Even if it isn’t a Soulslike, Phantom Blade Zero still wants to channel that “pre-Elden Ring” FromSoftware level design with secrets and layers

As a dedicated gamer immersed in the world of Phantom Blade Zero, I can say that the creators are aiming to capture the essence of the level designs from pre-Elden Ring era of FromSoftware games, although they emphasize vehemently that this game is not a Soulslike.

If you appreciate games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta that fall under the hack-and-slash category, you might have found yourself in a similar situation over the past few years. Whenever a potentially exciting action game is unveiled, it often turns out to be reminiscent of Souls-like games. The latest example being Stellar Blade. Fortunately, the creators of Phantom Blade Zero have made it clear that their upcoming game deviates from the Souls-like formula. However, even though it primarily focuses on action gameplay, there’s still a hint of Souls’ influence within it.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, S-Game, the developer behind Phantom Blade Zero, highlighted three key aspects of their game: combat reminiscent of Devil May Cry, level design similar to Dark Souls, and an atmosphere and narrative akin to Resident Evil. The representative for the studio expressed enthusiasm for the interconnected and intricate level design that was inspired by Dark Souls before Elden Ring, stating that they aim to create levels with substantial depth and density. Moreover, it was mentioned that the game’s director, ‘Soulframe’ Liang, has a background in architecture, making level design an essential focus for them.

Later on, Liang explained that they aim to create a martial arts film with gameplay elements that are both engaging and beneficial. They plan to incorporate aspects from various sources such as exploration from Souls games, atmosphere from Resident Evil, and combat from hack-and-slash games. While each element will be distinct, the overall experience will remain cohesive and not disjointed. I played a demo of the game at SGF 2024, and its intense combat has stayed with me ever since. Although I haven’t experienced the Soulslike level design yet, if it resembles early Dark Souls, I’m eager to give it a try.

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2025-04-18 13:39