Kung fu action game Phantom Blade Zero’s has my new favorite take on hard mode balance: Beating it ‘in a very beautiful manner’ is the true challenge

Instead of boasting a bit too much, let me clarify that Phantom Blade Zero stands out from the flood of Soulslikes in recent times by focusing more on aesthetics rather than brutality. Unlike games like Sekiro or Shadow of the Erdtree from FromSoftware, or Nioh by TeamNinja, it’s not excessively challenging, even when played at its highest difficulty level. It provides wider parry windows and less demanding stamina usage compared to technical combos in games like Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden. The strategy here is to offer a more forgiving experience, as the game’s appeal doesn’t rely solely on its difficulty.








