.
This brings him to Pangzhen, where lost warriors and various factions, including different martial artists, arrive for their own reasons. Creative director Qiwei “Soulframe” Liang also noted that depending on your choices, Soul’s fate may be “reshaped.”
Of course, we got to see a lot more of the so-called Phantom World, where steampunk machinery and body modification meet martial arts. A valley with ruthless bandits, an abandoned warehouse with puppets, a vast lake which requires a speedboat to navigate, and much more were revealed.
Eight hand-painted Chinese maps exist, which form one seamless world that’s neither open nor a “linear adventure from beginning to end.” Instead, Liang notes that every corner is “meticulously hand-crafted” with secrets waiting to be discovered alongside hidden enemies, side quests, story clues, and more.
As for combat, there are 30 Primary weapons and 25 Secondary weapons with Phantom Edges, and the variety on offer is pretty impressive. Beyond the usual swords and spears, you have iron fists, hammers and even ranged weapons like the Tiger Cannon. Upgrading them unlocks new forms and techniques, but if you find something better suited to your playstyle, you can reset a weapon’s progress and retrieve any spent resources.
Phantom Blade Zero launches on October 29th for PS5 and PC. Check out the latest extended trailer here for more gameplay.
