Simply as with the SGF 2024 construct, this early model of the sport actually soared throughout its boss battles, and I powered via a number of throughout this demo. There may be an intensely operatic really feel to those set items, whether or not caught in a frenzied duel on a rooftop overlooking a valley or confronting an actual juggernaut of an opponent in a burning courtyard. S-GAME was closely impressed by classical wuxia and anybody who’s ever seen one thing like Hero or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will acknowledge these acquainted martial arts aesthetics.
Regardless of its emphasis on melee fight and darkish fantasy parts, Phantom Blade Zero isn’t a soulslike recreation and, with extra elegant preventing kinds, it’s not fairly a normal hack-and-slash expertise both. As a substitute the sport seems like a mix of epic historic martial arts movies, together with As soon as Upon a Time in China, together with intense motion that favors method and timing, however with out the unforgiving issue of a soulslike. For any fan of the fantasy style or sword-based fight, this a title to undoubtedly keep watch over going into 2026.
Developed and revealed by S-GAME, Phantom Blade Zero launches Sept. 5 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
DAMON and BABY
Whereas Arc System Works could also be exhausting at work persevering with to help preventing video games like Responsible Gear Attempt and the upcoming Marvel Tōkon: Preventing Souls, they’re additionally engaged on quite a lot of authentic video games debuting all through 2026. One of many earliest is DAMON and BABY, a comfortable dungeon-crawler with a strong companionship dynamic. Gamers management Damon, the Demon King, as he navigates dimly lit caverns and different environments with a baby using atop his shoulders.
I acquired to play an early construct of DAMON and BABY and one of many issues that struck me as distinctive about it immediately was the truth that Damon isn’t armed with the medieval melee weapons typical to the style, however a contemporary handgun. Utilizing each joysticks, gamers can transfer and goal as they blast via waves of enemies. Although the demo began with Damon armed solely with a sidearm, different glimpses on the recreation showcase him with an expanded arsenal, together with with submachine weapons and assault rifles. This units it considerably aside from different video games within the style, although there are additionally melee mechanics for many who wish to rise up shut and private.
The opposite huge mechanic is how Damon works with Child to advance, in a position to throw the little lady and warp to her relating to the sport’s platforming parts. This additionally informs the sport’s quirky humor, which I acquired snippets of whereas enjoying via the construct, although numerous this expertise was understandably geared extra in direction of the gameplay than the overarching narrative. Lastly, Arc System Works teased that the sport would function two-player co-op gameplay, although I didn’t have the possibility to offer it a spin at the moment.
