In a recent interview, S-GAME CEO Liang Qiwei revealed two key creative concepts at the core of Phantom Blade Zero's development. According to him, the game is being crafted as a synthesis of artistic excellence and profound philosophy expressed through two fundamental ideas.

The first concept involves recreating the spirit of classic 1970s Hong Kong action cinema, paying homage to legendary screen masters - Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen. The developer notes that this unique style virtually disappeared in the early 2000s, and the S-GAME team has set themselves the ambitious task of reviving it for modern audiences. As a Chinese studio, the developers place special emphasis on authenticity, utilizing motion capture technology and cinematographic techniques inspired by Hong Kong cinema's golden age. As an example, Liang cited Sifu by French studio Sloclap, emphasizing that if a European team could create a quality product in this genre, then Chinese developers, drawing on their own cultural heritage, can achieve even greater depth and genuineness. Phantom Blade Zero will feature special combat sequences akin to Sifu, including its own interpretation of the famous "corridor of death" scene.

The second philosophical foundation of the project is a return to 1990s game development principles, when compact yet rich projects were created with moderate budgets and small but passionate teams. Liang Qiwei expressed particular nostalgia for the PlayStation 1 and 2 era, stressing his desire to preserve this creative philosophy in a modern project. He describes Phantom Blade Zero as a "big indie game" - a project with an adequate budget and experienced team where every element, from the title screen to the closing credits, is meticulously considered and crafted with exceptional care.

Separately, the S-GAME head touched upon the growing potential of China's gaming industry. In his view, the unprecedented success of Black Myth: Wukong, which sold 30 million copies in six months, has opened new horizons for Chinese developers, proving the global competitiveness of their products. This success not only inspired the S-GAME team but also helped secure additional investment from Tencent. Notably, interest in Phantom Blade Zero has already reached significant levels - outside China, the game's trailers have even surpassed Wukong's videos in popularity, while the announcement trailer on PlayStation's official channel has garnered over 5.3 million views.

Phantom Blade Zero will be released on PC and PlayStation 5, though the exact release date remains unknown.

Main image: wall.alphacoders.com

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