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Katana ZERO

Katana ZERO is pixelated samurai bliss, delivering one of the most impressively polished narrative and gameplay experiences of the year.
Katana ZERO Game Cover
91%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
98% User Score Based on 25,547 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 28 reviews

Platforms

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Katana ZERO Game Cover

About

Katana ZERO is a single player arcade platformer game. It was developed by Askiisoft and was released on April 18, 2019. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Katana ZERO is a stylish, fast-paced action platformer with stealth elements. As a samurai with time-manipulation abilities, players must master swordplay and strategize to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. With a striking pixel art aesthetic and a gripping, cinematic narrative, Katana ZERO delivers a unique and captivating experience.

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Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
Katana ZERO screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 25,547 reviews
story5.9k positive mentions
grinding67 negative mentions
  • The exceptional synthwave soundtrack enhances the fast-paced action and narrative, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players.
  • The gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, with smooth controls and innovative mechanics that encourage experimentation and mastery.
  • The pixel art visuals and atmospheric design effectively capture a vibrant neo-noir aesthetic, complementing the game's compelling story and emotional depth.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with some players feeling that levels drag on due to a simplistic loop.
  • The story ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, leaving several plot threads unresolved and disappointing some players.
  • While the game runs smoothly for many, others have reported significant bugs and freezing issues that detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    10,670 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Katana Zero" has received widespread acclaim for its depth and complexity, often surprising players with its emotional weight and intricate narrative twists. While many reviewers praised the engaging storytelling and unique dialogue mechanics, some noted that the game ends abruptly on a cliffhanger, leaving several plot threads unresolved and creating anticipation for future DLC. Overall, the combination of a compelling story, stylish visuals, and satisfying gameplay has made it a standout title in the indie game scene.

    • “Gameplay as good as expected, but it really surprised me how good the story was.”
    • “I purchased it because it looked like a moderately fun roguelite that was relatively cheap. I finished it in one night and felt captivated by one of the best stories I have ever seen in a game.”
    • “The way this game does story is without a doubt the single best implementation of conveying story in a 2D game I have experienced.”
    • “The story is bad.”
    • “The story abruptly ends in a weird cliffhanger.”
    • “The story feels even better with the dialogue mechanics, where you can cut off most characters when they talk, even if most of the different texts don't affect the story.”
  • gameplay
    6,586 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Katana Zero" is widely praised for its fast-paced, one-hit-kill mechanics that create a thrilling and challenging experience, reminiscent of "Hotline Miami." Players appreciate the smooth controls, innovative time-slowing mechanics, and the satisfying feedback from combat, which encourages experimentation and mastery. While the game is relatively short, its engaging story and stylish presentation, combined with a compelling soundtrack, enhance the overall experience, making it a must-play for fans of action platformers.

    • “The gameplay is incredible.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very snappy and fast, and it's got me genuinely super addicted.”
    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and phenomenal.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive and boring.”
    • “Only real complaint I have is that I feel like the levels dragged just a tad bit due to their repetitive, simplistic gameplay loop.”
    • “While the gameplay is fluid and precise, the story adds an unexpected layer of psychological intrigue.”
  • music
    5,094 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Katana Zero" has been widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting its synthwave and electronic influences that perfectly complement the game's fast-paced action and narrative. Players appreciate how the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, with tracks tailored to each level, creating an immersive experience that keeps them engaged throughout. Overall, the game's music is considered a standout feature, often compared favorably to other titles like "Hotline Miami," and is frequently described as a major reason for the game's appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is one of the best I've experienced.”
    • “The pixel-art visuals ooze atmosphere, but it’s the phenomenal synthwave soundtrack that elevates the experience, syncing beautifully with the action and giving each encounter a pulse-pounding rhythm.”
    • “The music really encompasses both the gameplay and the story.”
    • “The soundtrack is an absolute banger of synth-wave perfection.”
    • “The music amplifies every moment of intensity, turning a regular action sequence into an all-out cinematic experience.”
  • graphics
    2,473 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Katana Zero* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which effectively captures a vibrant neo-noir aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's detailed animations and atmospheric visuals, which complement its engaging narrative and fast-paced gameplay. The combination of a captivating soundtrack and visually striking graphics creates an immersive experience that resonates with players, making it a standout title in the indie gaming scene.

