Usually, we connect a sure descriptor to the followers of explicit gaming genres. Somebody is perhaps a shooter aficionado or a puzzle knowledgeable, possibly a sports activities fanatic, every eliciting a sure picture that we’d affiliate with a specific viewers. Then there are the lovers of robust motion video games, these of us who take pleasure in friction, revel within the battle. Or as we prefer to name ourselves, sickos. At Tokyo Sport Present 2025, this sicko went hands-on with Phantom Blade 0, the extremely anticipated upcoming motion RPG from S-Sport. With an arsenal of ferocious weapons, brutal finishers, and savage enemies, it has all of the makings of a bloody good time. After an hour of uninterrupted fight, boss battles, and various deaths, I got here away with one query: how quickly can I schedule my sick days?
Subtle Swordplay
You play as Soul, an murderer framed for the homicide of the pinnacle of his order. Our journey with him on this demo begins on the backside of the canyon. After only a few steps, we encounter an enemy camp. There will likely be no easing into battle, as a pair of foot troopers cost, adopted by a spear-wielder mounted on a horse, whereas a bowman in a close-by tower takes purpose. If it’s a struggle they need, it’s a struggle they’ll get, as I pull out my sword and begin jockeying for place.
Phantom Blade 0 is an motion sport, at first. Combatants, you included, have a well being bar and a Sha-Chi meter. The previous does precisely what you’d count on, whereas the latter acts as a mixture of stamina, talent, energy, and vitality for particular assaults. It’s not stamina-based fight within the strict Soulslike sense; you are able to do issues like throw out primary assaults or dodge with out concern of shedding your capacity to defend your self. However you do want it to gas your extra highly effective Sha-Chi (aka heavy) assaults, and it’s consumed whereas blocking. When you or an enemy runs out of Sha-Chi, you turn out to be breached, which breaks your stance and leaves you extraordinarily weak till it refills.
I take a number of arrows for my hassle, however handle to carve via the small detachment. Because the enemy’s well being and Sha-Chi drops, I’m in a position to execute finishers, aka dazzling prospers that eradicate enemies in brutal and bloody methods. As I push ahead, I come throughout a small bell suspended from a brief picket stand. With a flick, it rings out, revealing a portion of the map. This additionally capabilities as a respawn space and quick journey level, just like a bonfire from Darkish Souls.
Executing a block simply as an assault arrives lets you parry the blow, and I discovered rapidly that these aren’t only a defensive possibility; they’re a necessary a part of fight. Not solely do they negate incoming harm with out draining your Sha-Chi, however additionally they deplete that of the attacker. Positive, you would possibly have the ability to breach one enemy with pure aggression, however in opposition to more durable foes or teams, all of whom are solely too keen to begin beating on you without delay, that’s not going to chop it. The best choice isn’t essentially to go in sword-a-flailing, like in Ninja Gaiden, or take turns parrying like in Sekiro; it’s nearly like a center floor the place parts of each converge, giving the fight a really distinct feeling as you push ahead, invite assaults, then parry and riposte.
That’s to not say there isn’t a spot for dodging. Enemies launch particular assaults known as Brutal Strikes and Killer Strikes; the previous are supposed to be parried, the latter dodged. Utilizing the fitting kind of protection leads to you performing a Ghostep, a extremely slick-looking teleport dodge that leads immediately right into a counterattack. That turns out to be useful as I climb the rickety scaffolding up the cliffside. I stealth kill one swordsman on the climb, however fail to get a spearman, and must rely closely on these Ghosteps as he and the three buddies he calls over take turns attempting to show me right into a pincushion.
Loss of life is Solely the Starting
My first loss of life comes round quarter-hour into my demo. After combating throughout a number of remoted platforms, I face off in opposition to a pair of spear customers. I strike one down rapidly, however eat too many pictures in my aggression. I attempt to take a extra measured strategy with the second, although, and as quickly as I attempt to create area, I’m killed by an explosive arrow from some far-off archer. My life ends, punctuated with a crimson “Useless” scrawled throughout the display.
Moments later, I awaken on the Bell stand from earlier than. In contrast to a Souls sport, the place visiting a Website of Grace or equal brings fallen enemies again to life, everybody I’ve defeated stays lifeless. There are not any runes to gather, or battles to be refought, however that doesn’t imply loss of life is with out penalties. Soul has 66 days to finish his mission, and each loss of life prices him considered one of them. Now, how strict that restrict is or whether or not or not we are able to get days again is unclear, however I definitely really feel the stress to remain alive and never waste any of that doubtlessly restricted time by dying if I can keep away from it.
I determine it’s time to change up my armaments a bit. Soul can equip two weapons for normal fight, and two Phantom Edges, that are limited-use objects, like a strong bow and arrow or Man-Cutter, an unlimited halberd that may crush enemies with a charged smash assault. Every weapon has distinctive combos and comes with some type of perk or particular capacity. Sanguine, your default lengthy sword, can launch a fast succession of tumbling assaults, which is nice for shredding a breached enemy.
I had been leaning on Seamless Loss of life, a pair of Chakram-like weapons that can be utilized for quick up shut combos, or thrown to do strong harm from a distance. Now I determine to offer Jagged Edge, the large greatsword, a go, as I return to the positioning of my loss of life and enact my revenge on the remaining spear soldier. I’ve to run to keep away from the incoming hearth from the bowman throughout the chasm, and finally discover a path to some platforms I can use to get throughout, executing a wonderful wall-run into an on the spot kill of a swordsman I caught unawares alongside the best way.
