

While brute forcing their way through fights is rarely viable, it always remains an option if your skills are up to the task.Īs you are a samurai, a katana is the primary means of dispatching enemies, but you also momentarily have the handy ability to slow down time. Fortunately, the player is given the freedom to pursue creative solutions to combat, as they are never pigeonholed in a single solution. Combat is challenging due to its ever-evolving nature which forces the player to be dynamic in their problem-solving. While death is frequent, most encounters (boss battles aside) should only require a handful of lives before being able to surpass them.

In a game where death comes in a split second, this tool is imperative to mastering the fundamentals of combat. This feature allows for analysis of mistakes or an opportunity to study environments to discover alternate routes or strategies to employ. Death triggers the rewind feature which, upon dying, shows the player a replay of their last life. Careful planning is required before proceeding, which places even greater emphasis on a required gameplay mechanic: death. Combat is instant death, which adds considerable weight upon every action taken. Each room is filled with patrolling enemies that must be eliminated before being allowed to proceed. Levels, such as prisons and underground science facilities, are broken down into various rooms. Katana ZERO’s gameplay concept is fairly straightforward, however the level of mechanical polish and style makes it remarkable. Tasked with eliminating targets residing within the confines of the dilapidated metropolis by a mysterious employer, the player searches for targets as well as answers to their equally mysterious past. Katana ZERO’s dedication to presenting highly stylized and polished gameplay topped with a thought-provoking psychological storyline is what makes it a standout title of 2019.ĭeveloped by Askiisoft, Katana ZERO is a neo-noir action adventure title for the Nintendo Switch and PC that puts you in the robes of a mysterious samurai hitman. Most are lackluster attempts to recreate the magic of 2012’s Hotline Miami, failing to build upon the groundwork laid by one of the most successful aesthetically similar titles. Its pulsating neon aesthetic, synth-heavy soundtrack, and hyper-violent gameplay are all familiar trappings of countless flashy titles populating the indie games space. From the outset, Katana ZERO wears its inspirations on its sleeve.