    • “Beautiful pixel art, like legitimately one of the best uses of the pixel aesthetic in any video game I've played.”
    • “The pixel art graphics are gorgeous, and the animation is top notch too.”
    • “The graphics are stunning pixel art and are extremely detailed, especially during cut scenes.”
    • “The graphics ooze charm, the music is so fitting and helps you to get in the groove, the dialogue is so good.”
    • “The pixel graphics are not a throwback to your SNES days.”
    • “The visuals felt really well dialed in, and the use of color to highlight important characters was an especially nice touch.”
  • replayability
    632 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its short length (around 4-6 hours) but highlighting various features that enhance replay value, such as multiple endings, a speedrun mode, and hard mode. While some players find the replayability high due to the engaging gameplay and dialogue choices, others feel it lacks depth beyond speedrunning and achievement hunting. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, especially for those who enjoy mastering levels and exploring different narrative paths.

    • “The game isn't very long but has replayability as figuring out different ways to accomplish different sections is gratifying.”
    • “The game has a lot of replay value as there are multiple endings depending on your choices throughout your playthrough.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and captivating, the story is well-written, and the music is amazing; Katana Zero also has high replayability, with a speedrun mode if you want to just play the levels without the story segments.”
    • “The story is pretty short but also doesn’t end, making all the bridging dialogue and nonsense trite all for nothing and whilst there is some replay value, it doesn’t add much.”
    • “The gameplay is really fun, fluid and flashy, but again this game is so short and there's next to no replay value aside from scrubbing through the game to get all the 'do this specific thing' achievements and the gag speedrun challenges.”
    • “Great gameplay but way too short (finished it in 3 hours) and not really any replayability for the asking price.”
  • atmosphere
    364 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Katana Zero" is widely praised for its captivating blend of pixel art visuals and a phenomenal synthwave soundtrack, creating a unique neo-noir and cyberpunk ambiance that enhances both gameplay and storytelling. Reviewers highlight how the music complements the action and narrative, immersing players in a gritty yet beautiful world filled with emotional depth and engaging character interactions. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature, making it an unforgettable experience that resonates with players long after they finish.

    • “The pixel-art visuals ooze atmosphere, but it’s the phenomenal synthwave soundtrack that elevates the experience, syncing beautifully with the action and giving each encounter a pulse-pounding rhythm.”
    • “With its pixel art aesthetic and synth-heavy soundtrack, the game manages to craft an atmosphere that’s both retro and deeply contemporary.”
    • “The atmosphere, paired with the killer soundtrack and beautiful pixel graphics, creates a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The atmosphere this game emits is that of a melancholic dystopian city environment that has been oppressed into a depression and complete anarchy.”
    • “Incredibly stylish, but with an utterly oppressive atmosphere that had my gut churning as I went through it, constantly thinking about how many bad decisions I'd made.”
    • “The art style and overall atmosphere/level design are left to be desired.”
  • emotional
    268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game has been widely praised, with many players expressing that it elicited strong feelings ranging from nostalgia to heartbreak. The narrative is described as deeply engaging and impactful, often leading to tears and a profound connection with the characters, particularly through its touching moments and well-crafted dialogue. Players appreciate the combination of intense gameplay and a compelling story that explores complex themes, making it a memorable emotional experience despite its relatively short playtime.

    • “It's rare I leave a game with a feeling of euphoria, like the game was done just right, story ends right when it should, it progresses in difficulty perfectly, and somehow, hit me in the feels when I paused and was met with nostalgic touches that made me feel like I was playing Robocop with my big brother on OG Nintendo on a tube television.”
    • “This game took me less than 5 hours to beat yet it made me feel more emotions than most 50+ hour RPGs.”
    • “The story is exquisitely simple yet compelling; the gameplay is streamlined and satisfying; the visuals are sublime and classic with a modern touch; and the music is emotionally moving in every way.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no emotional impact throughout the game; it was all very flat and uninspiring.”
    • “The attempts at emotional moments fell flat, leaving me feeling indifferent rather than moved.”
  • humor
    257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with clever dialogue and unexpected moments that lighten the otherwise serious narrative. Players appreciate the witty writing, funny character interactions, and the ability to influence outcomes through humorous dialogue choices, making for a memorable experience. Overall, the game successfully balances its grim themes with moments of levity, resulting in a unique and engaging storytelling approach.

    • “I appreciated the bits of humor amidst all the dark stuff.”
    • “Would recommend if you want a game with both dark humor and depth.”
    • “The story itself is really dark but it manages to balance it out with some genuinely charming dialogue that is funny but also makes the game feel more human.”
    • “This game has some really unfunny 'funny' moments, which reminded me a lot of My Friend Pedro, which won my award for being the most unfunny game of 2019.”
  • grinding
    110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding certain elements tedious, particularly in relation to difficulty spikes and repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the quick retries after failure, allowing for continuous attempts, others feel that the need to repeat sections excessively can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game balances moments of fun with instances of grindiness, making the experience variable depending on player skill and patience.

