KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story

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KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by ACQUIRE Corp. and was released on February 19, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story" is an action-adventure game set in a fantastical feudal Japan. As a ronin, players must navigate a complex political landscape, building relationships with various factions while completing missions and engaging in thrilling swordfights. With a day-night cycle and multiple endings, each playthrough offers a unique experience.

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 133 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Engaging combat system with a variety of weapons and stances that keeps gameplay interesting.
The game successfully blends action RPG mechanics with dungeon crawling, providing a fun and addictive gameplay loop.
Humorous elements and familiar characters from the Way of the Samurai series add charm and nostalgia.

Repetitive dungeon design and limited variety in enemy encounters can lead to a monotonous experience over time.
Lack of a traditional story and town exploration diminishes the depth and narrative engagement compared to previous titles in the series.
Technical issues such as input delays and bugs can detract from the overall gameplay experience.

story
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
69%
18%
The story in "Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story" is generally considered minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting its simplicity and repetitiveness. While it features a light-hearted, goofy narrative with quirky characters, it falls short of the rich storytelling found in previous entries of the "Way of the Samurai" series, leaving players wanting more substantial plot development and faction interactions. Overall, the game offers a basic storyline that serves as a backdrop to its rogue-lite gameplay, but it may not satisfy fans seeking a more immersive narrative experience.
- “Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is one of those rare gems that takes a niche concept — in this case, blending rogue-lite dungeon crawling with high-stakes samurai swordplay — and executes it with near-flawless finesse.”
- “The storyline is funny, and watching the residents of the pass randomly fight each other is amusing to me (I saw two people bump into each other leading to a brawl that killed 4 people).”
- “Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story attempts to bring back a beloved PS2 franchise with a new twist.”
- “The story doesn't seem to be explained all that well, either.”
- “The game winds up feeling very repetitive with the lack of the branching storyline you get in other entries.”
- “The story itself isn't much to write about.”
gameplay
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by engaging combat mechanics and a variety of weapons and stances, creating a satisfying action RPG experience. While it features a roguelike core and a compact gameplay loop reminiscent of Diablo, some players find the mechanics can feel repetitive and the fixed camera clunky. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit sometimes frustrating, experience with a slow burn that gradually introduces more features and depth.
- “Overall, the game delivers a compact and mechanically clear action RPG loop.”
- “Through its addicting gameplay loop, refined combos, and great range of weapons, you find yourself losing hour upon hour.”
- “It's very focused on a few specific mechanics and fairly straightforward in that regard.”
- “The main gameplay loop is completely messed up for someone who is an ARPG, Elder Scrolls, or Fallout enjoyer.”
- “The fighting feels clunky because of the fixed camera and stereoscopic gameplay, yet the combos still have the left + X style.”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated, the game is still pretty buggy, it can be utterly frustrating, it's quite repetitive, the mechanics are barely explained, and the 'cutscenes' are so barebones I would have preferred they didn't include them at all and just made it regular game dialogue.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics are generally considered modest and reminiscent of earlier titles, with some low-resolution details and a PS2-like aesthetic, though enhanced by vibrant colors and dynamic lighting. While they are not groundbreaking, they are deemed serviceable for the genre, with some reviewers noting a slight improvement over previous entries. Overall, the visuals may lack detail and polish, but they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
- “Yes, some graphical details might come off a bit low-res or flat, but the strong use of color and dynamic lighting more than make up for it.”
- “The graphics are better than I thought, honestly.”
- “The games always had graphics like PS2, but this seems like a PS3.”
- “Due to the stereoscopic visuals and the massively oversaturated color usage, it's very hard to see any detail to the character or enemies... so it just looks like fighting one blob after another...”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated, the game is still pretty buggy, it can be utterly frustrating, it's quite repetitive, the mechanics are barely explained, and the 'cutscenes' are so barebones I would've preferred they didn't include them at all and just made it regular game dialogue.”
- “The graphics are very reminiscent of Way of the Samurai 3, which wasn't a visual powerhouse when it came out, though the view distance helps with the PS2-esque modeling quite a bit.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game is praised for effectively grounding the world, featuring a blend of Japanese music that resonates well with players, despite some finding it less memorable. The soundtrack is described as enjoyable and well-integrated with the gameplay, complemented by good voice acting and sound design. Overall, it contributes positively to the gaming experience, running smoothly alongside the visuals.
