The story itself can be a bit hard to grasp at certain times and a lot of the relationships between characters are left fairly ambiguous.
In game, the source of the music is the headphones your character wears, similar to Baby in the movie Baby Driver, and a lot of the music fits the levels perfectly. Each is very well done especially when exploring the game’s thematic time loop. Katana Zero is punctuated with slower scenes where the story is expanded upon with these scenes ranging from brutal to tender moments. It’s not just the action that benefits either.
Having that 2D view really shows the impact of your actions through a stage, and shows why the main character has the reputation he does. Blood spatters the walls, body parts fly, and explosions rip through corridors. Katana Zero is on the short side, but it uses every minute of its 5-6 hour run-time well, packed to the brim with satisfying carnage and a brain-bending narrative. Some people do find pixel art games off-putting but the art style suits Katana Zero just fine, and actually helps to enhance the over the top violence in my opinion. Neal McDonough is also confirmed to reprise his role as the villainous Damian Dahrk. Osric Chau returns from his debut in Crisis on Infinite Earths as Ryan Choi, and fan-favorite villain Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash will be embodied once more by Tom Cavanaugh. The whole experience flows together so well that it’s hard to pick any major flaws. Despero, not featured on this poster, is portrayed by Scottish actor Tony Curran.
The appeal of Katana Zero is really getting to feel like the ultimate warrior as you start to pass through levels with ease, the sense of satisfaction when a plan comes together. There are moments where you will be stuck on what to do next and how to progress, but it doesn’t take long to figure out the next step. Even with all the knowledge that is accrued, it’s useless if you’re not quick enough to act.
Thankfully the story gives this glass cannon of a protagonist unlimited chances to get through a scene. So yes, there’s trial and error, but every death builds a path to success as you learn more about the layout of each stage, the enemy types, and their placements. The main character is essentially the ultimate killing machine, but he’s also vulnerable. Levels are comprised of individual scenes through which you lay waste to those that stands in your way. Katana Zero is a hyper-violent 2D action platformer that emphasises some strategic planning and learning from your mistakes. This sounds like a slog and may be unappealing to some, but don’t let that put you off Katana Zero is an early contender for one of the most entertaining games of 2019. Any wrong move and you’ll be sent back to the beginning of the section you’re in to try again. Let an enemy hit you and you die, get struck by a bullet and you die, roll at the wrong moment into a trap and you die. That is the very essence of Katana Zero from the moment the action starts.