Earlier this year at Gamescom Latin America, I tried Phantom Blade Zero for the first time and was thrilled after the session. I had previously played an action RPG similar to Dark Souls (though it is definitely not a Soulslike), and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The pacing was fast, the combos were fluid, and most importantly, the boss fights didn't make me regret all my previous decisions. I liked the game so much that I wrote a dedicated article expressing my hope that more AAA action RPGs would follow suit.
Now that the wuxia-infused Phantom Blade Zero has officially launched, it's clear that it will become the go-to dark fantasy action RPG for me and any other player tired of seeing a new game, getting drawn in, and then being utterly crushed by its absurd difficulty curve. As I said in May, I wanted to love Elden Ring, I wanted to love Sekiro, and I really wanted to love Bloodborne. They just needed to lower the difficulty slightly, or at least give me an option to do so.
On the other hand, Phantom Blade Zero possesses some of the common charms of excellent Soulslike games, including lengthy and cinematic boss battles, grotesque enemy designs, and deep lore, without forcing players to endure brutal difficulty. Reviews from both media and players indicate that this game is far more forgiving than typical Soulslikes; it also offers difficulty options for those who want more or less challenge. Game Director and S-Games CEO Liang Qiwei (Soulframe) also posted clearly on X stating that Phantom Blade Zero is designed for players of all skill levels.
“The wait is almost over! Before the journey begins, our Game Director Soulframe wants to share a personal letter with everyone. We warmly welcome you to enter the Shadow Realm at 7 PM PDT on October 28!
Over the past few years, we have carefully examined many conventions long considered unwritten rules in action RPGs and action games. We've been asking ourselves: What do players want most? How can we combine these elements to achieve our goal—creating a game that everyone who loves wuxia and stylish action can enjoy? After all, it's just a game.
To me, that last sentence feels like a direct response to the ubiquity of Soulslike games in recent years.I'm certainly not criticizing fans of Soulslike games, but since there are already so many games proud of their extreme difficulty, it feels nice to see a new action RPG aimed at casual players. After all, it's just a game.
We want to allow as many people as possible to have fun, relax, and enjoy the experience, while also providing an extra adrenaline rush for those seeking a challenge.”
Specifically, beyond basic enemy damage and player health settings, Phantom Blade Zero does not impose additional penalties for player death; enemies do not respawn, and there are reload points between different phases of boss fights, making the overall experience much more forgiving. This kind of design should help players like me stay engaged—we're not bad at video games, we just don't have as much patience as typical Soulslike enthusiasts.
As for players seeking more challenge, there are three difficulty options available on the first playthrough: Wayfarer (Easy), Formation Breaker (Normal), and Hellwalker—which is self-explanatory. I haven't played the official release yet, but it sounds like if you're expecting a challenge close to that of Elden Ring, you should choose Hellwalker mode and try the permadeath challenge mode unlocked after your first clear.