From Pcgamer · · 2m
Phantom Blade Zero vs Onimusha: A Weapon Variety Showdown
Phantom Blade Zero's weapon variety outshines Onimusha's sword focus in a game that's 15 hours deep.
In brief
Phantom Blade Zero's weapon variety outshines Onimusha's sword focus in a game that's 15 hours deep. Phantom Blade Zero offers more weapon variety than Onimusha with less Soulslike structure, despite a convoluted story. Originally reported by Pcgamer.
Phantom Blade Zero's weapon variety
At 15 hours into Phantom Blade Zero, I've changed weapons more times than in a Souls campaign.
“At just about 15 hours into Phantom Blade Zero, I've changed out my primary weapons more times than I do in an entire Souls campaign.”
Dual blades and energy-sapping weapons
I dropped my starter sword for dual blades and a jagged weapon that chunks damage in blood showers.
“I quickly dropped my starter sword for a pair of dual blades and a jagged weapon that chunks damage off my enemies in showers of blood.”
Two-handed blade with magical flowers
A two-handed blade taller than Soul sprouts magical, energy-sapping flowers with every swing.
“I'm running around with a two-handed blade taller than my martial arts hero Soul, which sprouts a trail of magical, energy-sapping flowers with every swing.”
Life-absorbing two-handed giant
Another two-handed giant absorbs life with each hit, but I don't have time to use either weapon.
“It shares a moveset with another two-handed giant that absorbs life with each hit.”
Twin blades as protective focus
My new twin blades spin in circles like a protective Beyblade, making them my favorite weapon.
“I'm already smitten with my new twin blades, one of which I can send spinning in a circle around me like a protective Beyblade.”
The game's scale
Phantom Blade Zero is less than a third of the way through a game that's far bigger than anticipated.
“apparently I'm less than a third(!) of the way through a game that's far, far bigger than I anticipated when I played a chunk of it last year.”
Onimusha's story focus
Onimusha features a clear protagonist, Miyamoto Musashi, with a simple story about his journey.
“In Onimusha: Way of the Sword, I started the game with sword, and I ended the game with sword.”
Onimusha's character-driven story
Musashi's story is driven by his personal journey, with demonic villain Genma spurring him on.
“Musashi's saved when he's given an oni gauntlet in the afterlife and sent back to the land of the living to harness souls with it; the rest of the game is about him deciding who and what he fights for.”
Phantom Blade Zero's character web
Phantom Blade Zero has a tangled web of characters, relationships, betrayals and motivations.
“In Phantom Blade Zero, I've already lost track of the tangled web of characters, relationships, betrayals and motivations with dozens of hours to go.”
Flashbacks and cryptic messages
Flashbacks to Soul's childhood and cryptic messages explain why I fight puppets and energy beings.
“I've seen (and played) flashbacks to Soul's childhood, teenage years, and recent past; I've watched cutscenes about his enemy doing some Machiavellian scheming with another guy I can't name; I've read dozens of cryptic messages scattered throughout each zone that are meant to explain more about why I'm fighting puppets, dudes whose bodies have 'transcended' into pure energy, monks who coat their bodies in hardened gold, and mean dogs.”
Story clarity issues
The story feels like infodumps from someone who's spent years writing a massive story bible.
“But the flashbacks and bits of incidental storytelling often feel like infodumps from someone who's spent years writing a massive story bible and has lived with the whole thing in their head for so long that they don't realize how hard it is to follow when you're coming in with zero context.”
Onimusha's side quests
Onimusha's side quests reinterpret Japanese fables with unique art that inspires Japanese mythology.
“Onimusha: Way of the Sword has some plenty forgettable sidequests, too, but it also features a number of quests that reinterpret Japanese fables written by Lady Murasaki, the author of The Tale of Genji.”
Phantom Blade Zero's weapon variety
Phantom Blade Zero offers a luxurious variety of weapons with unique mechanics and upgrade paths.
“Phantom Blade Zero blends those two approaches, with the weapon variety of a modern action RPG but the feel and combo mad flourishes of 2000s character action games.”
Outlaw Warblade mechanics
The Outlaw Warblade drains enemy health and converts health into recoverable damage after five upgrades.
“The Outlaw Warblade, one of those massive two-handed swords I mentioned at the start, initially drains enemy health with basic attacks, and lets you convert your own health into recoverable damage to perform enhanced guard-breaking attacks.”
Boss fights as highlights
Phantom Blade Zero's boss fights are its highlights with arena designs and mocapped stunts.
“Like Onimusha, Phantom Blade Zero's boss fights are definitely its highlights, with the arena designs and one-off mocapped stunts making it clear why this game took so long to make.”
World design and progression
Phantom Blade Zero has a linear progression with diversions and overlooks that taunt players to double-check routes.
“So far I've found progression a bit more linear than I hoped, with levels that are Dark Souls-_esque_ but with fewer surprising paths linking back to previous areas.”
The big picture
Phantom Blade Zero offers more weapon variety than Onimusha with less Soulslike structure, despite a convoluted story.
