Phantom Blade Zero Composer Says Director Asked Him to “Just Inspire Me,” Creating Boss Music Before Enemy Designs Were Finalized

The upcoming action game Phantom Blade Zero is taking an unusual approach to its soundtrack by allowing music to influence the creation of its boss fights. Rather than waiting for enemies and their combat mechanics to be finalized, developer S-Game sometimes composed music first and used it as inspiration for the encounters.

Composer Caisheng Bo discussed this creative process in an interview with PCGamesN. According to Bo, creative director Qiwei Liang gave him considerable freedom to experiment, trusting that the music could help establish the identity and atmosphere of a boss before its visual design was complete.

This approach also reflects the studio’s early indie development background, when experimentation and collaboration played an important role in shaping the project.

Phantom Blade Zero Boss Fights Were Inspired by Music

Bo explained that music was treated as a central part of Phantom Blade Zero’s development rather than something added after the gameplay and visuals were established. For certain boss encounters, he composed tracks before the developers had completed the corresponding character designs.

Liang was willing to build encounters around the music when a composition captured the right mood. Bo recalled the director responding,

“Okay, this sounds good. Yeah, let me create a boss to match your music.”

The composer also described an early experiment involving the game’s line dance boss. In 2023, Liang asked him to create a piece despite having no artwork or completed concept to guide the composition.

When Bo asked whether the visual design was ready, Liang reportedly told him,

“No, nothing. Just give me something. Just inspire me.”

The resulting track was ultimately not used in the main game because the project was still in its early stages. Nevertheless, the experiment illustrates how S-Game allowed music and encounter design to influence each other during development.

Traditional Chinese Music Meets Metal and Electronic Sounds

The soundtrack’s musical direction is another important part of Bo’s approach. He wants to combine traditional Chinese instruments with contemporary genres, including rock, heavy metal, and electronic dance music, creating a sound that reflects both China’s cultural heritage and its modern musical influences.

Bo explained that many traditional musicians are accustomed to performing established compositions, so Phantom Blade Zero gave them an opportunity to explore unfamiliar arrangements. He said he wanted to blend different musical traditions and encourage musicians to experiment with new sounds.

This fusion supports the game’s distinctive martial arts setting, which combines traditional wuxia influences with fast-paced action and stylized combat. Rather than relying exclusively on conventional orchestral arrangements, S-Game is using contrasting musical styles to help give its encounters a recognizable identity.

Deluxe Edition Preserves Music That Did Not Make the Cut

Not every experimental composition found a place in the finished game. However, S-Game decided to preserve some unused tracks for players who purchase the Deluxe Edition, which includes a digital soundtrack.

Bo mentioned that one composition blended jazz with traditional Chinese instruments but proved difficult to fit into a particular gameplay sequence. Instead of abandoning it, the developers kept it as additional music for players to discover.

The Deluxe Edition also includes a digital artbook and exclusive in-game cosmetic content, according to the official PlayStation Store listing.

Phantom Blade Zero is scheduled to launch on PC and PlayStation 5 on October 29, 2026. Its unconventional approach to composing boss music offers a look into how S-Game is combining sound, visual design, and combat to shape its upcoming action RPG.