Phantom Blade Zero, an action game from a studio known for its mobile games, has been praised for its smooth action and satisfying combat after 50 hours of playtime. The game's combat is described as effortlessly smooth, with a surprising number of secrets to discover and quests to complete in each of its beautiful levels. The game's story, however, is convoluted and has occasional performance issues, but it nails just about everything else.
The game's protagonist, a metal-as-hell martial artist, sets out on an odyssey across the ruined lands of the Phantom World, facing off against beast and badasses along the way. The game's combat mechanics are nuanced but not overly complex, making it easy to slip into the game's world and feel natural. The game also features a variety of weapons, each with its own unique moveset, and a system of upgrades and special abilities that are rolled out at a smart pace.
The game's world is filled with secrets to discover and quests to complete, and the game's hand-drawn maps encourage exploration and discovery. However, the game suffers from some pretty bad geo issues, which can muck up the player's journey.