Katana Zero Review
Wake Up.
Reviewed by Unoriginalplayer
Graphics
The art style in Katana Zero is incredible. Even the smallest action has big animations. The combination of neon lights, dystopian setting, and gore done right, combine to make a visually stunning 2D side-scroller. The sprites are packed full of detail and the settings are varied enough to feel fresh through the entire campaign. There are moments in the game where you may find yourself thinking, "There is something wrong with my game/PC.", and the game does a great job with the visuals to drive that feeling home. Whether it is the game freezing up or splitting the actual picture in two, you are always treated to a visual masterpiece.
Verdict: The visuals are a perfect example of putting extra love into a project you are passionate about. The attention to detail is prevalent in every scene and area of each level.
Sound
There are few games that really know how to utilize the sound from start to finish. Katana Zero is a game where the soundtrack is not always present through your adventure. Your hero (anti-hero?) puts in headphones before the beginning of a mission which in turn starts up the amazing soundtrack. As you take out baddies from room to room, the music pumping into your headphones will make sure you feel invincible when you pull off a sweet combo of moves. If there is a conversation going on, you take out your headphones so you can chat. Not a game changer; but, it does add to the immersion factor. All of the sounds are spot on with every slash, gunshot, explosion, and scream hitting its mark.
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Verdict: This is another area where K.Z. shines. With a soundtrack that hits all the right notes and doesn't let up until the credits are rolling, your ears are in for a real treat.
Gameplay
In order for any fast paced game to stand out from the crowd, it has to be tight and responsive, and make you feel like you are in total control of your character. Movement in K.Z. allows for some really spectacular action sequences when you begin to master your character's skill set. K.Z. is very unforgiving in the sense that one hit will send you back to the beginning of the area. This makes it crucial to understand how to use your moves, which ones will work in different situations, and how you will use the surroundings to your advantage. There are multiple ways to complete each area of a level. Finding what style of play best suites you is one of the highlights of the game. Can't bust through a door and take out 5 enemies? No problem. Just climb into an air duct and get the drop on them from above. A wave of gun toting baddies in one room? Throw a Molotov cocktail at a gas barrel to take them out in seconds. On top of the fast and fluid gameplay, you also have response choices during conversations. You won't see answers on par with Mass Effect; however, the options allow for a somewhat more personalized adventure. Between each level, the game slows down and uses this time to flesh out the story more than what is done during a mission. This break is a good way to understand the small cast of characters and surprisingly does not break the flow of the game.
Verdict: Askiisoft has a huge hit on their hands with Katana Zero. From start to finish, this game is a masterpiece. In an age where open-world games are the norm, Katana Zero shows that linear side-scrollers can be just as fun, if not better, than what we have grown accustomed to.