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Controversy · comment analysis

Are damage-sponge enemies slowing down combat in Phantom Blade Zero and Stranger than Heaven?

What YouTube comments really reveal about enemy tankiness, backed by numbers.

Updated: 13/07/2026
Yes, but unevenly: in both games part of the audience flags overly tanky basic enemies that artificially stretch out fights, a concern weighing around 4% of Phantom Blade Zero's discussion and up to 8% for Stranger than Heaven, where developers have already responded.

The context

Phantom Blade Zero, a wuxia action RPG developed by Chinese studio S-Game, was revealed on May 24, 2023 during the PlayStation Showcase. The game features fast-paced combat with no enemy respawns and a 'Hellwalker' mode offering adaptive boss AI. Originally slated for September 9, 2026, its release was pushed back to October 29, 2026, an announcement made in June 2026.

In his message about the delay, S-Game's CEO explained the studio wanted extra time to polish the game rather than ship it while there was still room for improvement. During public demos (Summer Game Fest 2024, Gamescom 2025), several previews noted ranged enemies that some testers found overbearing, though this was not framed as an official statement on overall difficulty.

Stranger than Heaven, RGG Studio's new IP (formerly Ryu Ga Gotoku, creator of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series), was announced under the codename 'Project Century' on December 12, 2024 at The Game Awards, before receiving its final title in June 2025. The game drops the Heat Move system from Yakuza in favor of a stamina- and posture-based combat system, with independent control of protagonist Makoto Daito's left and right limbs.

At Summer Game Fest in June 2026, hands-on sessions showcased three escalating combat encounters, including a final duel against a 'master swordsman' described by several previews as dealing heavy damage while soaking up many hits. The game is currently set for release on January 15, 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Sources: Phantom Blade Zero - Wikipedia · Phantom Blade Zero delayed to October 29 - Gematsu · Ryu Ga Gotoku's Project Century renamed to STRANGER THAN HEAVEN - DSOGaming · After an hour with Stranger Than Heaven's combat - VGC

Factual background compiled from public sources — the debate analysis below relies exclusively on the comments.

How we got here

as told by the comments
April 2026

Under a Phantom Blade Zero preview, a viewer flags overly tanky basic enemies dragging out fights, while calling the issue easy to fix before release.

June 12, 2026

At Summer Game Fest, first hands-on impressions of Stranger than Heaven trigger a wave of comments about enemies absorbing ten hits or more, dubbed 'damage sponges.'

June 12, 2026

The same day, director Yokoyama's clarification circulates: enemies shown in the demo were deliberately made stronger and will be rebalanced for release.

June 13-16, 2026

The debate intensifies, pitting players who enjoy the heavier, more realistic pace against those comparing these drawn-out fights to classic Yakuza boss battles.

Phantom Blade Zero

~4% of the discussion on this game

On Phantom Blade Zero, the criticism stays marginal, tied to a single April 2026 preview comment noting that basic enemies have too much health and drag out fights, though the issue is seen as minor.

A minor, easily fixable issue 60 %

The commenter who raised the issue calls it 'easy to fix' before release himself.
« Basic enemies have so much health and the fights last too long. But it's easy to fix, great game. »
— @Faith-in-games · ♥ 128 · translated · see original ↗
Other commenters say they trust the developers to fine-tune balance and take the time needed before release.
« So much love and effort has been put into this game. I hope the devs take the feedback on board and take all the time necessary to release an amazing game. »
— @nayho26 · ♥ 131 · translated · see original ↗
Several explicitly back a further delay if it means shipping a more polished experience.
« I don't mind the delay, I hope they take as much time as they need to deliver a polished experience! »
— @LazyCatAnims · ♥ 144 · translated · see original ↗

Overly tanky enemies, drawn-out fights 40 %

A tester notes that basic enemies soak up too many hits, needlessly dragging out fights in the preview.
« Basic enemies have so much health and the fights last too long. But it's easy to fix, great game. »
— @Faith-in-games · ♥ 128 · translated · see original ↗
The fast-paced hack-and-slash style promised (à la Ninja Gaiden/DMC) leaves little room for overly tanky enemies, worrying some about pacing consistency.

Stranger than Heaven

~8% of the discussion on this game

On Stranger than Heaven, the backlash is sharper: June 2026 hands-on impressions repeatedly flag enemies absorbing ten hits without falling, prompting director Yokoyama to announce a rebalance.

An intentional design choice, already being fixed 35 %

Director Yokoyama explained that the enemies shown in the demo were deliberately made stronger and will be rebalanced so defeating them feels 'more satisfying and fluid.'
« Yokoyama confirmed that the gameplay video featured enemies intentionally made stronger for demonstration purposes, and that they will be readjusted for release so that 'defeating them feels more satisfying and fluid.' »
— @rei_0749 · ♥ 837 · translated · see original ↗
Others actually like this heavier, more 'realistic' feel, contrasting it with the series' usual aerial combos.
« The fighting is slow and realistic, I honestly like that — I don't want another game where you juggle or instantly beat down an NPC. I'm looking forward to it, it's kind of cool. »
— @cerae1102 · ♥ 56 · translated · see original ↗
Some find the way each enemy is handled consistent with the new combat system and don't see it as a flaw.
« How you deal with an enemy in a combat situation, and how they behave, is a pretty good system to me, not gonna lie. »
— @AriLetsPlays · ♥ 0 · translated · see original ↗

Overly tanky enemies, drawn-out fights 65 %

Players describe 'HP sponge' enemies able to absorb twelve to fifteen punches or six to seven crowbar hits before falling.
One clip shows an enemy stabbed in the stomach barely reacting, which several viewers say breaks the promise of 'realistic' combat.
« Knocking a guy down, walking over and jamming a knife into his stomach with blood gushing out, and having him react like it's a minor inconvenience that costs a bit of health, is hilarious. »
— @verols335 · ♥ 53 · translated · see original ↗
Some estimate it takes up to twenty minutes to defeat five enemies, a pace seen as disproportionate for ordinary street thugs.
« Looks great but I panic when I see the enemies' health bars. You stab them in the chest and they still have 75% health left. It'll take 20 minutes to take down 5 enemies. »
— @andreasra178 · ♥ 21 · translated · see original ↗
Where the debate standsThe concern stays marginal for Phantom Blade Zero, where a single flagged comment sums up an issue seen as minor. It's noticeably more prominent for Stranger than Heaven, where developer clarification hasn't fully silenced criticism over the perceived sluggishness of combat.

Frequently asked questions

Are Phantom Blade Zero's enemies too tanky?
A minority of comments (around 4% of the discussion) flag overly tanky basic enemies in an April 2026 preview, but the issue is seen as minor and easily fixable before release.
Why are Stranger than Heaven's enemies called 'damage sponges'?
Because in June 2026 clips, enemies take ten hits or more without falling; director Yokoyama confirmed they were deliberately made stronger for the demo and will be rebalanced.
Does this damage-sponge issue affect other games besides these two?
In this corpus, the debate is documented only for Phantom Blade Zero and Stranger than Heaven, weighing roughly 4% and 8% of their respective discussions.
Have the developers responded to this criticism?
Yes for Stranger than Heaven: Yokoyama announced a rebalance before release. For Phantom Blade Zero, no official response appears in the comments, only players' trust in the team.
Analysis built from 360 public YouTube comments on the tracked videos — updated on 13/07/2026. Our methodology