Phantom Blade Zero: History, Culture & Mythology
Table of Content
Preface
Phantom Blade Zero is an upcoming Wuxia game developed and published by S-Game. Inspired by traditional Chinese culture and mythology, this AAA game combines fast-paced combat with stunning crafted environments. Players take on the role of Soul, an elite assassin framed for the murder of his organisation’s patriarch. After being gravely injured, he is saved by a mystic healer, but the cure he receives will only last for 66 days. With time running out, Soul must battle powerful foes and uncover the mastermind behind his betrayal, all while navigating a dark and fantastical realm filled with intrigue.
Culture
Phantom Blade Zero's universe is based on China during the Ming dynasty, with elements of Wuxia, dark fantasy, and more. For those who may not know, Wuxia, meaning "martial hero" or "martial arts and chivalry," is a Chinese literary genre featuring martial artists in ancient China often with supernatural abilities. The genre explores themes of chivalry, revenge, and romance with a focus on the adventures of martial artists in ancient China, often with characters possessing superhuman feats/supernatural fighting abilities through training and the cultivation of internal energy (Qi). Wuxia stories are often set in ancient China, drawing inspiration from historical periods and events, while also incorporating elements of mythology and folklore.
Mythology
Rain Blood: Town of Death at a Glance
Phantom Blade Zero is a spiritual rebirth of the original Rain Blood developed by Soulframe Liang. Rain Blood has a battle style in the influence of Gulong (one of the two most popular martial novelers in China)'s martial arts novels, which describe the core spirit of Chinese martial art - always solo, kill in one slash, and dodge rather than defence. The game also includes many other elements, such as dark gothic style.
The game is set on the Phantom World, specifically on the city of Pang, besieged by plagues and enemies. It also features a warrior named Soul, who has 51 days to complete his affairs before he dies due to a medical condition. The enemies besieging Pang are sent by The Organisation, which Soul has a vendetta against.
Final Thoughts
Phantom Blade Zero is still in development so we have limited information with the inspirations of the game. However, knowing the game is going to be following the Wuxia genre, we can mildly guess the story, the characters and the environment will possibly represent real historical figures but with martial arts skillsets that surpass the typical human.
To find more information about Phantom Blade Zero, please head over to this website: S-Game.
