Ask a fan if they want to see more of Assassin’s Creed Mirage hero Basim, and you’ll likely get a resounding yes in response. One of the most intriguing characters in the franchise’s recent history, Basim already ranks among the few of its hooded heroes to appear in multiple games — in 2020’s Valhalla as a central figure, and then in 2023’s Mirage which featured a younger version of the character as its star.
The fate of Basim post-Valhalla remains a signficant hanging plot thread, while fans have also yearned to see more of the character between the events of the two games (such as his meeting with Valhalla character Sigurd in Constantinople, centuries before Ezio visited the city). But Ubisoft seems uninterested in entertaining either scenario while cooking up new Basim content, instead working on a new story chapter without any extra lore for the Hidden Ones, and anything that might impact the series’ modern day.
Five years on from his first introduction, Basim’s story will continue in Valley of Memory, a side-story set within the events of Mirage itself. Launching for free on November 18, the expansion will see Basim visit AlUla, now a UNESCO World Heritage site in modern day Saudi Arabia.
Publicly, Ubisoft has shied away from discussing the expansion’s funding, though previously told IGN that it had retained complete creative control over Valley of Memory’s content. Internally, however, Ubisoft has reportedly responded to concerns from developers by drawing a distinction between Saudia Arabia’s ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the PIF itself, whose chair is also Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
To hear Ubisoft tell it, AlUla was simply a location Mirage’s team wanted to explore. “AlUla has always impressed us and was considered for the main game instead of Baghdad,” producer Vincent Maulandi-Rabbione said during a recent presentation to press, attended by IGN. “We had access to experts, resources, archeologists, while maintaining a complete creative freedom on how we would create the content.”
Certainly, AlUla seems to fit visually with the Assassin’s Creed series’ sense of exploration and parkour. The site features thousands of years worth of history for players to learn about, and geographically it’s only as distant from Baghdad as Mirage’s existing sequences set within the Assassin fortress of Alamut. But while the concept of AlUla may have existed on a whiteboard within Bordeaux during Mirage’s original development years ago, art director Florian Salomez told IGN that no actual work on the region began until Valley of Memory’s development began last year.
Discussing the content’s main concept, Salomez said the expansion’s narrative added “a new piece to Basim’s coming of age story, and why he chooses the path that ultimately define him.” (Oddly, it will also be Bordeaux’s second Assassin’s Creed add-on about a protagonist searching for a long-lost parent in as many months, following its work leading Assassin’s Creed Shadows expansion Claws of Awaji.)
“Before his final mission in Baghdad, and before the series of events that lead to the end of the game, Basim hears about his long-lost father Is’haq,” creative director Olivier Leonardi said. “[He] is mentioned in the game many times, and he’s even mentioned in Valhalla. We know he abandoned Basim as a child aged 7. Now, Basim hears Is’haq may still be alive in the wondrous valley of AlUla. It’s so important to him, that he goes on this long journey to get answers.”
Valley of Shadow sounds subtantial, which makes its addition for free all the more surprising. Ubisoft estimates it contains around six hours of new gameplay spread across a new in-game region with five districts. Familiar Mirage mission types are back, alongside new missions where you chase down stolen goods and gain opportunities to learn about AlUla itself.
Alongside all of that, the Valley of Memory update will add several improvements to the main Mirage experience, not least an impressive-looking challenge mode that lets you replay missions from both the new expansion and the main Mirage campaign with additional objectives, which feels a lot like the franchise’s classic ‘Full Sychronization’ rewards. There’s a reward track to unlock additional in-game items by testing your prowess here, and you’ll be aided by additional game-wide tool upgrades that allow, for example, smoke bombs to now dissolve bodies, or blow darts to pierce armor.
As a free gift to fans, Valley of Memory feels generous — even if its setting and choice of storyline are not something fans asked for.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Grabbing Prismatic Evolutions cards at a good price has felt like a lost cause for Pokémon TCG collectors, but Walmart has confirmed that its upcoming October Deals event will include a significant offer that seems too good to be true.