- “I love the pure Japanese music of this game.”
- “But the moment-to-moment gameplay is great, the voice acting (while in typical WOTS manner rather sparse) is good, as is the sound design as a whole, and honestly, this soundtrack really is a bop!”
- “Great soundtrack by the way.”
- “As I'm not a fan of rock music, which I call psychotic music.”
- “From the get-go, sound is labeled as 'music'; the game starts off in Japanese even though I bought it in the States.”
- “This doesn't mean it only has Japanese music.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while many enjoy the process of unlocking and strengthening swords, reminiscent of the main series, others feel that late-game dungeon runs become tedious due to unchallenging enemies and minimal rewards. The game offers a wealth of unlockables and encourages farming, but the grind can feel excessive and repetitive, especially when facing tanky monsters that don't yield significant loot. Overall, the grinding is seen as both a fun and frustrating element, depending on individual player preferences.
- “In addition, late game dungeon runs get to be fairly tedious.”
- “Monsters get tankier but they seldom drop anything worth the extra effort, so often you are running by them to get to the next floor to avoid having to fight two dozen tedious HP walls.”
- “The named boss will always drop the same sword of a modest range of stats; you have to build your own game-winning sword through farming and grind.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its entertaining and absurd moments, such as chaotic brawls among characters and the amusing interactions between rival factions. Players appreciate the Japanese comedic style woven into the storyline and gameplay, which enhances the overall experience. The humor is described as a standout feature that complements the hack-and-slash roguelike elements, making it both fun and engaging.
- “The storyline is funny, and watching the residents of the pass randomly fight each other is amusing to me (I saw two people bump into each other leading to a brawl that killed 4 people).”
- “(Hilariously, the factions will set up shops next to each other near the blacksmith, and even the shopkeepers can't keep out of the action) and you'll be standing on the side, counting your profits.”
- “It's a hack-and-slash roguelike spin-off that keeps a surprising amount of things from the mainline series, including wacky humor and rivaling factions.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game is highly optimized, featuring stable performance and short load times that enhance its run-based structure. It runs smoothly at 60fps, particularly on the Steam Deck, making it an excellent choice for handheld play. While controls are intuitive, using a controller is recommended for the best experience.
- “The focus stays on gear progression and routine optimization.”
- “Performance is stable, and load times stay short, which fits the run-based structure.”
- “It’s a testament to how well-optimized this title is, especially on the Steam Deck, where it plays beautifully.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a captivating blend of grimness and enchantment, highlighted by its mystical forested overworld and dynamic underground caverns.
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie visuals, creating an immersive experience that draws you into the game's world.”
- “Every corner of the environment is filled with intricate details that enhance the overall mood, making exploration feel both thrilling and unsettling.”
- “The stylistic choices — from the mystical forested overworld to the shifting underground caverns — evoke a grim but enchanting atmosphere.”
- “The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
- “Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to engage players.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers criticize Spike Chunsoft for poor advertising strategies, suggesting that they missed opportunities to promote the game effectively on platforms like Steam without incurring costs. This has led to a negative perception of the game's monetization approach.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The in-game purchases are not only expensive but also necessary to progress, which feels unfair to players who don't want to spend additional money.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits notable stability issues on PC, including audio glitches and AI inconsistencies, which can lead to frustration. While these bugs and outdated graphics impact the experience, they do not significantly detract from overall enjoyment.
- “Definitely a little buggy on PC; audio clicks and pops here and there, and the AI sometimes just completely ignores you. It's not enough to detract from the overall experience!”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated, the game is still pretty buggy, and it can be utterly frustrating. The mechanics are barely explained, and the 'cutscenes' are so barebones I would have preferred they didn't include them at all and just made it regular game dialogue.”

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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

7h Average play time

3-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story is a hack and slash game with fantasy and historical themes.

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story.

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story was released on February 19, 2020.

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story was developed by ACQUIRE Corp..

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include The Swords of Ditto, Dungeons of Edera, Moonlighter, Remnant: From the Ashes, Hammerwatch 2 and others.

KATANA KAMI: A Way of the Samurai Story

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