Phantom Blade Zero Hands-On & Hellraiser Is BRUTAL | Between Levels Podcast Ep. 15
Between Levels Podcast
3,552 views
Phantom Blade Zero is getting closer and after spending six hours with the latest build, Sarthe thinks it could be something very special.
In Episode 15 of Between Levels, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive deep into Phantom Blade Zero. Sarthe has now played the game five different times and breaks down its incredibly fluid combat, huge weapon variety, free respec system, level design, difficulty options, soundtrack and why S-GAME is so adamant that this is NOT a Soulslike.
Cowboy hasn't played it yet, but Phantom Blade Zero has become one of his most anticipated games and everything Sarthe says only makes that anticipation worse.
Wheelie also gives his impressions of Hellraiser, a survival horror game that combines elements reminiscent of Resident Evil and Silent Hill with an uncompromising approach to the body horror that defines the Hellraiser franchise. It definitely isn't for everyone.
We also return to Gears of War: E-Day as Cowboy and Sarthe approach the end of the campaign, discuss the game's more open structure, co-op, horror influences and why it may be one of the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 games yet.
Plus, we discuss the best video game music of 2026, 007 First Light, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Forever Ago, Control Resonant and the increasingly impossible task of choosing a Game of the Year.
Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 15
00:25 – Dragon's Dogma, Review Backlash & Media Literacy
05:25 – Why People Twist Reviewers' Opinions
07:27 – Gears of War: E-Day Impressions
08:33 – Does E-Day's Open Structure Hurt the Pacing?
11:49 – Will E-Day Explain Why Marcus Was Imprisoned?
15:01 – Why E-Day Feels Like Classic Gears Again
17:31 – Gears of War: E-Day Is a Blast in Co-Op
18:34 – Is E-Day the Best-Looking UE5 Game Yet?
19:00 – Hellraiser Impressions
20:20 – HELLRAISER SPOILERS BEGIN
21:45 – The Labyrinth & Genesis Configuration
24:31 – Resident Evil Meets Silent Hill
26:14 – Hellraiser's Biggest Problem
28:27 – Who Should Play Hellraiser?
31:07 – Phantom Blade Zero Hands-On
33:04 – Why Cowboy Is Already All-In
34:30 – Phantom Blade Zero Is NOT a Soulslike
36:07 – Level Design, Exploration & Story
38:17 – Combat, Parrying & Motion Capture
40:22 – Difficulty Options & Player Choice
41:16 – Could Phantom Blade Zero Have the Best Soundtrack?
43:42 – Phantom Blade Zero's Weapon Variety
45:39 – Sarthe's Biggest Concern
47:15 – How Phantom Blade Zero's Map Works
47:40 – The 66 Lives New Game+ Mode
49:48 – What Has the Best Video Game Music of 2026?
52:58 – Star Wars: Galactic Racer's Soundtrack
53:26 – Forever Ago Deserves More Attention
54:53 – 007 First Light's Incredible Sound Design
57:19 – How Do We Pick GOTY in a Year This Stacked?
58:39 – Should Licensed Music Win Best Soundtrack?
1:00:37 – There Is NO Break From New Games
1:02:39 – Community Comments
1:04:07 – Wheelie's Mystery 2027 Game
1:05:16 – Outro
#PhantomBladeZero #Hellraiser #BetweenLevels
20 Comments
Im super excited for phantom blade zero cant wait to play that
Honestly im not fan off not redoing all the phases of the boss fight when you lose to the boss but as you said mods will be made so not a problem
rev says desu even going as far as to use steam charts as proof that the game is a failure. even though e-day's peak of 31k is 3 times higher than gears 5. nevermind the fact that steam accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the playerbase, as games that launch day 1 on gamepass often see much higher players through gamepass cus its ultimately cheaper to buy a month of gamepass to play the game, than buy it on steam.
my question to you guys regarding this. what do you personally think is these peoples end goals? cus i see their goals as misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic. they claim thats not true. theyre always saying "well, i dont hate women, but...." or "i got no problem with gay people but why is the main character....." yknow? so i really struggle to understand how anyone could possibly believe that their rhetoric isnt misogynistic, transphobic or homophobic.
for me, its gatekeeping in an extremely vile way. they try to get studio's shut down if they dare to provide representation for certain groups in their game. (Which ofc concord started. and thats why they call anything they hate, the new concord. apparently e-day is a bigger flop than concord. saw someone say that and it made me laugh cus its very clearly not true.)i honestly think these people picked the unlimited games, but no games option.
Glad to watch another episode of The Between Levels Podcast
Ya at first I assumed cowboy hated Dark Arisen 2 and left a comment but when I talked to him I stream he explained it well I think even better than the reviews and I not only understand what he says but I certainly agree with with it, although I tolerate it with Nioh games since you can reroll I hate RNG loot drops and spawn, it feels kinda like it invalidates the effort it took to get said gear only for it to have a random chance if being bad.
