Phantom Blade Zero Is Not A Soulslike, Confirms Game Director

A new trailer for Phantom Blade Zero was released at the 2024 Summer Game Festival, with a playable demo available at the event. Like other upcoming action games, Phantom Blade Zero shares some similarities with Soulslike games, leading many to believe that they belong to the same genre. However, during a Q&A session, the game director confirmed that Phantom Blade Zero is not a Soulslike game, despite some speculation that it is.

Phantom Blade Zero is not a Souls-like game

The official Twitter page for Phantom Blade Zero shared a picture of a Q&A with the game’s director Soulframe. He answered multiple questions that players have asked since the initial release, including the legality of the video shown, the gaming platform, and the game’s genre.

The team describes it as a stylish kung fu punk, with the director expanding on the genre in his answer to “Another Souls-like movie?”

By now, it should be clear to those who’ve played the demo that this is not a Souls-like game. It’s worth repeating that “making another Souls-like game” was never part of our plan. We wanted combo-driven, heart-pounding combat that was tense, rewarding, and exciting. We did take inspiration from the Souls-like games, such as multi-layered maps, multiple approaches, and hidden nooks and crannies, but that’s where the similarities end. The game will have difficulty options, and you won’t have to face respawning monsters after you die or interact with checkpoints.

Soulframe – Game Director of Phantom Blade Zero

So while the level design and exploration are certainly inspired by the Souls series, the combat and difficulty are not. Additionally, the inclusion of difficulty options means players will be able to tailor the experience to their preferences to a certain extent. This is closer to games like Devil May Cry and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance than Nioh or Sekiro.

There are multiple hands-on experiences planned throughout 2024, and Phantom Blade Zero will be available at the following events.

  • ChinaJoy – Shanghai – July 26 to July 29
  • Gamescom – August 21st to 25th
  • Tokyo Game Show – Tokyo – September 28th to September 29th

Currently, no online demonstrations are planned due to the development phase. A release date for the Phantom Blade Zero has not yet been announced, but it is likely to be released in 2025.

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