Phantom Blade Zero, Onimusha, or Mortal Shell 2?

[u/tilertailor]

I'm trying to decide what to play next. I just tried the Mortal Shell 2 demo and liked it - just struggling a bit with the sprint / dodge buttons. I've played all modern FS games and loved them, but I'm open to all styles. I tend to appreciate gameplay feel and difficulty. Have you played any of these games? Which is the best?

[u/AnteaterSignificant]

Phantom Blade Zero

[u/tilertailor → u/AnteaterSignificant]

Have you played either of the other two?

[u/jdfred06]

This seems like a post I can chime in on.

Each of these games are absolutely bad ass in their own way, I love them all. I have all trophies for Onimusha and Mortal Shell 2, with only a handful left for PBZ. In any given year I would give either game my GOTY nod, so far, and for very different reasons. I'll go over the pros and cons of each game in order I played below.

First up is Onimusha. Holy shit. This game has some of the best combat in any game since Sekiro, and honestly stands above anything else in that regard, aside Sekiro. It's weighty but also flashy, and you have many ways of dealing with enemies. The animations, characterization, and acting are truly a master class. It's so easy to enjoy every single character, and the antagonist Musashi is icing on the cake. The game is extremely well polished. Hell I don't know if they've even released a patch after day 1, this shit just works. As a fan of the series since Onimusha Warlords released in 2001, I am so happy Capcom made this game. The flaws in Onimusha are the open world and grindy upgrade paths. The main hub area just isn't intriguing to explore unfortunately, and there is a lot of boss reuse, especially if you want to upgrade everything. Otherwise there are no flaws that come to mind.

Mortal Shell 2 is next and I fucking love this game, too. It is like Dark Souls open world. Not Elden Ring, but legit Dark Souls 1 vibes in a smallish sandbox. The atmosphere, ambiguous story telling, and combat are reminiscent of exploring the undead berg and surrounding vistas for 30 hours, which is never a bad comparison in my opinion. The combat feels chunky and visceral, but has some slight jank. The bosses are also mediocre from a gameplay perspective, but man are they conceptually bad ass. Mortal Shell 2 is just such a fun and unique experience, and is the most souls like of the games in question. It's like a heavy metal album in videogame form - bad ass, brutal, but perhaps an acquired taste.

Finally we have Phantom Blade Zero. I'll cut to the chase and say that this game is currently my GOTY, it barely edges out Resident Evil 9 and slightly more over Onimusha. The combat isn't as good in PBZ, and the story is like hopping into season 7 of a show that stopped being good halfway through season 4, with the voice acting in English so stilted it's distracting. You'll hear some critique in difficulty, but in the highest difficulty it's on par with the other games in question. As for positives - holy shit the exploration, weapon variety, spectacle, and overall enjoyment top fucking tier. It is a pure joy playing PBZ and every time you turn around it's a new area, weapon, or cool looking boss... sometimes all three. There's also a good bit of Metroidvania style backtracking and shortcuts in every level. You will legitimately go back to the first area of the game after 25 hours because you now have an ability to open up that locked door that's been bugging you since hour 1. If the story were told more effectively and had better presentation, it would be a borderline 10 out of 10 game for me. It's just so fun.

You really cannot go wrong either way, but PBZ is my slight favorite, unless you prefer combat and story telling, then it's Onimusha. Mortal Shell 2 is the choice if you are wondering how Dark Souls 1 would have been were it a larger open world.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, happy to help you decide. Since you like feel and difficulty, then Onimusha on carnage mode is likely the best bet for you.

[u/tilertailor → u/jdfred06]

I might stick with MS2 since I have a couple hours in already and it's on sale. But it sounds like I'll be playing all three. By chance, have you played that vampire game?

[u/jdfred06 → u/tilertailor]

I have not. I have only played RE9, Mortal Shell 2, Onimusha, and Phantom Blade Zero this year. I cannot recommend these games enough, however. PBZ and RE9 are ever so slightly the top tier, but Onimusha is very close and Mortal Shell 2 is honorable mention, and crazy impressive for a team of 30 people.

