From IGN · Travis Northup · · 1m 10s
Phantom Blade Zero: Stylish Action Game
Phantom Blade Zero offers smooth combat and stylish action with a kung fu twist.
In brief
Phantom Blade Zero offers smooth combat and stylish action with a kung fu twist. Phantom Blade Zero is a stylish action game with satisfying combat and unique boss fights. Originally reported by IGN.
Phantom Blade Zero
Phantom Blade Zero is an action game with stylish combat and kung fu elements.
“As it turns out, "kung fu punk" is exactly as cool as it sounds.”
Stylish Combat
The game oozes style with characters like Donny Yen balancing a baby on his blade.
“One cutscene has a character played by Donny Yen balancing a baby on the edge of his blade while he fights off numerous attackers.”
Boss Fights
Boss encounters include dancing lions and snake ladies with creative combat challenges.
“In one fight I perfected a dance of death against a snake lady who swooped through the air in a barrage of hilariously convoluted strikes.”
Parry Mechanics
The parry system allows for smooth combos and quick reactions with minimal hitches.
“I surprised myself by how often I was able to do crazy things like parry three thrown daggers in quick succession.”
Weapons Variety
Players can use unique weapons like two-handed blades and drunken fighting styles.
“I got one massive, two-handed blade by defeating an optional secret boss that carried me to victory through a ton of encounters.”
Skill Tree
The game includes skill tree upgrades for weapons and combat abilities.
“There’s a surprising amount to upgrade as you master your kung fu skills, whether it’s enhancing weapons by investing materials in them to improve their stats and capabilities.”
Story Progression
The protagonist has 66 days to live before seeking revenge and curing himself.
“The premise is pretty straightforward, with the protagonist only having 66 days to live who sets out on a quest to cure himself before it’s too late and get revenge against his enemies.”
Technical Performance
Framerate hitches on beefy PCs are a concern before launch.
“Framerate hitches on a beefy PC are a yellow flag this close to launch.”
Play Experience
After six hours, the game has kept the reviewer engaged with its unique features.
“After over six hours bum-rushing my way through the first leg of the adventure, I left utterly champing at the bit to play more.”
Future Plans
Phantom Blade Zero is expected to be one of the coolest action games of 2026.
“At least for now, though, just about everything I’ve seen and played has made me more convinced that this is going to be one of the coolest action games of 2026.”
What it means
Phantom Blade Zero is a stylish action game with satisfying combat and unique boss fights.
