I had a pretty good time with Soulslike RPG The First Berserker: Khazan, and as I continue to get my parry on in reactive turn-based JRPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one game simmers in the back of my mind. I'm looking forward to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers after trying it, I still need to play AI Limit after enjoying the demo, and Elden Ring Nightreign will inevitably be fun. But Phantom Blade Zero stands as a singular fascination for me. I don't see anything else quite like it in the roster of new and upcoming action RPGs, and with every passing parry, I find myself hungrier for it.
I've played Phantom Blade Zero exactly twice. Every time I see it at some industry event or other, it looks and feels better than I remember. Originally revealed at a 2023 PlayStation State of Play show, this Chinese action RPG left me gasping for air after my first helter-skelter hands-on. It's far faster than I originally expected, and its meticulously polished trailers are actually a pretty good representation of how it plays. It is, loudly and proudly, not a Soulslike, which is one of the best things about it – and I say that as a Soulslike glutton.
