People said it wasn’t hard enough, so one Phantom Blade Zero dev cooked up a hardcore difficulty mode that changes enemy AI so much it feels more like PvP

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The forthcoming game, Phantom Blade Zero, is an Action Role-Playing Game (RPG) that, unlike Soulslike games, offers action-packed combat, but with a twist – it can be quite challenging. However, some players at Gamescom found it less demanding than expected. In response to this feedback, the developers have decided to increase the difficulty level.

In Phantom Blade Zero, you step into the role of Soul, a skilled assassin on a quest for truth concerning the slaying of their group’s leader – The Order’s head honcho. It promises an immersive experience akin to a martial arts movie from its golden era and infuses the inventiveness reminiscent of classic PS1 and PS2 games.

At Gamescom, our key players shared feedback with us about wanting the game to be more challenging. A team member at S-Game came up with a fresh concept for AI during the time between Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show. This wasn’t just about boosting damage and health; it was an entirely new type of enemy AI that disrupted combos, creating a player-versus-player (PvP) like experience. We unveiled this at Tokyo Game Show.

The spokesperson attributes the success of S-Game to its “collaborative approach,” where around 100 team members contribute, each having a hand in various aspects of the project rather than being confined to specific niches like in games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, which has separate teams of over 80 gameplay animators and another 80 for cinematics.

There’s no need to fret; the game doesn’t immediately ramp up its complexity for all players at the start. According to S-Game founder “Soulframe” Liang, our primary goal for the initial playthrough is to allow most players to fully immerse themselves in the game. Accessibility is crucial to us, which is why we offer varying difficulty levels and a comprehensive tutorial that isn’t just a list of instructions. Instead, it’s story-driven, making the game more enjoyable while introducing players to its unique narrative and style.

Instead of simply increasing the challenge by boosting stats, the tougher aspects of the game are made available in Extreme Mode, according to Liang. He explains that they’re not just ramping up the difficulty; instead, they’re enhancing multiple elements such as game mechanics, making it feel more like a roguelike experience. The AI is crucial here, and in Extreme Mode, it seems as if a real person is controlling the enemy. The boss can deceive you by using fake skills to lead you astray. Strategy becomes quite intricate in this mode.

In addition, there are other challenge levels such as prohibited weapons, limited health, and restricted respawns in this Extreme Mode. You can experience this mode only after completing the game, giving you a chance to familiarize yourself with the intended play style before you need to grip it tightly and become proficient.

Phantom Blade Zero is coming to PS5 and PC, but there’s no release date just yet.

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2025-04-21 16:39