Note: The following is based on my personal interpretation of YouTuber itsjavachip’s hands-on gameplay video.
Before the official release of Phantom Blade Zero, we got an early look through an extended gameplay demo. According to available information, this footage likely comes from a media preview event held at Shougang Park in Beijing—a short clip from the same event was also shared on the game’s official YouTube channel.
In the video, itsjavachip played on the highest difficulty setting. At this level, enemies deal significantly more damage and react much more quickly to the player’s actions. Even regular foot soldiers feel as threatening as mini-bosses, making combat genuinely challenging—a great sign for players who enjoy intense, skill-based action.
Despite the high difficulty, the game still includes a stealth takedown system reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed: players can sneak up behind unaware enemies and perform instant kills. However, this appears to be a supplementary feature rather than a core gameplay pillar—the focus remains firmly on direct, fast-paced combat.
During fights, the protagonist can switch between weapons on the fly. While it’s unclear exactly how many weapons can be carried at once, the demo clearly shows seamless switching between at least two different weapon types. Additionally, when an enemy’s health drops low enough, players can trigger a cinematic finisher move—visually striking and satisfying, much like what you’d expect in modern action games, delivering a strong sense of payoff and intensity.
One intriguing detail: most enemies don’t have normal human faces. Instead, their features are obscured by dark mist or hollow, void-like openings. This could tie into the game’s central narrative—or serve as a stylized nod to the “Nameless Blades” often seen in classic wuxia stories. Based on what’s shown, it seems these faceless foes may not be fully human at all, but rather puppets or corrupted beings under someone else’s control. Of course, this is purely my own speculation.
Common enemy types observed include:
Agile assassins wielding dual short swords,
A white-robed figure armed with a longsword (whose movements and appearance suggest a Taoist-inspired design),
And archers who attack from a distance—requiring careful attention during encounters.
Boss battles are equally demanding. On the highest difficulty, bosses unleash rapid, relentless attack patterns that keep players constantly on the defensive, testing reflexes and timing to the limit.
Beyond combat, Phantom Blade Zero appears to feature a semi-open world structure, allowing players to freely explore its environments and collect various martial arts manuals to enhance their abilities.
Since the full video is quite lengthy, I haven’t watched it in its entirety yet. The observations above are based only on the portion I’ve seen so far. If you’re interested, I highly recommend checking out itsjavachip’s complete playthrough!
Disclaimer:Screenshots and footage from itsjavachip’s Phantom Blade Zero gameplay. Game © 2026 S-GAME. For commentary purposes.
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