    • “Interacting with others was not tedious and was actually fun seeing the unique interactions you can have with others, which can impact the story.”
    • “It's tough but not tedious.”
    • “Beautiful art, the gameplay is very smooth, levels are hard, but not tedious.”
    • “The gameplay can become tedious at times, but for it being a you-die-once-you-gotta-do-it-all-over-again game, you're asking for the rage as soon as you buy it.”
    • “I would have preferred if difficulty increased in some other way, since it often got tedious to redo the first 2/3 of a level 20+ times.”
    • “The story seems reasonably interesting, and the presentation is pretty stylish, but to me the actual gameplay mostly just comes off as tedious.”
  • character development
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the strong writing and immersive storytelling that enhance player connection to the characters. While some characters are noted for their memorable designs and unique personalities, others lack substantial backstory or growth, leading to mixed feelings about the overall development. The game's visual style and world-building contribute significantly to the character experience, making it a compelling aspect despite some limitations in depth.

    • “During these cooldown moments, there's a lot of good world-building, character development, and incredible writing.”
    • “The narrative is rich with unexpected twists and deep character development, making every moment intriguing.”
    • “I absolutely loved this game, the unique character development and the difficulty of the gameplay always had me hooked and felt some connection with the characters.”
    • “Each character has little character development, but the style and speed of the game only required that they be memorable, which they all are.”
    • “I wish it was longer and more developed to the point of being a serious RPG with hours of content, story, and character development.”
    • “I understand the protagonist lives in squalor and barely has anything to his name, but even hearing him muse upon items around his abode or talking to himself would have assisted in the character development.”
  • optimization
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting flawless performance and no bugs or glitches across various systems, including low-end hardware. The controls, while initially poorly designed, can be customized for better responsiveness, enhancing the gameplay experience. The combination of smooth performance and the potential for speedrunning adds significant replay value, making it a well-optimized title for fans of the genre.

    • “The optimization of this game was so enjoyable even when playing through my first time and retrying rooms to get them perfect.”
    • “It feels great to play, and the game is just made for speedrunning: you'll see yourself try again and again for the fastest possible routes and optimizations.”
    • “By the end of each level, you've killed the same enemies in the same configurations so many times that you have optimized every movement to be fast and precise.”
    • “The controls are terribly designed by default, leaving you to either suffer once you try to do multiple inputs at once, or customize things to allow proper performance.”
    • “While the game is not that long overall, this speedrunning aspect and all possible optimizations can really expand the replay value.”
  • stability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, player experiences with stability in the game are mixed. While many users report smooth performance, seamless transitions, and a lack of bugs or glitches, others have encountered significant issues such as freezing during scene transitions and persistent bugs affecting gameplay. The game's performance appears to vary across different platforms, with some players enjoying a flawless experience while others face frustrating technical problems.

    • “It runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “The game is almost completely bug-free as far as I can tell, and keeps you interested with the story.”
    • “Runs smooth, no glitches.”
    • “Incredible game with a never coming DLC, real cool combat with a cool decision-making mechanic. I spent at least 5 hours to do the last achievement because of your buggy game. In the end, I cheated because it still didn't give it to me after 5 platinum trophies and 6 golds in a 20.68-minute run, smh.”
    • “Freezes when loading new scenes and stages, which I find inexplicable for a 2D game on a modern laptop with a good graphics card.”
    • “Buggy as hell.”
  • monetization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, as it avoids exploitative practices common in many modern titles, such as excessive in-game purchases and DLCs. Players appreciate the upfront pricing and the game's integrity, contrasting it with other games that feel like cash grabs. However, there are concerns about transparency regarding the game's narrative intent and the presence of ads that may mislead potential players.

    • “It's short, sure, but it's not like other games that try to drain your wallet with useless in-game purchases and DLCs, costing $60 for just finishing it and leaving you with a raw, dry feeling.”
    • “Add to that the interstitial tickling of further 'episodes' and you have a transparent cash grab without the required substance to back it up.”
    • “It's short, sure, but is not like other games that try to drain your wallet with useless in-game purchases and DLCs, costing $60 just to finish it and leaving you with a raw, dry feeling.”
    • “With so many games coming out nowadays that are quick cash grabs, it's rare to find games that actually have a soul like this one.”
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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 28 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
8h Average play time
5h Main story
11h Completionist
4-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 111 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Katana ZERO is a arcade platformer game.

Katana ZERO is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 5 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 11 hours to finish. On average players spend around 8 hours playing Katana ZERO.

Katana ZERO was released on April 18, 2019.

Katana ZERO was developed by Askiisoft.

Katana ZERO has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Katana ZERO is a single player game.

Similar games include SANABI, Ghostrunner, RUINER, Hotline Miami, Sheepy: A Short Adventure and others.