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Katana Zero has Style and Substance
Katana Zero is a thrilling 2D action platformer with snappy writing, visceral gameplay, and great music. It’s the latest game added to the Xbox Game Pass Spotlight series because it is exactly the kind of game that would normally fly under the radar and be missed my most.
One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass is how it allows me to easily try games I would have overlooked otherwise; Katana Zero would have been a game I missed and I am thankful I have been given the opportunity to experience it.
What makes Katana Zero so compelling? It’s not just one thing I can label. The interesting combination of story, gameplay, and music with its 2D, old school, art style really come together to create a riveting product.
The gameplay is generally fast-paced and requires some timing and skill but there is a time mechanic to the game that allows you to drastically slow down time for brief spurts. In these moments you can pull off devastating feats that would also be entirely possible in real-time but much harder to do.
The beauty of this particular mechanic in Katana Zero is that everything that you can pull off while using the slow-motion power, “Chronos” is possible without it if you are a sufficiently skilled player.
For me, this set up a game within the game, I continually tried to ween myself off of using Chronos and opted to rely more on my natural skill when possible.
The sense of accomplishment is just a little bit higher when you know all of the expertly timed feats your character used to defeat their foes were all due to your skill on the sticks.
Katana Zero has a trippy Neo-Noir Presentation
The gameplay stands out but it is only a fraction of what makes Katana Zero so good. Askiisoft has built up a compelling narrative in this game and they expertly show that you don’t need a ton of CGI or voice acting to present a story that can emotionally grip players.
A Neo-Noir aesthetic and feel permeate every aspect of the game. The protagonist, The Dragon has a muddy memory of his past, all he knows is that he really knows is that he a war veteran and now a world-class hitman who takes assignments.
As you play each stage, the plot slowly begins to unravel like an onion and more truth surrounding The Dragon and his history comes to light. There are twists and turns, a little bit of player agency with conversation choices, and quite memorable moments sprinkled in throughout.
The sound is Katana Zero is wonderful as well. The clashing twangs when your samurai sword makes contact with an enemy’s blade is always satisfying. At the start of every stage, The Dragon hits play on his cassette player to add some background music to his violent exploits.
Katana Zero brings a lot of character and fun to Xbox Game Pass
This game is bloody and over the top. At first blush, this games hardcore nature could be seen as flash over substance, simply a cool looking game trying to be edgy to win over casual consumers, that assumption would be a mistake, Katana Zero is densely packed with minimal but great storytelling and challenging puzzle-like gameplay.
Katana Zero perfectly fits the profile of a game published by Devolver Digital and at this point, if you like these kinds of stylish action-packed indie games, you should just be keeping an eye on what Devolver publishes next because they clearly have an eye for this type of product.
All the characters in this game are interesting. There are threads that tie them together in some shape or form and as you progress through the game you will start to piece those connecting threads together.
The story isn’t groundbreaking but it’s entertaining enough to push the player forward even if you are growing tired of attempting a certain level. This is a game where you may die multiple times during a particular section of a stage until you can figure out the right combination of moves to clear it.
That’s not to say that Katana Zero is very difficult, it isn’t the game is merely challenging, keeping you on your toes and thinking through your moves. At a fairly rapid pace, you start to figure out how this game wants to be played and you start cruising through enemies until a new interesting wrinkle presents itself and forces you to moderately adjust your tactics.
Clocking in at roughly 5 hours, Katana Zero is a game you blast through ina couple of days. It’s a great Gam Pass Spotlight title because it’s short and sweet, a title you won’t soon forget, and a game that doesn’t require a huge commitment.
Are you a fan of Katana Zero? Are there any Xbox Game Pass games you are digging right now? Share your thoughts with a comment below!
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