Exploring Phantom Blade Zero's Seamless Map: A Nod to Souls Games but Not a Soulslike

The director behind the highly anticipated action-RPG Phantom Blade Zero has drawn comparisons between the game's map and FromSoftware's Souls series prior to the open-world design of Elden Ring. In a conversation with GamesRadar+, the director, who uses the name 'Soulframe,' broke down the unique aspects of Phantom Blade Zero's seamless, non-linear map structure.

Soulframe explained the distinctions between Phantom Blade Zero's map and the traditional open-world maps, highlighting its resemblance to the older Souls games. Movement and exploration occur within a seamless map, but it is not an expansive open world. Instead, each region is interconnected in a cohesive manner.

Avoiding the extensive debate over what qualifies as an open-world game, it appears Phantom Blade Zero features an interconnected landscape with various regions that may or may not be accessible from the onset. According to Soulframe, the map includes minor enemies between bosses, secret collectibles, hidden characters, and opportunities for stealth and ranged tactics during encounters. It all sounds quite familiar.

Certain areas require keys, which are acquired through specific missions. Although there is a process to navigate these regions, the game maintains a non-linear approach with multiple paths available. This echoes the design of the Souls games before Elden Ring.

Soulframe emphasized during the interview that Phantom Blade Zero is not a Soulslike. Instead, it is an action-RPG featuring combo-driven, exhilarating combat. The game’s map design merely shares similarities with the pre-Elden Ring titles from the Souls series.

In our hands-on preview of Phantom Blade Zero, Austin provided additional insights: "It is not a Soulslike, and I'm surprisingly pleased by that. Imposing the measured pace of that genre would detract from the sheer speed and intensity that make Phantom Blade unique. It is extremely fast-paced, but it works perfectly."