Katana Zero
Launched: April 2019
Playable on: PC, Switch, Xbox
Developed by indie studio Askiisoft, Katana Zero is a side-scrolling neo-noir action platformer. You play as Subject Zero, a katana-wielding assassin down bad with a case of amnesia who must use his new-found time manipulation abilities to hack and slash his way to uncover the truth of his forgotten past. You die in one hit, which would be a bummer except for the fact that Zero can slow down time to quickly chop enemies in half while dodging bullets and environmental hazards. It’s frantic yet satisfying, with crunchy combat and aggressive adversaries keen on preventing you from learning more about Zero, the power-gifting drug Chronos, and the racketeering the bad guys are up to. It’s also relatively short and features some narrative choices that impact in-game events, which make repeated playthroughs of Katana Zero worthwhile.
