Developer S-Game has revealed a host of new details about Phantom Blade Zero as part of an FAQ published on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to the FAQ, the studio doesn’t consider Phantom Blade Zero to be a Soulslike game.
“As of now, those who have tried the demo should have a solid idea that it’s not a Soulsike game,” said the developer in the FAQ. “It’s worth stressing again that ‘making another Soulslike’ was never part of the plan. We want combo-driven, heart-pumping combat that is hectic, rewarding and exhilarating.”
The developer also mentioned that while Phantom Blade Zero isn’t a Soulslike title, it undoubtedly has taken inspired by some of the games from FromSoftware’s library, taking in some ideas like multiple paths, shortcuts, and multi-layered maps.
“We did take inspiration from Soulslike games, such as multi-layered maps, multiple approach paths, and hidden nooks and crevices, but the similarities stop there,” said the developer. “There will be difficulty options, and you won’t have to face respawned mobs after you die or interact with checkpoints.”
The FAQ also states that S-Game isn’t yet ready to release a playable demo for Phantom Blade Zero to a larger market just yet. Currently, the demo is only available for testing in what the studio refers to as a “controlled environment”, such as hands-on demos for media and influencers, or hands-off showcases.
“The unvarnished truth is that this demo simply isn’t ready for testing on a large scale,” said S-Game. “At [Summer Game Fest], we have already seen some framerate issues and occasional crashes.”
“The demo is ready for testing in a controlled environment. We will get to find out what its issues are without being overwhelmed by feedback, so we are taking this step for now. We’d prefer tackling problems early in the development process instead of releasing something hastily and having it blow up in the player’s face.”
S-Game recently showcased Phantom Blade Zero quite a bit over the weekend, giving us a deep look at some of the game’s exploration and combat. The studio also provided a hands-on demonstration of the game, where it also revealed that it is inspired by games like Devil May Cry.
Phantom Blade Zero is coming to PC and PS5, but doesn’t yet have a release date.
That’s a wrap for #SummerGameFest! We had such a blast 🎉Thank you for all your love and support of #PhantomBladeZero!
Here is a Q&A letter from our Game Director, Soulframe, to answer some of your most-asked questions at the event. pic.twitter.com/fgfAIne9tl
— Phantom Blade Zero (@pbzero_official) June 11, 2024
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