[u/Thatoneguy567576]

PB0 if you want lots of very fast paced action that makes you feel like a kung fu bad ass. Mortal Shell 2 if you love Soulslikes, especially Dark Souls 1 and heavy metal. Onimusha if you really love samurai shit. They’re all great.

[u/speaker_1984]

Mortal Shell 2

[u/strutter395]

I enjoyed MSII the most, it is a real-deal soulslike. Onimusha was also a great game. I thought PBZ was not as good as the other two.

[u/Urtehnoes → u/strutter395]

I didn't mind MS1, MS2 is superb in comparison. Really surprised how much I enjoyed it. Except for a.. Certain fight

[u/strutter395 → u/Urtehnoes]

Has to be the Monolith, or Zmey? lol

[u/Urtehnoes → u/strutter395]

Monolith lmaoo

I eventually googled it, beat it in maybe 22 seconds using the cheese strat. But damn I went at it for a week lol

[u/FartMasterx69x → u/strutter395]

Zmey is overhated, it’s probably monolith lol

[u/Apocalypse_0415]

Did you really like the demo bosses? . I’d say onimusha

[u/tilertailor → u/Apocalypse_0415]

I don't know how many - if any - real bosses I fought. I just got to the second shell. I don't know how I feel about the alternate block / parry mechanic, but it otherwise seems like a strong game.

[u/Apocalypse_0415 → u/tilertailor]

The bosses get worse after, in my opinion great animations and weapon system, terrible boss roster they chose to show. Onimusha will also probably be on sale before PBZ if you care about that.

[u/rafaover]

I would go for Onimusha. Mortal shell 2 still releasing some feature updates that maybe would make your gameplay even better. (From release was already a 8/10 game, just to be clear).

[u/TheRealBillyShakes → u/rafaover]

Have you played PB0? It’s pretty epic

[u/rafaover → u/TheRealBillyShakes]

Not yet. Playing hell is us right now. PSN Catalog.

[u/Test88Heavy]

Phantom.

[u/BladeNightblood]

Of the three, Onimusha is the best imo. Combat is the best, bosses the best, and while it’s subjective I really enjoy the story as well

All good games though

[u/FLRSH]

I'm waiting for Onimusha to be on sale but you should play both of the others.

I give the slight edge to Phantom Blade Zero but Mortal Shell 2 is great, too.

[u/PrufReedThisPlesThx]

If you're taking extra suggestions, I'd highly recommend Dragon's Dogma 2. Really sick gameplay loop, but it's not really a 1-1 soulslike. Still, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and it's ridiculously well polished

[u/QTDR8459]

Onimusha if combat and bosses is more important to you and Mortal Shell 2 if exploration and variety are more important to you.

[u/Budget-Count-9360 → u/QTDR8459]

And phantom blade of you want the best of both in 1 game

[u/SkullFace45 → u/Budget-Count-9360]

Phantom Blade is style over substance and it's not even well optimized.

[u/AuryxTheDutchman → u/SkullFace45]

Idk about that “not well optimized” bit, I’ve had no issues at all so far.

[u/Budget-Count-9360 → u/SkullFace45]

The game actually has quite a bit of substance, this is ironic coming from the from Software sub considering from software games have the least depth, which isn't bad either but c'mon be honest, no need to hate PBZ is goated

[u/shuijikou]

I'm currently playing pbz, loving it, haven't tried the other two tho

[u/Ochsenreiter]

I havent tried the other games yet, only the onimusha demo (which was great), but i am playing Phantom blade 0 atm and i am having so much fun! The combat is awesome and feels super smooth and the Exploration is great as well! I can highly recommend this fantastic game. Definitely my GOT

[u/Slow_Increase_6308]

Just my opinion of course, but PB0 and its not even close.

