Despite comparisons to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the action game Phantom Blade Zero, judging by preliminary materials, is much closer to Black Myth: Wukong. Game Rant journalists drew attention to this.
Both games are inspired by the Wuxia tradition, Chinese historical-fantasy works about martial arts masters. However, Phantom Blade Zero does not rely on rigid "soulslike" mechanics and complex parries, but offers more dynamic battles in the style of kung fu films. The developers call this approach "Kungfupunk".
The story tells of a warrior named Soul, who has six days left to live. The plot revolves around conspiracies, revenge, and elements of Chinese folklore.
Another similarity to Black Myth: Wukong is related to character development. Phantom Blade Zero will feature over 30 types of weapons and more than 20 unique combat techniques called Phantom Edges. After defeating important enemies, players will be able to acquire their weapons and fighting style.
This system resembles the mechanics of Black Myth: Wukong, where defeating demons unlocked special transformation abilities. In both games, acquiring skills and equipment from defeated bosses has become an important part of progression and narrative.