Sadly, only one year after revealing the reboot, Microsoft publicly announced it was ending its working relationship with Darkside Game Studios, the team contracted to develop the project, in June 2015. With renewed faith and high expectations for the cult hit's big comeback, the community eagerly awaited details on Xbox's plans for reinventing Phantom Dust. Considering the unimpressive sales of the previous entry, it was refreshing to see Microsoft reinvest in Phantom Dust. Key figures from Xbox like Phil Spencer and Ken Lobb adamantly believed in the property's potential, declaring the original delivered gameplay elements far ahead of its time. Legacy players were thrilled to see this forgotten IP offered a second chance to shine and hopeful of the possibilities associated with introducing this enchanting experiment to an entirely new audience. Unfortunately, the tragic tale of Phantom Dust doesn't end there.Īt E3 2014, a decade after the release of the original entry, Xbox announced the Phantom Dust reboot with a flashy CG trailer. Director Yukio Futatsugi and the team at Xbox were passionate about the project, but a tumultuous storm of mixed marketing and unfortunate timing seemingly doomed the deck-building action title to fail. Staunch advocates of this imaginative arena game struggled to comprehend its inability to capture an audience. This timid sales performance was especially demoralizing, considering reviewers applauded the game's emphasis on deep, action-focused tactics, and from a critical standpoint, Phantom Dust was well received.Īs Microsoft and its community shifted their energy towards the impending release of the Xbox 360, hopes for growth in Phantom Dust's player count rapidly dwindled. Following this disappointing launch, a publishing arrangement with Majesco Entertainment in North America eventually elevated those numbers above 50,000 units. In fact, this Xbox-published title only sold a meager 6,000 copies in its first month in Japan.
While Phantom Dust resolutely garnered admiration for its ambitious game design and forward-thinking online capabilities, its original release in 2004 was far from a commercial success. While new players have an undeniable learning curve, your commitments are rewarded through expertly nuanced gameplay. Experimentation and gameplay freedom are beautifully celebrated in Phantom Dust. Thousands of arsenal combinations ensure no two encounters are the same. Still, the primary selling point of Phantom Dust lies in its ability to champion the player. We could spend dozens of hours dissecting the differences between Crawl Type and Parabola Type skills and which defensive counters are best suited for varying arsenal approaches. The fundamental dichotomy of arsenal strategies in Phantom Dust supplies a competitive multiplayer title, unlike anything you've played before. Unfortunately, if a fellow player has leveraged a kit built around long-range energy attacks like Psycho Sniper, you'll have a grueling time attempting to close the distance. Aggressive, melee-centric arsenals with skills such as High-speed Punch enable crucial early-game pressure against rivals. The amount of flexibility allowed with arsenal tuning introduces unpredictable dynamics with every match of Phantom Dust. Much like a riveting game of chess, every decision has consequences.Įxperimentation and gameplay freedom are beautifully celebrated in Phantom Dust. Understanding which skills counter or defend against your adversaries' attacks is critical to your survival. Four players square off in cleverly designed arenas hoping to be the final combatant standing. However, a significant component of Phantom Dust's longevity lies in exhilarating player-versus-player showdowns. In the single-player offering, this means battling surreal robotic enemies and towering monstrosities. The core loop of Phantom Dust revolves around crafting thoughtful arsenals designed to outwit or overpower your opponents.
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