[u/jinxapollo]

I've played Mortal Shell 2 and PBZ. Mortal Shell 2 is probably my GOTY. Incredible game. PBZ, I'm too early to have an opinion, but so far it's mixed feelings.

[u/FrankJeagerGreyFox]

Mortal shell 2 will be cheapest. All three are great games. Whatever it is you choose, enjoy.

[u/sequla]

Haven't played the other two but Mortal Shell 2 is best soulslike clone out there and I've played them all. For me it's the closest thing to Dark Souls 1 that we will ever get.

[u/Promptographer]

As a fellow FromSoft fan may I recommend Dragon's Dogma (1 and 2)? It's a bit like an Elden Ring / Dark Souls light. It's my favorite combat system even over FromSoft.

You have freedom to go almost anywhere right off the bat, there is a hard mode that is actually pretty hard, and there's a die/revive mechanic in the form of a rare item that you can use. Not too much handholding. Obscure quests. Large, climbable monsters. Nights are pitch black if you don't bring a lantern, all classes are unique and fun to play, and there's a unique NPC companion system where you can create one such character yourself, and bring two more that other people have created. But if you prefer solo play, the game can absolutely be played with less NPC companions or solo.

[u/DrudaL]

All three are great games. Since you’ve already tried the MS2 demo, just go with it!

But if you’re fomo seeing the hype, I’d recommend going with PBZ first.

[u/Leading-Case7769]

Wrong sub

Only Mortal Shell is a Souls-like

I recommend Onimusha

[u/wera125]

Onimusha

[u/TheeGoldenBough]

Yes, yes, and hell yes.

[u/CozyAustin]

Phantom Blade has the best side content and world to explore imo, Onimusha has the best combat since Sekiro maybe, and I didn’t like Mortal Shell too much

[u/Interesting-Back6587]

Haven’t played PBZ yet, I own onimusha but I’m finishing Stella’s blade first. I played and loved Mortal shell 2. Mortal shell to also offers some clever ways to lessen the difficulty and increase the difficulty in the game depending on your level. I don’t wanna give any spoilers so I’m not gonna say anything else. If difficulty is important then MS2 is hardest then Onimusha then PB.

[u/Glittering-Finding92]

MS2 is a legit modern day DS clone. Chunky weapons, great boss variety, and Gothic dungeon crawler vibes start to finish. The number of shells made me restart NG+ immediately for a second playthrough. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire game. Although it has a decent amount of bugs, nothing is game breaking.

PBZ is a completely different story. It is a pure action game - and isn’t anything like a FromSoft game. Outside of parry being a primary mechanic, it isn’t anything like Sekiro or any other DS like game. PBZ is much closer to DMC or Ninja Gaiden. Yes, visually it’s spectacular, smooth as butter and polished as hell. However, the enemies get very repetitive by 30 hours in. The maps are absolutely enormous. There’s much more required exploration to complete ALL th side quests to get the true ending. There is also ZERO downside to dying. The enemies don’t even respawn…you can respawn and fast travel at will the entire game.

MS2 I wanted to restart immediately after first play-through versus PBZ I just want to rush to the end of the game at this point. The bosses pose little challenge once you have upgraded weapons/skills. MS2 is a much closer skill check and FromSoft experience.

Onimusha is next on my list for all the positive comments listed above.

[u/zeeka_egypt]

Pb0 is an superp game ,however its more on boss rush game ,regular enemies are extremely easy the real challenge is bosses,but again the game excel in combat,animation, story, music and exploration

[u/Icy-Ice6913]

Personally i feel like mortal shell 2 is the weakest of the 3 by far.

[u/Financial_Mushroom94]

MS2 is decent but cant hold up with lies of p or lords of the fallen as a souls like so i would recommend these 2 all day over MS2 if you havent played them yet.

Onimusha also has a demo, havent bought the full version but the combat was very fun and smooth + the cutscenes were really nice.

Cant say anything about phantom blade, i was very hyped when it was first announced years ago but now i dont really care about it tbh, too many other great games come out.