If you’re not already a member, it’s admittedly a slight drag that you’ll essentially have to add $12.95 onto that $59.99 price tag; it’s still better than the $200 minimum you’ll currently find on other marketplaces like TCGPlayer for the same set.
Plus, this is going to sell out FAST, and I highly doubt there will be any remaining for the general non-Walmart+ shoppers looking for a bargain. Not only that, but you’re going more for your money if you’re looking to grab the brand new and upcoming Mega Evolution expansion, Phantasmal Flames.
Walmart is doing a repeat of the Prismatic Evolutions deal preview drop, but this time with preorders for the upcoming set featuring Mega Charizard X during Walmart Collector Con. The preorders will drop at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET on October 9, so you better bookmark those links and be ready to go.
Whether you’re after Prismatic ETBs or elusive preorders at MSRP for Phantasmal Flames, picking up a Walmart+ membership is undoubtedly the move this week.
It’s also important to know that whilst Walmart+ does have a 30-day trial available, the Walmart+ hub page states that only paid members will have access to its early deals on 6 October.
The annoying part of the Walmart+ subscription process, if you want to buy early access items right away, is that you’re only given the initial option to claim the 30-day trial. However, you can get around this by starting your free trial, cancelling it, and resubscribing for paid access.
The Walmart Deals event, scheduled for 7-12 October, is designed to compete directly with Amazon’s Prime Day. However, Walmart+ members will benefit from exclusive early access starting the day prior, on 6 October.
The idea is that after that early access day, the deals will then be made available to the wider public who don’t have Walmart+. However, given how quickly almost any MSRP-priced stock for new sets in the Pokémon TCG is selling out at all retailers, we’re certain this particular ETB will be sold out within hours, if not minutes.
A Walmart+ subscription is priced at $12.95 per month, or $98 annually, and offers a range of benefits beyond early shopping privileges. Members receive free delivery with no order minimum, savings on fuel, access to Paramount+ or Peacock at no extra cost, and additional perks such as pharmacy delivery and discounts at selected partners.
Although we are expecting Amazon Prime Day and the upcoming Black Friday sales to offer some decent Pokémon TCG deals of their own, this is still quite frankly one of the best we’ve seen this year.
We don’t expect Walmart to repeat this kind of deal for the foreseeable, or Walmart to match it. Even so, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to beat out all the other keen collectors, scalpers, and their bots who might be trying to nab one before you can.
What we’d advise is to have your paid Walmart+ subscription set up and you be logged in on 6 October, and if you get the chance to add one of those half-priced Prismatic Evolutions ETBs to your basket, you take it.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Note: Pokémon TCG pricing is incredibly volitile and any mention of sale pricing is indicative of the current market rate for the aforementioned products.
For example, Pokémon Elite Trainer Boxes are meant to sell for around $50-$60 MSRP, but instead retailer at around $100+ post launch.
A listing for the unannounced Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 has appeared online.
The website for the Entertainment Software Rating Board has a listing for Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, which is set for release on Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Its publisher is listed as Daybreak Game Company LLC, which owns Cold Iron Studios, developer of the first game. As you’d expect, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB, with “Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Violence.”
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a cooperative third-person survival shooter which drops players into the role of a Colonial Marine aboard the USS Endeavor, recently tasked with answering a distress call from the outer colonies. It was well-received upon its 2021 launch, earning a 7/10 from IGN’s review. We said: “There’s plenty of wild shootouts with swarms of xenomorphs in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, but some awkward pacing and repetitive level design prevents it from being a classic.”
Aliens: Fireteam Elite recently hit Xbox Game Pass, expanding its audience. It was a well-timed addition, with the critically acclaimed Alien: Earth TV show set to hit FX and Hulu at the time. This sequel, while so far unannounced, looks like a sure thing.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Released on October 2, Ghost of Yotei is quickly garnering praise from Japanese gamers who are busy exploring Sucker Punch’s depiction of 1600s Japan. Its choice of setting, picturesque scenery, and expansive map seem to be resonating with local residents, with the developers receiving plaudits for their detailed research and sense of style.
