IGN’s Phantom Blade Zero hands-on: Brutal, technical combat that rewards mastery

Phantom Blade Zero (影之刃零) continues to build momentum as more outlets get hands-on time. At Tokyo Game Show 2025, IGN published first impressions after playing a demo and came away impressed by the game’s demanding — but highly satisfying — action design.

Combat: high difficulty, real depth

In IGN’s write-up, the demo’s core tension comes from balancing offense and defense around a signature resource system: your health bar plus a “Killing Aura” gauge (a unified pool that fuels skills and special actions). Basic attacks and evasive movement don’t drain the gauge, but stronger abilities do — forcing constant decisions about when to spend power and when to play safe.

A key skill is the game’s timing-based block that can trigger a parry on contact. Pulling it off can negate damage and pressure an enemy’s stance, turning defense into momentum.

Read the threat, don’t autopilot

IGN notes that enemy “special” attacks demand correct judgment: block vs. dodge. Choosing wrong can open you up to devastating follow-ups, so the fight rhythm becomes less about rolling away and more about reading patterns and countering at the right beat.

Death with consequences: time as a resource

One of the demo’s most distinctive ideas is how failure is handled. Instead of endlessly resetting a world state with respawning enemies, deaths reportedly consume the protagonist’s limited remaining lifespan — tied to the story’s “66 days left” premise. The result is pressure that’s strategic rather than purely punitive: every mistake costs time, and time is the run.

Loadouts and strategy: weapons and special tools

IGN also calls out the flexibility of player builds. In the demo, you can equip multiple weapon slots — two standard weapons plus two special weapons (examples include a powerful bow or a charge-based heavy axe). Each option changes your combo routes and engagement range, encouraging mid-fight swapping and matchup-driven choices.

- Two regular weapons + two special weapons in a single loadout

- Weapon-specific combos and skill effects that shift your tempo

- Mix-and-match choices that matter per enemy type

Boss fights: phases, patterns, and pressure

The hands-on report describes early boss encounters as multi-phase challenges with distinct behaviors, including moments where coordinated enemies push you to manage space and stamina-like resources carefully. The takeaway: it’s tough, but progression feels tangible once parries and mobility clicks.

For fans of demanding action RPGs, IGN’s overall tone is optimistic: Phantom Blade Zero looks complex and punishing at first glance, but the systems are built to reward players who learn the rules and execute cleanly.