Katana Zero
Katana Zero (sometimes stylized as Katana ZERO) is a 2D action platform video game developed by Askiisoft and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch in 2019.
Gameplay
Katana Zero includes no health bar and being hit will result in instant death, similar to Hotline Miami. The player character navigates sidescrolling levels, attempting to kill all enemies in that level using his sword or environmental traps. The player character can deflect bullets with his slash, slow time with a meter that slowly refills, and dodge attacks using rolls and wall-jumps. The game also features a real-time conversation system that the player can interrupt.
Other modes
After completing the main game, the player can replay the game through Speedrun Mode, which includes a Hard Mode with difficult enemy placements and new enemy variants.
Plot
Katana Zero takes place in the dystopic, neo-noir city of New Mecca. In this city, a mass-murdering, katana-wielding, bathrobe-clad assassin named Subject Zero takes kill contracts from his psychiatrist. Zero possesses the ability to manipulate time; he is able to use his precognition to predict the outcomes of events, rewind time whenever his plans would lead him to certain death, and slow his perception of time.
After completing contracts, Zero retires to his apartment in the dilapidated and dangerous Third District. At night, Zero is plagued by nightmares of his past, which he discusses with his psychiatrist. Zero is always administered medicine after these sessions to help his recovery.
As Zero progresses in both his recovery and contracts, he begins to gain notoriety as "The Dragon", and becomes noticed by the public. He begins to unravel his past, the source of his powers, and unknowingly gaining a dangerous enemy in the process.
Levels
Katana Zero is split into multiple levels, called Tapes, that Zero can "play back" his experiences. Replaying a level is only possible through the main menu.
Soundtrack
- Main article: Soundtrack
Katana Zero comes with an extensive soundtrack composed by various artists.
Reception
Katana ZERO received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic getting a metascore of 83/100 on both PC[1] and Nintendo Switch.[2]
Videos
- Katana ZERO - Launch Trailer
References
- ↑ Metascore for Katana ZERO on PCMetacritic, Retrieved February 26, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Katana ZERO on Nintendo SwitchMetacritic, Retrieved February 26, 2020
- Pages with broken file links
- Katana Zero