Sucker Punch’s standalone sequel to 2020’s award-winning Ghost of Tsushima moves the action to Ezo on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. You play as Atsu, a warrior on a quest to take vengeance on the six men who slaughtered her family.
Overall, Ghost of Yotei’s scenery is getting a lot of praise from Japanese speaking commenters for its beauty, especially the titular Mount Yotei. However, one commenter, who apparently lives in Hokkaido, shared a photo of the real Mount Yotei, saying: “You were probably thinking they exaggerated its beauty for the game, right? But Mount Yotei really is a beautiful mountain. Please come and visit.”
In a follow-up post, they added that the developers’ decision to choose “Mount Yotei instead of (Hokkaido’s highest mountain) Daisetsuzan makes so much sense as a person born and raised in Hokkaido. Mount Yotei isn’t part of a mountain range, it stands alone, and that’s what gives it the ‘wow’ factor.”
Sharing an in-game screenshot featuring Mount Yotei, another user commented: “I live in Ezo but Ghost of Yotei is way more quintessentially Hokkaido than I could have imagined, lol. (…) Whether it is to scale or not, the fact that the entire map is Hokkaido is deeply moving.”
As a sidenote, map software company Zenrin got into the Ghost of Yotei spirit by sharing a real-life map of Ezo on its official X account to mark the game’s release.
Although Atsu’s story is serious, like in Ghost of Tsushima the game also gives the player plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful landscapes, relax in hotsprings and interact with local fauna, such as foxes. Many Japanese comments point out how “cute” these animals and their movements are, such as the fox’s butt-wiggle reaction to your attempts to slice through bamboo, and the appearance of the Japanese long tailed tit, with users sharing a screenshot of the white bird perching on Atsu’s hand.
However, as cute as these animals might be, one user warned players that petting foxes like Atsu can do is not a good idea in real life, as although it wasn’t an issue in the 1600s, the foxes in Hokkaido nowadays carry the parasitic disease echinococcosis, which can be passed to humans.
Ghost of Yotei’s opening title movie, which follows Atsu riding through the landscape at speed, also gained much praise and shares, with one Japanese language comment going so far as to say: “As expected, this game’s opening movie has surpassed all others.” Talking about the opening, another commenter added: “You’re galloping up the hill and then boom, Mt Yotei appears at its most beautiful. I take my hat off to the staff of Sucker Punch for their good taste and successful research. They really know how to hit the right note for Japanese audiences.” Others praised translation and voice acting aspects, saying that Ghost of Yotei has a “perfect localization for Japan.”
During the making of Ghost of Yotei, the developers took many research trips to Japan. Director Nate Fox previously talked about the team’s commitment to creating a respectful representation of Japan to match Sucker Punch’s previous work on Ghost of Tsushima. In fact, Fox and Jason Connel were made permanent tourism ambassadors to the real-life Tsushima in recognition of how Ghost of Tsushima has spread awareness of the place. As more people experience Ghost of Yotei, it will be interesting to see if it gets similar recognition.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
97% of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 cheaters were caught within 30 minutes of signing into the beta, Activision has said.
The mega publisher said that its anti-cheat effort, dubbed Team Ricochet, “hit the ground running,” and that “fewer than 1% of cheating attempts reached a match.”
“Cheaters were expected. But our upgraded systems caught them faster than ever, powered by strengthened TPM 2.0 checks and automated systems helping to eliminate a large number of attempts to cheat,” Activision explained. “Those who did manage to slip through didn’t last long. Most never made it into a match.
“You may have seen clips of cheaters in the Black Ops 7 Beta. We had already actioned on most of those accounts before they hit social media. We’re watching closely, acting in real time, and learning from every attempt.”
Activision also reminded players that while Team Ricochet’s anti-cheat detection systems stop most cheaters even reaching a match, player reports “still play a vital role” as they “help fuel our detection models, refine enforcement and improve coverage.”
