Summer Game Fest was stacked with announcements and reveals, but as Phantom Blade Zero brought things to an end as the final game showcased at the event, it made sense for it to be chosen as the show-stopper. Revealed at PlayStation Showcase last year, the upcoming S-GAME title stole the show back then as well, and now that the short but sweet gameplay footage has been shared, it looks better than ever.
Being a Soulslike title, it’s inevitable that it may share some similarities with others that came before in the genre, and like most pieces of art, Phantom Blade Zero takes inspiration from multiple beloved games.
Phantom Blade Zero Follows in the Footsteps of Multiple Soulslike Titles
Considering how FromSoftware is the creator of the Soulslike genre, it really isn’t a surprise that S-GAME used one of its most popular games as an inspiration. Called “The Blade is Drawn,” the new gameplay footage shows how the combat mechanics will work in the upcoming title, along with presenting the gloomy world that surrounds the main character.
If these aspects felt familiar to Hidetaka Miyazaki fans, they were meant to, as during an interview, the developers revealed the three games that shaped Phantom Blade Zero.
Widely regarded as a major highlight in FromSoftware’s portfolio and PlayStation still referencing it in its newer titles even today, the intense adventure of the Hunter in the gothic world of Yharnam continues to inspire upcoming games as well. Sure, S-GAME has clearly improved and put its own spin on numerous elements that were included in Bloodborne, but at its core, ranging from the combat and setting to the monster design, the Miyazaki legacy seems to be living on.
It is also interesting to note that a former FromSoftware developer, Michael Chang, who worked on the studio’s initial Soulslike titles like Dark Souls and Demon’s Souls, is now the Vice President of S-GAME, resulting in the inspiration feeling like a full-circle moment.
Sloclap and PlatinumGames Join FromSoftware as Inspirations for S-GAME
Some of the main complaints that players may have with FromSoftware games is that the combat feels a little too slow and grounded, which is where Sloclap made its entrance and put a fast-paced spin on it in Sifu. As evident by the Phantom Blade Zero gameplay trailer, the combat is much quicker than anything that has been seen in the likes of Elden Ring, as the developers also named Sloclap’s beat’em up title as an inspiration.
Giving Sifu the credit for paving the path for Chinese martial arts being properly implemented in video games, S-GAME differentiates itself by making its fights armed instead of bare-handed.
The last game that inspired S-GAME’s Soulslike was launched more than a decade ago, as PlatinumGames also incorporated fast-paced action sequences in its 2013 title, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. With such a mixture of great reference points, Phantom Blade Zero has the potential to be the hardest Soulslike game ever created.
Are you looking forward to S-GAME’s upcoming title after getting to know about those who inspired it? Let us know in the comments!
