In honor of 2024 marking the 12 months of the Dragon within the Chinese language calendar, S-Sport has revealed an introspective and suspenseful Phantom Blade Zero anime trailer referred to as Rain & Blood that recollects Phantom Blade’s historical past–and its upcoming future as a third-person motion sport.
S-Sport is celebrating the 12 months of the Dragon as dragons are a pillar of the phantom Blade universe, embodied by the mighty Loong (that means “dragon”) Clan. In Phantom Blade’s timeline, the Loongs have been honored, even worshiped, because the vanguard of justice for over a century, till the clan collapsed in a history-making occasion. Inside Phantom Blade Zero, gamers will discover a few of the Lengthy relics and really feel their lingering affect. This alignment between the sport world and the true world makes this an apt alternative to remember, replicate, and prepare for the following step ahead. The journey from an indie sport to a self-contained universe of six video games took 15 years, and S-Sport is able to take a step ahead.
S-Sport dropped the Rain & Blood anime trailer, that includes a high-stakes duel that seamlessly transforms a storm-lit sword struggle into conventional ink and paper drawings, and again once more as sworn rivals and former comrades Soul and Zuo Shang attempt to lower one another up. The conflict calls again to 2008’s unique Rainblood, the sport that launched the franchise and its distinctive “kung-fu punk” aesthetic that is equal components Chinese language historical past, fantasy/mythology, and up to date popular culture.
S-Sport’s historical past spans properly over a decade and has leveraged a few of China’s most famous 2D artists to seize and amplify the pace and energy of kung-fu combating with hanging type, mixing conventional martial arts with visible dynamics that enchantment to a fashionable viewers. The opening of the Rain & Blood trailer takes viewers by their distinct historical past, slicing from the franchise’s 2D roots to 3D house powered by Unreal Engine 5, displaying Soul slicing his means by enemies. Regardless of this transformation in visible aesthetics, the darkish, ominous ambiance and choreography of intricate kung fu strikes stays. Should you’re a fan of Blue Eye Samurai, Karas, or Afro Samurai, it might be proper up your alley.
Observant followers may discover the latter half of the trailer is captured on PlayStation 5, which is able to accompany PC because the platforms Phantom Blade Zero is designed for. Gamers can dive into a playable demo coming someday later this 12 months.
Preserve updated with Phantom Blade Zero’s launch on its official Twitter account, or be a part of the Phantom Blade Discord. Then watch Rain & Blood yet one more time for good measure.