Interestingly, Activision also spoke about the individuals and companies that sell cheats, saying most major cheat providers have admitted their tools are “unusable” for Black Ops 7, and is targeting them “beyond in-game enforcement,” having closed over 40 cheat developers and resellers since Black Ops 6 launched last year.
“And this is just the beginning. When launch arrives, every layer of protection will be in full force, and Ricochet Anti-Cheat’s defenses will only grow stronger,” the statement concluded. “The fight against cheating is an industry-wide challenge – and we’re committed to leading the charge. We continue to bring new systems online during Beta, fine-tuning our protections, responding faster and gaining deeper insights. We’re dedicated to transparency, community feedback, and constant evolution in our fight for fair play.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Redemption Road has delayed its shooter strategy game Kingmakers indefinitely, saying it needs “a little bit more time on content polish before we feel good about charging money for it.”
In a statement posted to social media on October 3, the studio said the October 8 release date was now “no longer possible,” and apologized to players, adding: “we are sorry for letting you down.”
Kingmakers features a soldier who travels back to Medieval England, hoping to “change the course of a bloody war” to avert the apocalypse. According to the official release, it will be a “fully real-time simulation with thousands of soldiers fighting simultaneously” utilizing “next-gen multi-threaded AI.”
Kingmakers’ announcement trailer was a viral hit, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on IGN and other channels, with more than a few fans comparing it to Gate, an anime that features a similar mix of modern warfare and medieval fantasy.
“Why is Kingmakers being delayed? In short, it’s an incredibly ambitious, uncompromising game, and we don’t want to cut any planned features, for the sake of getting it out the door earlier,” the company explained. “Our goal, from the start, has been to create something that’s nothing like anything else on the market, in terms of gameplay, scale, scope, and interactivity.
“With Kingmakers, we set out to push the Unreal Engine 4 codebase to its absolute limits, while still providing true 60fps to mid-range PCs, without the need for fake frames. We are an 80% engineering team, who got into this business to push technological barriers.”
The statement went on to explain that the shooter boasts “tens of thousands of soldiers, each with AI and pathfinding that rivals what you’d expect from a AAA person shooter.”
“When you walk away from a battle, it continues to play out,” it added. “Nothing is faked. We have giant six story castles where every room can be entered and every wall, floor, and ceiling destroyed. When you build a Lumbermill, it’s a real place that can be entered or, in an enemy invasion, turned into a combat area.
“Every mission takes place in a giant, massive map that each player on the server is free to explore – with or without their own personal army of thousands,” Redemption added. “We set out to do all of this, with full drop-in/drop-out four-player multiplayer support, and we have. We just need a little bit more time on content polish before we feel good about charging money for it. So that is what we are doing now. We’re making sure everyone who buys the game is enthralled and feels like their money was well spent. We want this to be the case whether you have a top-of-the-line rig or a PC that’s seen better days.”
Redemption Road did not provide a revised release date, but did promise to share a half-hour-long “deepdive on Kingmakers gameplay very soon.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
EA has confirmed the global release times for Battlefield 6. EA’s first-person shooter has an October 10 release date, with pre-loads available now across all platforms except the Epic Games Store.
Season 1, Battlefield 6’s first major free update, kicks off on October 28 and releases in three phases: Rogue Ops, which brings new map Blackwell Fields, new weapons, and a new 4v4 mode called Strikepoint; California Resistance, which introduces new SoCal map Eastwood and a 8v8 mode called Sabotage — that’s coming on November 18; and the final phase of the first season, Winter Offensive, which rolls out on December 9. That includes “seasonal map” Empire State and an unannounced themed event.
There is no early access for players buying the more expensive editions, so Battlefield 6 unlocks for all at the same time across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S. Steam players will not need to use EA App to play Battlefield 6 but will need an EA account. Those who purchased Battlefield 6 via the Epic Games Store will need EA App and an EA account to play. EA Play Pro members get unlimited access to Battlefield 6 Phantom Edition on Day 1 through the EA App only.
