Phantom Blade Zero review: A new master of video game martial arts

Speed means little without control

The most impressive quality of Phantom Blade Zero is not the number of spectacular moves Soul can perform. It is how reliably those moves respond to player decisions. Across the reviews from Push Square, Game Informer, TechRadar and GamesRadar+, there is striking agreement that the animation work supports an unusually satisfying combat system.

Regular attacks, dodges and parries do not constantly drain stamina, giving players greater freedom to remain aggressive. Heavier techniques still involve resource management, so the game retains meaningful decisions without adopting the restrictive rhythm of a traditional Soulslike.

A successful defensive action often creates an immediate offensive opportunity. The resulting exchanges feel continuous, rewarding timing and adaptability rather than simple button speed.

Weapon variety changes more than damage numbers

Each weapon category offers distinctive moves and properties. Phantom Edges introduce special tools that extend the system through ranged attacks, defensive disruption and unusual abilities.

Several reviewers emphasise how strongly these differences encourage experimentation. The ability to reclaim invested upgrade materials makes switching equipment relatively painless, allowing new discoveries to influence the player's approach throughout the campaign.

The result is progression built around curiosity. Acquiring another weapon may meaningfully change the next encounter rather than merely offering a statistical improvement.

Outstanding bosses, but not universal agreement

Major enemies are among S-GAME's greatest achievements. Their presentations, multiple phases and unusual attack patterns regularly demand more than familiar routines.

There is a noteworthy critical disagreement, however. Eurogamer finds that certain bosses slow the fighting into restrictive exchanges, while GameSpot argues that weaker ordinary enemies sometimes fail to challenge the full combat system.

Those concerns are meaningful. Phantom Blade Zero is at its strongest when opponents encourage players to combine its defensive and offensive possibilities rather than repeat one dominant strategy.

Exploration provides a rewarding second rhythm

The world consists of structured regions filled with side paths, optional encounters and secrets. It is not an unrestricted open world, but its environments offer more discovery than a straightforward sequence of combat rooms.

Some Phantom Edges also provide ways to access previously unreachable locations, making revisits worthwhile. The main drawback is that cleared areas can feel empty once ordinary enemies have been defeated.

The narrative cannot match the action

Soul's limited lifespan and the accusations against him create an effective premise. Unfortunately, the story struggles to present its characters and timelines coherently.

Frequent flashbacks and lengthy information collectibles interrupt a campaign whose combat otherwise generates exceptional momentum. The world is fascinating, but understanding its history can become unnecessarily exhausting.

Despite those weaknesses, Phantom Blade Zero establishes an outstanding foundation. Its exceptionally fluid fighting, inventive bosses and distinctive settings make it one of the strongest action games of its generation.