Recent reviews by TheDukeofGrease

I remember seeing this game on some 'indie game sizzle reel' in some video game conference/show. RIGHT when I saw It I knew I had to wishlist it based on aesthetic alone. Now after finally playing it I can say that my excitement was VERY well placed! Simply put; this game is a brilliant and stylish puzzle platformer, with sections of first person puzzle solving too. That is what you can expect gameplay-wise. Not only was I in love with that, but I really loved the characters as well! The voice cast was amazing and their performance lent a wealth of emotion and life to this games story. I had many parts that I laughed at, shed tears at, and just plain shouted in hype for! When in comes to indie games that try and bring a new perspective to a genre with a unique brand of storytelling, it is hard for me to recommend anything greater than American Arcadia. In a year that was awash with incredible games, I am sure to say this is one with an impact that will stick with me forever.

Think 'Hotline Miami' but you are a samurai assassin with time manipulation powers.

I was waiting years for this game to come out and I was NOT disappointed. Combat resolves in the blink of an eye, and I never got tired of watching myself zip through each stage deflecting bullets, chucking lamps at thug's heads, and slicing through 3 dudes I lined up all at once, until I left nothing but bodies and blood spatters in my wake. The neon aesthetic and music perfectly compliment the adrenaline soaked game-play.

And the music? Pure Cyber punk ear candy. I looked forward to every time they flicked on the mp3 player, the music would start and the song name and artist would display in the corner. A stellar sound track to be sure, and the perfect backdrop to the crunchy and heart-pumping sound effects the permeate this game. The music also slows when you slow time, and shares a rewind sound effect when you die and go back to start (though I don't believe the actual song rewinded. that would get a tad annoying on several deaths in a row).

Katana ZERO utilizes stunning pixel art. The sprites are some of the most expressive I've ever seen in an indie title. Some character's proved to show more emotion than some top budget triple A games I have played. The backgrounds are downright gorgeous in some spots, and I applaud how much hard work must of went into them. None of the animations felt half-assed, they were all expressive and readable, which is very important for a tight action game like this.

The world and the story are also one of the strongest points. The writing, and tone, and the rate at which you get more and more information is perfect for an action game of this caliber. After beating this game, I went back to do some older missions just to choose other dialogue options and get more info on this fantastic world Katana ZERO is based in. The characters all have great personality, and I found myself interested in learning more about a good handful of these characters. Dialogue is also a treat, thanks in part to the perfectly times and ANIMATED text boxes. These text boxes conveyed so much information just by coloring words, adding some punchy sound effects, and timing when they appeared.

My only small complaint is that it was a bit on the short side (6hrs). And I wanted to hear MORE about all the characters, see and hear MORE of the world, and of course, cut up MORE dudes. On the bright side, the end of the game teases more content.

Kanata ZERO hits all the sweet spots of an action game, not to mention it is right up my alley in the kind of games I like. This game is an absolute must buy for anyone interested in the action genre of games, or anyone who just can't get enough of that neon soaked cyber punk aesthetic. Whether it be paid DLC, or free updates, I look forward to the next time I slip on the bathrobe, sling my katana to my hip, and click on the ol' mp3 player in Katana ZERO.

you got no friends? this games ok. you got one buddy? this games relly fun. you got three buddies? youre walkin on sunshine ♥♥♥♥♥.