Here’s what time the shooter will unlock in your timezone:
Battlefield 6 global release times:
Friday, October 10, 2025
PDT (San Francisco):
8am
CST (Mexico City):
9am
EDT (New York):
11am
BRT (Sao Paulo):
12pm noon
BST (London):
4pm
CEST (Paris, Rome, Berlin):
5pm
EEST (Turkey):
6pm
UTC (New Delhi):
8.30pm
ICT (Hanoi):
10pm
HKT (Hong Kong):
11pm
CST (Beijing):
11pm
Saturday, October 11, 2025
JST (Tokyo):
12am midnight
AEST (Sydney):
1am
Pre-loadings will unlock at the same times above on October 3 (or October 4, for players in Japan and Oceania).
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
We’ve rounded up the best deals for Sunday, October 5, below, so don’t miss out on these limited-time offers.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach for $49.99
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach has hit a brand-new all-time low price today on Amazon, sitting at $49.99 for a physical copy. Months after the events of the first game, Sam Porter Bridges sets off on a new journey to link together the continent of Australia in hopes of connecting it to the recently established UCA. The sequel upgrades gameplay tremendously, with a fantastic narrative and score that are sure to be memorable for any player.
Split Fiction for $29.99
Xbox fans, the best deal of the weekend is for you. Split Fiction is available for just $29.99, and it’s hard to beat that price. This is still one of the best games of 2025, and it’s perfect for both hardcore players and even those who rarely play games.
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip
Amazon has the M3 MacBook Air available for just $1099, marking a $600 discount. This laptop packs in 24GB of unified memory, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.3-inch display. Powered by the M3 chip, this is a laptop that is capable of anything you throw at it.
Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Keyboard for $89.99
Best Buy has this Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Wired Keyboard available for $89.99 today. Usually priced at $149.99, this is a really solid deal for an excellent keyboard. The TKL design removes the numpad, so you can keep as much desk space as possible.
Crucial 1TB Gen 5 SSD for $79.99
Today, you can save 20% off the Crucial P510 1TB Gen 5 NVME SSD. This is an excellent and speedy drive that can quickly transform your read and write speeds in an instant.
God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense Pre-Orders Now Open
Amazon opened pre-orders this week for the God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense. This limited edition controller is an essential addition to any God of War fan’s collection. The best part? You will get your controller in just a few weeks, as the release date is set for October 23.
Sam’s Club Membership for $15
Sam’s Club is an excellent place to shop, as you can purchase items in large quantities at a cheaper price than you normally could at other stores. Memberships are normally $50, but this weekend, new members can sign up for a membership for just $15.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) (Renewed) for $139.99
While the AirPod Pro 3s just released, Amazon has premium renewed Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) on sale for $139.99. This is a great deal if you’re someone who needs to upgrade your earbuds but doesn’t want to shell out a full $250. The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are a huge upgrade over the first generation AirPod Pros, featuring better sound quality and support for hearing health functionality.
Save on the LEGO Star Wars Paz Vizsla and Moff Gideon Battle Set
You can score this LEGO Star Wars Paz Vizsla and Moff Gideon Battle Set for $17.49 today at Target with Target Circle. If you’re a Star Wars fan, this cheap set is a fun way to add to your collection. Four different minifigures are included with this 289-piece set.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Songs From The Video Game Vinyl Up for Pre-Order
Initially announced earlier this year, the second 3xLP Death Stranding 2: On The Beach vinyl is up for pre-order at Mondo. This package includes 22 songs from the game, featuring artists like CHVRCHES, Low Roar, Gen Hoshino, and more. Currently, the 3xLP is set to ship out in February 2026, so secure your copy today!
Beats Studio Pro for $169.99
Amazon has the Beats Studio Pro available for $169.99 today. These headphones are excellent at this price point, offering two listening modes: ANC and Transparency. You can expect up to 40 hours of battery life, with support for fast-charging for a quick four hours of listening time.
We’ve rounded up the best deals for Saturday, October 4, below, so don’t miss out on these limited-time offers.