9:11 see that's why I say Sarth is my favourite member, wheh I'm enjoying a game especially if I'm enjoying a game then more nooks crannies and hidden areas there are the more I must investigate, you never know when you'll find a legendary sword, skill, or helpful game changing stuff.
I'm just grinning like child in a candy store on Sarthe's explanations of Phantom Blade Zero, it truly does look and sounds like what I want from a video game, and last year I called GOTY with E33 I'm calling it Again with PBZ, it's gonna be my GTA6.
My guess is wheelie is playing The Lord's Of The Fallen 2 😂
Its not that difficult. So you're seeing the pushback, and it's hurting the brands more than anything.
Just like Cowboy understands that the repetition is part of being a streamer/content creator, don't be surprised when the actual gamers out there trying to escape the bullshit around them, just want to play their games and not be pulled into the political bullshit that's being forced down their throats at every stage of their lives. Its tiresome and I'm glad it's not working in gaming and cinema as much as the creators want. Go make something else.
(spoilers for Cowboy/Sarthe)
There is an explanation of why Marcus is in prison,
but it’s in a book instead of this game.
They can potentially make two more games that take place before Gears 1.
however, I actually liked the bits of lore and how the characters would have a written response to them.
or is it rude for people to come into a stream to talk trash about something completely irrelevant or even to ask a bunch of questions irrelevant to the game??
I notice that happens a lot to Cowboy AND to other streamers..
I think it’s rude, especially when you’re playing Gears and focusing on both the story and gameplay.
Cowboy and Sarthe are just trying to have a good time and people come swinging out of left field.
Phantom Blade Zero Hands-On & Hellraiser Is BRUTAL | Between Levels Podcast Ep. 15
Between Levels Podcast
3,552 views
Phantom Blade Zero is getting closer and after spending six hours with the latest build, Sarthe thinks it could be something very special.
In Episode 15 of Between Levels, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive deep into Phantom Blade Zero. Sarthe has now played the game five different times and breaks down its incredibly fluid combat, huge weapon variety, free respec system, level design, difficulty options, soundtrack and why S-GAME is so adamant that this is NOT a Soulslike.
Cowboy hasn't played it yet, but Phantom Blade Zero has become one of his most anticipated games and everything Sarthe says only makes that anticipation worse.
Wheelie also gives his impressions of Hellraiser, a survival horror game that combines elements reminiscent of Resident Evil and Silent Hill with an uncompromising approach to the body horror that defines the Hellraiser franchise. It definitely isn't for everyone.
We also return to Gears of War: E-Day as Cowboy and Sarthe approach the end of the campaign, discuss the game's more open structure, co-op, horror influences and why it may be one of the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 games yet.
Plus, we discuss the best video game music of 2026, 007 First Light, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Forever Ago, Control Resonant and the increasingly impossible task of choosing a Game of the Year.
Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 15
00:25 – Dragon's Dogma, Review Backlash & Media Literacy
05:25 – Why People Twist Reviewers' Opinions
07:27 – Gears of War: E-Day Impressions
08:33 – Does E-Day's Open Structure Hurt the Pacing?
11:49 – Will E-Day Explain Why Marcus Was Imprisoned?
15:01 – Why E-Day Feels Like Classic Gears Again
17:31 – Gears of War: E-Day Is a Blast in Co-Op
18:34 – Is E-Day the Best-Looking UE5 Game Yet?
19:00 – Hellraiser Impressions
20:20 – HELLRAISER SPOILERS BEGIN
21:45 – The Labyrinth & Genesis Configuration
24:31 – Resident Evil Meets Silent Hill
26:14 – Hellraiser's Biggest Problem
28:27 – Who Should Play Hellraiser?
31:07 – Phantom Blade Zero Hands-On
33:04 – Why Cowboy Is Already All-In
34:30 – Phantom Blade Zero Is NOT a Soulslike
36:07 – Level Design, Exploration & Story
38:17 – Combat, Parrying & Motion Capture
40:22 – Difficulty Options & Player Choice
41:16 – Could Phantom Blade Zero Have the Best Soundtrack?
43:42 – Phantom Blade Zero's Weapon Variety
45:39 – Sarthe's Biggest Concern
47:15 – How Phantom Blade Zero's Map Works
47:40 – The 66 Lives New Game+ Mode
49:48 – What Has the Best Video Game Music of 2026?
52:58 – Star Wars: Galactic Racer's Soundtrack
53:26 – Forever Ago Deserves More Attention
54:53 – 007 First Light's Incredible Sound Design
57:19 – How Do We Pick GOTY in a Year This Stacked?
58:39 – Should Licensed Music Win Best Soundtrack?
1:00:37 – There Is NO Break From New Games
1:02:39 – Community Comments
1:04:07 – Wheelie's Mystery 2027 Game
1:05:16 – Outro
#PhantomBladeZero #Hellraiser #BetweenLevels