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A deep, stylish beat-em-up that will keep you busy until Phantom Blade Zero arrives

4K View2023-11-03

Phantom Blade: Executioners

8.2

CompetitiveNoirMetroidvaniaAction RPGActionMartial ArtsRPGCasual

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SHOULD I PLAY PHANTOM BLADE: EXECUTIONERS?

Absolutely play it. Phantom Blade: Executioners is a flashy action game that mixes the best elements of classic side-scrolling 2D brawlers—think Streets of Rage and Golden Axe—with a deep yet approachable combo-based fighting system that feels like something out of Devil May Cry. The result is a brilliantly fun, bite-sized title that’s worth some time even if you’re tired of gacha games.

TIME PLAYED

I spent around six hours with the final beta for Phantom Blade: Executioners and another six hours with the final release version. I tried out each of the game’s four currently playable characters, but I spent most of my time in the beta with Zuo Shang, a fast-moving swordfighter who can send his enemies flying into the air. For the release version I switched to Mu Xiaokui, who deals more damage but also dies faster. I completed the first “case” in the game, got a good portion into the second case, and explored a lot of sidequests, alternate difficulty routes through levels, and character progression content.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT PHANTOM BLADE: EXECUTIONERS?

• Fast-paced martial arts action. Phantom Blade: Executioners strikes the perfect balance between the ease required for a mobile game and the depth desired by more hardcore players—which is especially important, since the game will also be available on PC and PlayStation 4 and 5. Combat is slick and responsive, even with touch controls, and if you’re less confident in your skills, you can turn on an option for the game to automatically perform combo strings for you. Getting the timing right on my own did more damage and was always more satisfying, though.

• Unending customization. Part of the thanks for Executioners’ depth is owed to the game’s excellent fully customizable combo system. Each character has twenty or so different skills that can be learned as they level up and then upgraded further from there. Then there are two primary combo strings that learned skills can be equipped to, with the combo strings growing as you level as well. Which skills are equipped and at what point in a combo sequence will play a huge part in determining the combos overall effectiveness. For example, I discovered that opening a combo with the Rising Dragon attack to knock an enemy into the air was great, but I couldn’t immediately follow up with the Falling Star ground smash skill or I might miss the opponent while they’re still floating in the air.

I loved playing with these combos and thinking carefully about what to equip. And beyond just equipping abilities, I was also able to modify them using “memories” from ancient martial artists. This is where the game’s gacha system comes into place, and while I’d prefer unlocking memories in a more natural way, I appreciated the extra shot of strategizing they added, allowing me to increase my attack damage, tankiness, or other stats as needed.

• Intriguing world. Story is rarely the main pull for me in a mobile game, but I will say that Phantom Blade: Executioners’ plot at least held my attention. The playable characters here are all members of a mysterious group called the Organization that fights back against supernatural forces in a world that blends fantasy, steampunk, and martial arts mysticism. It’s a setting unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and I also really liked how the story is presented as a series of “cases” that you must investigate to figure out what is causing problems across the land. Even sidequests play into your role as part of the Organization and your attempts to cleanse the world of evil.

• Gorgeous style. In addition to a unique setting and tone, Phantom Blade: Executioners just looks beautiful. It has a smooth hand-painted look that feels like it would fit just as well in a picture book of Chinese mythology. The larger character art used during dialogue scenes was also wonderful, with an incredible level of detail for even minor NPCs.

• Preparing for the future. If you don't usually pay attention to this type of game but Phantom Blade still sounds familiar to you, that may be because Executioners developer S-Game recently surprised gamers with the announcement of Phantom Blade Zero, a PlayStation 5- and PC-only spin-off of this mobile series. If you haven’t had a chance yet, be sure to check out the Phantom Blade Zero announcement trailer right here. Zero looks absolutely stunning, and I cannot wait to explore this fascinating world in a full 3D, triple-A experience. Executioners provides a great, smaller-scale free-to-play introduction.

WHAT SUCKS IN PHANTOM BLADE: EXECUTIONERS?

• Some translation strangeness. When it comes to English localization of Chinese mobile games, Phantom Blade: Executioners definitely lands firmly in the above average crowd, in that it's at least readable. That said, compared to the absolute best in the business, like Genshin Impact, the translation here is lacking, with regular moments of awkwardness or confusion. To give one example, that Organization I mentioned earlier? For some reason the English voice-over keeps calling it “the Order” even though the subtitles always say “the Organization.” Which is right? Who knows!

• Gacha stuff. The launch version of Phantom Blade: Executioners definitely provided me with more regular free pulls at the gacha than I got in the beta. Still, this system always feels awkward when it’s crammed into an action game, and I think it will stand out even more for those playing on PC and PlayStation. I don't think the gacha in Executioners is anything close to a deal-breaker, and I have yet to reach a point where I've felt like my progress was held back specifically because I hadn't pulled the right memory. But I know some folks are going to be annoyed by gacha being part of the game either way, and I don't blame them.

[Review written by TapTap editor Kef.]

💬Are you ready to embrace the stylish kungfupunk of Phantom Blade: Executioners, or are you going to hold out for the franchise's PlayStation debut? Share your thoughts in the comments.