Split Fiction for $29.99
Xbox fans, the best deal of the weekend is for you. Split Fiction is available for just $29.99, and it’s hard to beat that price. This is still one of the best games of 2025, and it’s perfect for both hardcore players and even those who rarely play games.
Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M3 chip
Amazon has the M3 MacBook Air available for just $1099, marking a $600 discount. This laptop packs in 24GB of unified memory, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 15.3-inch display. Powered by the M3 chip, this is a laptop that is capable of anything you throw at it.
Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Keyboard for $89.99
Best Buy has this Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Wired Keyboard available for $89.99 today. Usually priced at $149.99, this is a really solid deal for an excellent keyboard. The TKL design removes the numpad, so you can keep as much desk space as possible.
God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense Pre-Orders Now Open
Amazon opened pre-orders this week for the God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense. This limited edition controller is an essential addition to any God of War fan’s collection. The best part? You will get your controller in just a few weeks, as the release date is set for October 23.
Sam’s Club Membership for $15
Sam’s Club is an excellent place to shop, as you can purchase items in large quantities at a cheaper price than you normally could at other stores. Memberships are normally $50, but this weekend, new members can sign up for a membership for just $15.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) (Renewed) for $139.99
While the AirPod Pro 3s just released, Amazon has premium renewed Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) on sale for $139.99. This is a great deal if you’re someone who needs to upgrade your earbuds but doesn’t want to shell out a full $250. The AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) are a huge upgrade over the first generation AirPod Pros, featuring better sound quality and support for hearing health functionality.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Songs From The Video Game Vinyl Up for Pre-Order
Initially announced earlier this year, the second 3xLP Death Stranding 2: On The Beach vinyl is up for pre-order at Mondo. This package includes 22 songs from the game, featuring artists like CHVRCHES, Low Roar, Gen Hoshino, and more. Currently, the 3xLP is set to ship out in February 2026, so secure your copy today!
Often, we attach a certain descriptor to the fans of particular gaming genres. Someone might be a shooter aficionado or a puzzle expert, maybe a sports enthusiast, each eliciting a certain image that we might associate with a particular audience. Then there are the lovers of tough action games, those of us who take joy in friction, revel in the struggle. Or as we like to call ourselves, sickos. At Tokyo Game Show 2025, this sicko went hands-on with Phantom Blade 0, the highly anticipated upcoming action RPG from S-Game. With an arsenal of ferocious weapons, brutal finishers, and savage enemies, it has all the makings of a bloody good time. After an hour of uninterrupted combat, boss battles, and more than a few deaths, I came away with one question: how soon can I schedule my sick days?
Sophisticated Swordplay
You play as Soul, an assassin framed for the murder of the head of his order. Our journey with him in this demo begins at the bottom of the canyon. After just a few steps, we encounter an enemy camp. There will be no easing into battle, as a pair of foot soldiers charge, followed by a spear-wielder mounted on a horse, while a bowman in a nearby tower takes aim. If it’s a fight they want, it’s a fight they’ll get, as I pull out my sword and start jockeying for position.
Phantom Blade 0 is an action game, first and foremost. Combatants, you included, have a health bar and a Sha-Chi meter. The former does exactly what you’d expect, while the latter acts as a mix of stamina, skill, power, and energy for special attacks. It’s not stamina-based combat in the strict Soulslike sense; you can do things like throw out basic attacks or dodge without fear of losing your ability to defend yourself. But you do need it to fuel your more powerful Sha-Chi (aka heavy) attacks, and it is consumed while blocking. If you or an enemy runs out of Sha-Chi, you become breached, which breaks your stance and leaves you extremely vulnerable until it refills.
The best option isn’t necessarily to go in sword-a-flailing, like in Ninja Gaiden, or take turns parrying like in Sekiro; it’s almost like a middle ground where elements of both converge.
I take a few arrows for my trouble, but manage to carve through the small detachment. As the enemy’s health and Sha-Chi drops, I’m able to execute finishers, aka dazzling flourishes that eliminate enemies in brutal and bloody ways. As I push forward, I come across a small bell suspended from a short wooden stand. With a flick, it rings out, revealing a portion of the map. This also functions as a respawn area and fast travel point, similar to a bonfire from Dark Souls.