I ring a bell right here, establishing a brand new respawn level, and leap down in the direction of one other pair of bow-and-arrow-equipped enemies. I land atop one, executing a throw-and-stab combo to kill him in a single fell swoop, then separate the pinnacle and physique of his buddy with a finisher, making a satisfying fountain of blood. A short time later, I’m ambushed by a pair of dagger wielders; relatively than defeat them with my blade, I name upon Flaming Mane, considered one of my Phantom Edges. This takes the type of a flame-spewing lion masks, rapidly burning up each of my adversaries, opening the best way for me to advance.
Revel within the Wrestle
Ultimately, I attain a big open space on the backside of the cliffs. After combating via a number of teams of enemies, it’s time to tackle my first boss. Enter Wan Jun “Coppermaul”, a towering determine constructed like The Butcher from Diablo, with an enormous warhammer that completely matches his sheer mass. I rapidly be taught he fights soiled too, as he scatters grime into my face along with his weapon, overlaying the display to obscure my visibility. Getting caught in that proves a deadly mistake as he grabs me, traces me up, and crushes me with a swing that might make Cal Raleigh proud.
Undeterred, I return to offer him one other go. His wild swings are highly effective, however I rapidly get the timing right down to parry most of his assaults, taking giant chunks out of his Shi-Chi with every mixture. As soon as he’s breached, I press the assault arduous utilizing the Tender Snake Sword, a versatile, nearly whip-like blade that dishes harm rapidly. There are a number of dicey moments, however the thrill of victory is mine as I take down the enormous. It’s a cool struggle, and a strong instance of how vital studying boss patterns on the fly will likely be. I add Bashpole, as his weapon is named, to my arsenal as a Phantom Edge. Utilizing it to smash via a picket ground to achieve a brand new passageway, I press on.
The following boss comes as an entire shock. As I made my method via some type of village, I climbed to the roof of a spherical constructing. Standing dramatically atop a small spire on the middle was Pink Wraith. It was an intimidating entrance regardless of her smaller body, made doubly so by the whole lack of cutscene, gate, or every other type of forewarning. She instantly presses the assault together with her longsword and a few type of thrown blade, however I handle to Ghosteps to rapidly break her guard. One thing appears off, although – the struggle appears nearly too straightforward, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Soul, and he means that we may depart her be and flee if we needed. Curiosity will get the higher of me and I make a hasty retreat, leaving the Pink Wraith behind – a choice that might come again to hang-out me.
A couple of skirmishes later, I attain the ultimate boss of the demo, the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars. He leads a workforce of six different warriors, and, whilst a veteran of many, many motion video games, I’ve to confess this is among the extra spectacular boss fights in latest reminiscence. Every warrior has their very own well being bar, together with the Chief Disciple, with the boss’s well being bar, and so they seamlessly change between performing independently and hanging as one. One second I’m isolating one enemy, chipping away at their well being, then abruptly all the group converges on me with a coordinated thrust assault from all instructions, as my completely timed dodge permits me to leap their collective assault, and land gracefully upon the mixed ideas of all their weapons.
It’s a stunning spectacle, and every time I chip away on the Chief Disciple’s well being on this intricate dance of metal, his followers heal him, sacrificing their very own well being within the course of. I constantly chip away on the group, utilizing a leaping smash from Bashpole to ship everybody flying after I’m in peril of being overwhelmed. As their numbers dwindle, the Chief Disciple adjustments ways, making a gift of his well being to verify there are not less than three followers at his aspect always. This proves his folly, as I benefit from his quickly diminishing power and drop him with a thrown barrage from Seamless Loss of life.
The struggle wa= sn’t over but, nonetheless. His three disciples scattered to a trio of towers, throwing out what resembled thread. The boss, now known as the Chief Disciple’s Fallen Hope, rose from the bottom like some abomination of a marionette, and the battle started anew. This time it was strictly a 1v1, his ferocious assaults now coming with him dangling as he rushed me with melee assaults and threw a screen-filling barrage of his personal threads. Even this I believed I may deal with, till I heard a voice name out, “Nothing can separate us, not even in Loss of life!” The Pink Wraith had returned, and the mixed fury of each bosses was greater than I may deal with.
I died. Then I died once more. And once more. Every rematch started at first of the marionette part, however time and time once more I fell when the Pink Wraith arrived, my resolution to be merciful earlier haunting me. However dammit if I didn’t be taught just a bit extra every time, get to that final part with just a bit extra well being every try. As I threw myself at what appeared like an not possible struggle only a few makes an attempt earlier, I started to see the home windows to assault, till lastly, my coronary heart pounding in my chest, I struck down the Pink Wraith with a leaping finisher from my Seamless Loss of life, withstood the enraged counterattack from The Disciple’s Misplaced Hope, and severed his strings and head with one final swipe of my sword.
There are three problem choices to select from, however even on the default setting that I performed at, Phantom Blade 0 is tough, and I beloved that about it. It by no means felt low-cost; it simply demanded extra from me. In simply over an hour of play, I used to be simply ten occasions the participant I used to be after I began. It’s a sense of accomplishment that’s reserved for the perfect motion video games on the planet. If the remainder is something like what I performed at TGS, I really feel like there’s an actual likelihood that Phantom Blade 0 is perhaps a kind of video games.
