Much more than a mere impersonator
INNOVATIVE games often inspire copycats, or at least titles that borrow heavily from the formula laid down by their progenitors. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these ‘copycats’ don’t innovate in their own ways, which is something that is exemplified by the terrific Katana Zero.
Anybody who has played the critically acclaimed Hotline Miami series will immediately deduce the rather obvious inspiration for Askiisoft’s Katana Zero. Everything from the colour palette, to the soundtrack and the fast-paced and thoroughly unforgiving combat is reminiscent of the venerable top-down shooter.
Fortunately, Katana Zero does more than enough to elevate it beyond the status of a mere impersonator. While none of its ideas are truly new, (after all, how many modern titles can make this claim?) it is the way that these ideas and mechanics are contextualised that make Katana Zero feel very special.
For example, the game casts you as a samurai assassin who can control time and see into the future. None of this would be very new if it weren’t for the games insistence that each level you play is merely a planning of the future assassination. Instead of death screens, you will – very frequently – be met with the message “No... That won’t work”, after which the level will rewind back to its starting position.
At the end of each scenario, CCTV footage will show you a recording of the ‘actual’ assassination. It is a fresh approach and just a brief taste of the many novel and often idiosyncratic delights that Katana Zero has to offer.
Katana Zero’s combat is everything you would want for a title in this mould, it is complex but not overly-complicated, rewarding measured movements and that sort of ‘organised chaos’ demonstrated by true masters of the genre.
Katana Zero’s story is somewhat forgettable but not bad by any stretch of the imagination. The strongest facet of the story progression is through the clever and often funny dialogue choices. For example, the game will know when you are mashing buttons to skip cutscenes, which can regularly result in other characters becoming extremely annoyed by your insolence.
Overall, Katana Zero is a title strong enough to stand proud against any claims of plagiarism, which is no mean feat considering its inspiration. An excellent title and hopefully the first in a series.