Executing a block just as an attack arrives allows you to parry the blow, and I learned quickly that these aren’t just a defensive option; they are an essential part of combat. Not only do they negate incoming damage without draining your Sha-Chi, but they also deplete that of the attacker. Sure, you might be able to breach one enemy with pure aggression, but against tougher foes or groups, all of whom are only too eager to start beating on you at once, that’s not going to cut it. The best option isn’t necessarily to go in sword-a-flailing, like in Ninja Gaiden, or take turns parrying like in Sekiro; it’s almost like a middle ground where elements of both converge, giving the combat a very distinct feeling as you push forward, invite attacks, then parry and riposte.
That’s not to say there isn’t a place for dodging. Enemies launch special attacks called Brutal Moves and Killer Moves; the former are meant to be parried, the latter dodged. Using the right type of defense results in you performing a Ghostep, a really slick-looking teleport dodge that leads directly into a counterattack. That comes in handy as I climb the rickety scaffolding up the cliffside. I stealth kill one swordsman on the climb, but fail to get a spearman, and have to rely heavily on those Ghosteps as he and the three buddies he calls over take turns trying to turn me into a pincushion.
Death is Only the Beginning
My first death comes around 15 minutes into my demo. After fighting across several isolated platforms, I face off against a pair of spear users. I strike one down quickly, but eat too many shots in my aggression. I try to take a more measured approach with the second, though, and as soon as I try to create space, I’m killed by an explosive arrow from some far-off archer. My life ends, punctuated with a crimson “Dead” scrawled across the screen.
Moments later, I awaken at the Bell stand from before. Unlike a Souls game, where visiting a Site of Grace or equivalent brings fallen enemies back to life, everyone I’ve defeated remains dead. There are no runes to collect, or battles to be refought, but that doesn’t mean death is without consequences. Soul has 66 days to complete his mission, and every death costs him one of them. Now, how strict that limit is or whether or not we can get days back is unclear, but I certainly feel the pressure to stay alive and not waste any of that potentially limited time by dying if I can avoid it.
I decide it’s time to switch up my armaments a bit. Soul can equip two weapons for general combat, and two Phantom Edges, which are limited-use items, like a powerful bow and arrow or Man-Cutter, an enormous halberd that can crush enemies with a charged smash attack. Each weapon has unique combinations and comes with some sort of perk or special ability. Sanguine, your default long sword, can launch a rapid succession of tumbling attacks, which is great for shredding a breached enemy.
I had been leaning on Seamless Death, a pair of Chakram-like weapons that can be used for fast up close combinations, or thrown to do solid damage from a distance. Now I decide to give Jagged Edge, the enormous greatsword, a go, as I return to the site of my death and enact my revenge on the remaining spear soldier. I have to run to avoid the incoming fire from the bowman across the chasm, and eventually find a route to some platforms I can use to get across, executing an excellent wall-run into an instant kill of a swordsman I caught unawares along the way.
I ring a bell here, establishing a new respawn point, and jump down towards another pair of bow-and-arrow-equipped enemies. I land atop one, executing a throw-and-stab combo to kill him in one fell swoop, then separate the head and body of his buddy with a finisher, creating a satisfying fountain of blood. A short while later, I’m ambushed by a pair of dagger wielders; rather than defeat them with my blade, I call upon Flaming Mane, one of my Phantom Edges. This takes the form of a flame-spewing lion mask, quickly burning up both of my adversaries, opening the way for me to advance.
Revel in the Struggle
Eventually, I reach a large open area at the bottom of the cliffs. After fighting through a few groups of enemies, it’s time to take on my first boss. Enter Wan Jun “Coppermaul”, a towering figure built like The Butcher from Diablo, with a massive warhammer that perfectly matches his sheer mass. I quickly learn he fights dirty too, as he scatters dirt into my face with his weapon, covering the screen to obscure my visibility. Getting caught in that proves a fatal mistake as he grabs me, lines me up, and crushes me with a swing that would make Cal Raleigh proud.
