Katana Zero
Katana Zero, An Indie Game Developed by Askiisoft, Released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch in 2019
Katana Zero is a game that takes place in a dystopic, neo-noir metropolis of New Mecca. It is a combat game that requires the player to go through multiple levels by completing tasks of varying difficulty. The plot of the game revolves around the invasion of an Asiatic nation referred to as ‘Cromag War.’
In this game, the player is an assassin named ‘Subject Zero,’ who wields a katana while completing the various assassination contracts that are given to him by his psychiatrist. The psychiatrist also gives Zero a dose of an experimental drug called Chronos, which allows him to slow down time and also predict the future. In terms of the game, this feature implies that there is plenty of battles ahead, and also infinite lives for the assassin. The player does not fail missions as much as he repeats them in order to beat time and win a contract in his favor.
Katana Zero is a game that focuses on a cycle of defeat, revenge, and redemption. The player will be met with countless failures, but the glory of pushing past through the unpredictable scenarios and emerging victorious is where the real catch lies.
The gameplay of Katana Zero is unique, as it turns out to be something the player would not expect going in. The presentation of the game is very intriguing, as it focuses on the player’s ability to power through each stage, regardless of the strengths or weaknesses of the challenges around him. In the later levels of the game, the intensity of each challenge increases, which uniquely translates to having more enemies to kill with different approaches. While the game appears to be aggressive at first, it begins to feel more like a puzzle that requires strategic decisions to be made to move ahead.
The player can truly feel the rush of the game with the easy gliding motions of assassin Zero. The player can make the character roll through shields or even deflect bullets, all of which undoubtedly adds to the thrill of the game.
Video source: Youtube
Fascinating gameplay that revolves around the story
The story of Katana Zero plays a significant role in the way the hurdles that appear before the player are presented. The game is repetitive in the sense that it requires an exact combination of knowledge, instinct, and experimentation to cross over even small tasks. This lends the player a feeling of satisfaction upon completing a certain repetitive, yet seemingly easy task. The game’s story is centered around a character whose very nature compels him to complete the task laid out in front of him, with or without repercussions. His motivation is to ultimately get more Chronos, which will help him in his quest to finish the task and continue working for his supplier.
The player is faced with yet another choice during the course of the game – endless violent repetition or infinite oblivion. The game features several interactive moments, which can be manipulated to provide the player with a stronger sense of choice. While the choices made by the player are simply engaging parts to the story, the ultimate aim is to get on the quest and maximize the potential of the player. Nevertheless, the options provided during the course of the game gives the player a more personal connection with Zero as well as his relationship with immortality.
Video source: Youtube
A sense of sincerity to the theme of the game
Katana Zero is uncomplicated yet spiced up with subtleties that add a sense of realness to the game. Even though the narrative scenes are picturized in a 2D world, the animation techniques are unparalleled. The artwork is almost consciously low-fi and glitchy, which makes subtle details like the characters’ facial expressions as the real interactive factor in the game. The game is accompanied by a suave synth score, which perfectly adjusts to suit the more impactful action scenes and also the more brooding story-heavy dialogue scenes.
The main catch of Katana Zero is how it does not portray itself to be a world full of glory and endless power. It is almost downplaying its character’s abilities to allow the player to feel a sense of accomplishment in carrying out the unpredictable tasks. The dark tones and themes are prevalent throughout the game, where clubs are dim and blink with neon lights, and characters move with an unsettling fluidity. The game seeks to motivate the player to look past all the grimness and explore his capabilities, which may come with muscle memory, luck, or both together.
All in all, Katana Zero is a very intriguing game that reveals the story of a dark and relentless world, told with unmissable sincerity. Those looking out for a game that charms with unexpected details and rewards, Katana Zero is the perfect choice for you.
