'We want to rediscover golden age of PlayStation 1 & 2': Says Phantom Blade Zero Director

Blending Soulslike with Resident Evil vibes

There is no doubt that S-Game’s Phantom Blade Zero is currently one of the most anticipated action RPG games of 2026.

In a recent GamesRadar interview, director “Soulframe” Liang explained how the game incorporates elements from Devil May Cry, Souls series, and Resident Evil to create a seamless narrative.

The game will be available on PS5 and PC with a potential fall 2026 release. Let’s check out more details in this article.

Phantom Blade Zero wants to take things back to the PS1/ PS2 era of game development!"We want to get back to the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 era, when the games were not so big, the budgets not sky high, the team manageable, and all the developers were passionate and… pic.twitter.com/Tk79bWljNQ

— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) March 26, 2025

Fusion of gameplay inspirations

After watching the gameplay footage, you can say that Phantom Blade Zero does feature fast-paced action similar to Devil May Cry.

However, it is more like a souls game with fast action and combat mechanics. Liang, who studied architecture, highlighted the value of thick, interwoven levels with depth.

“We’re definitely fans of the tight, robust level design,” He stated. Their approach is pretty similar to FromSoftware’s.

A rich exploration with a good storyline will be the core pillar of the Phantom Blade Zero, similar to Elden Ring.

Also Read: Phantom Blade Zero new gameplay trailer is ‘Absolute Cinema!’

Resident Evil’s vibes

Phantom Blade Zero looks absolutely incredible.▫️ Fast and fluid combat▫️ Pure action game▫️ Main story around 20-30 hours ▫️ 20-30 hours of side content▫️ 30 main weapons and 20+ secondary weapons▫️ 4 difficulty levels from Easy to Very Hard▫️ Replay boss fights as many… pic.twitter.com/yyyjR2WR5X

— KAMI (@Okami13_) January 27, 2025

Liang also clarified that fans should not treat this game simply a hack-and-slash type of fighting game.

The game’s narrative and atmosphere draw heavily from Resident Evil. “It’s more like a Resident Evil but fighting with blades,” he explained.

This blend of storytelling with spooky vibes, along with action-packed combat, will make this game different from other mindless action titles.

Reviving Kung Fu cinema

S-Game aims to rekindle their golden age of Kung Fu movies from Bruce Lee’s 1970s classics to early 2000s gems.

Liang also said that their studio wants to bring the same passion and nostalgic feel from the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games.

“Anything useful for making a playable kung fu movie with exploration and character progression, we’ll use,” he said.

Even in the gameplay footage, you can clearly see that the action and combat are heavily inspired by Kung Fu moves and martial arts.

Liang emphasized that Phantom Blade Zero is not a mix of genres. The studio’s “deeper ideologies” ensure that every aspect—combat, exploration, and story—feels cohesive.

With a playtime of 20-30 hours, the game offers a well-balanced blend of fast-paced combat, meaningful progression, and immersive environment creation.

What are your thoughts about the Phantom Blade Zero? Are you excited for this amazing action RPG Game? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Gaming on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.