Undeterred, I return to give him another go. His wild swings are powerful, but I quickly get the timing down to parry most of his attacks, taking large chunks out of his Shi-Chi with each combination. Once he is breached, I press the attack hard using the Soft Snake Sword, a flexible, almost whip-like blade that dishes damage quickly. There are a few dicey moments, but the thrill of victory is mine as I take down the giant. It’s a cool fight, and a solid example of how important learning boss patterns on the fly will be. I add Bashpole, as his weapon is called, to my arsenal as a Phantom Edge. Using it to smash through a wooden floor to reach a new passageway, I press on.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I make a hasty retreat, leaving the Red Wraith behind – a decision that would come back to haunt me…
The next boss comes as a complete surprise. As I made my way through some sort of village, I climbed to the roof of a round building. Standing dramatically atop a small spire at the center was Red Wraith. It was an intimidating entrance despite her smaller frame, made doubly so by the total lack of cutscene, gate, or any other sort of forewarning. She immediately presses the attack with her longsword and some sort of thrown blade, but I manage to Ghosteps to quickly break her guard. Something seems off, though – the fight seems almost too easy, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Soul, and he suggests that we could leave her be and flee if we wanted. Curiosity gets the better of me and I make a hasty retreat, leaving the Red Wraith behind – a decision that would come back to haunt me.
A few skirmishes later, I reach the final boss of the demo, the Chief Disciple of the Seven Stars. He leads a team of six other warriors, and, even as a veteran of many, many action games, I have to admit this is one of the more impressive boss fights in recent memory. Each warrior has their own health bar, including the Chief Disciple, with the boss’s health bar, and they seamlessly switch between acting independently and striking as one. One moment I’m isolating one enemy, chipping away at their health, then suddenly the entire group converges on me with a coordinated thrust attack from all directions, as my perfectly timed dodge allows me to leap their collective attack, and land gracefully upon the combined tips of all their weapons.
It’s a gorgeous spectacle, and each time I chip away at the Chief Disciple’s health in this intricate dance of steel, his followers heal him, sacrificing their own health in the process. I continuously chip away at the group, using a leaping smash from Bashpole to send everyone flying when I’m in danger of being overwhelmed. As their numbers dwindle, the Chief Disciple changes tactics, giving away his health to make sure there are at least three followers at his side at all times. This proves his folly, as I take advantage of his rapidly diminishing strength and drop him with a thrown barrage from Seamless Death.
The fight wa= sn’t over yet, however. His three disciples scattered to a trio of towers, throwing out what resembled thread. The boss, now called the Chief Disciple’s Fallen Hope, rose from the ground like some abomination of a marionette, and the battle began anew. This time it was strictly a 1v1, his ferocious attacks now coming with him dangling as he rushed me with melee attacks and threw a screen-filling barrage of his own threads. Even this I thought I could handle, until I heard a voice call out, “Nothing can separate us, not even in Death!” The Red Wraith had returned, and the combined fury of both bosses was more than I could handle.
I died. Then I died again. And again. Each rematch began at the start of the marionette phase, but time and time again I fell when the Red Wraith arrived, my decision to be merciful earlier haunting me. But dammit if I didn’t learn just a little more each time, get to that last phase with just a little more health each attempt. As I threw myself at what seemed like an impossible fight just a few attempts earlier, I began to see the windows to attack, until finally, my heart pounding in my chest, I struck down the Red Wraith with a leaping finisher from my Seamless Death, withstood the enraged counterattack from The Disciple’s Lost Hope, and severed his strings and head with one last swipe of my sword.
There are three difficulty options to choose from, but even at the default setting that I played at, Phantom Blade 0 is hard, and I loved that about it. It never felt cheap; it just demanded more from me. In just over an hour of play, I was easily ten times the player I was when I started. It’s a feeling of achievement that is reserved for the very best action games on the planet. If the rest is anything like what I played at TGS, I feel like there’s a real chance that Phantom Blade 0 might be one of those games.
