Phantom Blade Zero Might Be BETTER Than Sekiro | Between Levels Podcast Ep. 18

Could Phantom Blade Zero actually be better than Sekiro?

This week, FightinCowboy and Sarthe share their first impressions of Phantom Blade Zero, and the early verdict is VERY positive.

Cowboy is approaching ten hours with the game and believes its combat comes closer than almost anything else to capturing the back-and-forth dance that makes Sekiro so special. We discuss its huge weapon variety, challenging optional bosses, exploration and why some players may be approaching the game with the wrong expectations by treating it like a Soulslike.

We also get into a much bigger debate about what actually makes a video game great. Is gameplay always king? Can narrative-driven games, walking simulators and visual novels be just as compelling with less traditional interaction? And how much do graphics and presentation really matter?

Then we answer your questions about gaming backlogs, whether reviewers and content creators would play as many games if it wasn't their job, and which recent releases we'd actually recommend if you could only afford one game.

Plus, Sarthe is finally back, Wheelie prepares for his first-ever World of Warcraft experience, and Cowboy and Sarthe inevitably end the show nerding out over WoW add-ons.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 18

01:17 – Phantom Blade Zero First Impressions

04:24 – Could Phantom Blade Zero Actually Top Sekiro?

07:14 – Why the Combat Gets Better and Better

13:46 – Phantom Blade Zero Is NOT a Soulslike

18:13 – Difficulty, Power Fantasy & Optional Bosses

24:45 – Phantom Blade Zero Early Game Tips

31:33 – Could This Define a New Genre?

33:54 – Calling Out Bad Creator Behaviour

36:47 – Is Gameplay Always King?

40:20 – Can Games With Less Gameplay Still Be Great?

45:29 – Your Comments & Questions

46:05 – Do Content Creators Have Gaming Backlogs?

51:30 – Would We Play This Many Games Without Our Jobs?

55:41 – Which Games Are Actually Worth Your Money?

58:34 – If You Could Only Buy ONE Game...

1:01:57 – Wheelie Picks Call of Duty

1:03:20 – Cowboy Picks Phantom Blade Zero

1:04:11 – World of Warcraft Forever Is Coming

1:05:00 – Cowboy & Sarthe Nerd Out Over WoW Add-Ons

1:10:47 – One Final Community Comment

1:11:15 – Outro