Sony Interactive Entertainment has published a post on its PlayStation Blog describing how combat and exploration work in Phantom Blade Zero, an action role-playing game from developer S-Game. The post, dated Oct. 28, 2026, says the game hits PlayStation 5 on Oct. 29.

The post, written by PlayStation Blog contributor Phil Hornshaw, describes the game as a blend of several styles. It cites the tough bosses of Soulslikes, the combo-focused combat of hack-and-slash games, the stories and characters of role-playing games and the unlockable exploration of search action games. It describes the setting as a supernaturally infused “Kungfupunk” world.

According to the post, combat centers on a meter called Sha-Chi. Blocking attacks drains it, and a player whose meter runs out can be staggered and left open to attack. Perfect parries, dodges and landed hits drain the opponent’s meter instead. Players can refill their own meter by swapping between two equipped main weapons.

The post says players also build up Sha-Chi Essence by landing attacks. When it is full, they can use a Power Surge attack that interrupts an opponent and deals heavy damage. It also says haptic feedback in the DualSense controller lets players feel clashing blades.

Most weapons come from defeated bosses rather than treasure chests or merchants, the post says. It gives the example of Hua, Deadly Betrothed, an early optional boss. Defeating her yields the Scarlet Wraithblade, which summons spider lilies that slow enemies. The post also describes the White Serpent and Crimson Viper, a pair of dual-wielded swords that can be used separately or mixed together.

The post says exploration is a big part of the game. Some paths are blocked until players earn specific weapons called Phantom Edge weapons, which can smash barriers or grapple to distant spots. Collecting Blue Memory Flowers unlocks stories about places in the game’s world, the Wulin. Finding every flower for a given story increases the health of a character named Soul.

The post also names other bosses. Jing Ye, The Outlaw, attacks on horseback. The Gold-Masked One appears in a realm called the Discordance and is played by actor and martial arts figure Donnie Yen, the post says.

The post did not give a price. It was published on a Sony-affiliated site, and its descriptions of the game are the company’s own.