Katana ZERO

 PC
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 720 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 641 out of 720
  2. Mixed: 61 out of 720
  3. Negative: 18 out of 720

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  1. philzlz
    May 5, 2019
    7
    A beautiful pixel graphic game that ends just when it gets interesting, combined with a nice electronic soundtrack. Score would be higher with more levels since the gameplay loop is satisfying.
  2. michaelb1928
    Apr 26, 2019
    6
    Thought the game waas fine, loved the storytelling aspect and would have liked to see it through to the ed but it got too difficult for me, im not really a fan of these types of games so dont take my word for it tho
  3. Karmazyn83
    May 1, 2019
    6
    This needs to be a 6 from me. The game is fun and looks cute but lack of 21:9 support is disappointing, average pixel graphics and good sound design cant really push it higher than this. On a PC game looks average. Game would be ideal for VITA, Switch, or any other portable console you can think off but on a PC art, characters are just too stretched, pixels are far too big and fineThis needs to be a 6 from me. The game is fun and looks cute but lack of 21:9 support is disappointing, average pixel graphics and good sound design cant really push it higher than this. On a PC game looks average. Game would be ideal for VITA, Switch, or any other portable console you can think off but on a PC art, characters are just too stretched, pixels are far too big and fine balance between retro look married with new technologies was not achieved here. It just did not work for me. Gameplay is challenging and ok but it is difficult to play this over other, better indie titles. Yeah, get it but dont expect a masterpiece all indie loving reviewers paint it to be. Ok for a price, not brilliant.… Expand
  4. mrgentlmenpack
    Apr 25, 2019
    7
    Ненужный стел экшен, вспоминаем мудрость-Дрю Цинь Зай. Немного управлении и возможности не доработанные. Очень необычный сюжет, интриги, интересные гемплей, но интерес быстро падает, возможности приедаются и уже даже враги становится однообразными, прохождение макс на 3-4 чс., под конец будет чувства не завершённости. Но для начало игры нормально.Ненужный стел экшен, вспоминаем мудрость-Дрю Цинь Зай. Немного управлении и возможности не доработанные. Очень необычный сюжет, интриги, интересные гемплей, но интерес быстро падает, возможности приедаются и уже даже враги становится однообразными, прохождение макс на 3-4 чс., под конец будет чувства не завершённости. Но для начало игры нормально.
  5. Theskiper
    Jul 31, 2019
    6
    Одна из самых переоцененных игр 2019 года,геймплей скучнее некуда,настолько все клишированно,а эти 2д графики режут глаза,но история и сюжет действительно интересует,это игра только для любителя,кому-то зайдет,а кому-то нетОдна из самых переоцененных игр 2019 года,геймплей скучнее некуда,настолько все клишированно,а эти 2д графики режут глаза,но история и сюжет действительно интересует,это игра только для любителя,кому-то зайдет,а кому-то нет
  6. Joellemm
    Oct 21, 2020
    7
    Great soundtrack. Fast, fun gameplay. Solid enough narrative for such a short game. I liked the writing (I actually laughed out loud at one point). I especially liked how it played with the idea of skipping dialogue, turning the act itself into a form of gameplay. Sadly, the stealth seemed unnecessary. Biggest problem i would say however, is that the game doesn't effectively differentiateGreat soundtrack. Fast, fun gameplay. Solid enough narrative for such a short game. I liked the writing (I actually laughed out loud at one point). I especially liked how it played with the idea of skipping dialogue, turning the act itself into a form of gameplay. Sadly, the stealth seemed unnecessary. Biggest problem i would say however, is that the game doesn't effectively differentiate itself from previous indie titles. It sort of lumped various bits from similar titles together.

    Familiar and easy to engage with, but not especially memorable.    … Expand
  7. Garybaldo
    Dec 25, 2020
    7
    Despite its short lenght, Katana: ZERO shows a major degree of polishing and some very smooth gameplay, definitely expecting a follow-up because this has some major potential.
  8. RazorSamurai
    Jul 31, 2019
    7
    музыка заебись, боевка как будто хм но с виду сбоку, сюжет неплохой но и не сказал бы что отличный но впринципе хороший да и кстати схожесть большая с хотлайн маями в плане сюжета те же ветераны те же заказы а потом маски которые несут абстрактную хуйню

    просто нужно было добавить чуть больше записок чтоли или штучек которых можно было потыкать или какой нибудь бонус секрета пазл как в    музыка заебись, боевка как будто хм но с виду сбоку, сюжет неплохой но и не сказал бы что отличный но впринципе хороший да и кстати схожесть большая с хотлайн маями в плане сюжета те же ветераны те же заказы а потом маски которые несут абстрактную хуйню

    просто нужно было добавить чуть больше записок чтоли или штучек которых можно было потыкать или какой нибудь бонус секрета пазл как в хм где ты собирал их, но в плане боевки она как прям хм два тип сложно но если придрочится можно получать удовольствие даже получая пизды одновременно
    7/10 не знаю почему метакритик считает семерку желтым цветом но игра хороша лучше среднего    … Expand
  9. Keskin
    Jul 19, 2020
    7
    it is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is goodit is good
  10. Babutto
    Jan 11, 2020
    7
    Pros.:
    - Interesting story concept and distortions.
    - Pixel art, music, world.

    Cons.:
    - Gameplay. Miami Hotline was better there.
    - PC gameplay is a nightmare.
  11. Piruz
    Mar 30, 2022
    6
    Not bad 1 time old school kinda beat'em up. I strongly believe that we should rate this game by it's own standard of "small games". If you have like poor game exp and hate everything repetitive, think before playing it. The biggest con - lack of variety in ways of beating levels and rooms
  12. DoDoBlon
    Sep 27, 2021
    5
    After getting all achievements I've noticed sooo many gameplay flows (especially after speedrun on gold medals). I noticed some of the flows during main story but they were so much pain in the ass in the speedrun mode.
    (For example some of them: there is cooldown between hits so you can't deflect multiple bullets if they are close to one another so the strategy is to roll behind the backs    After getting all achievements I've noticed sooo many gameplay flows (especially after speedrun on gold medals). I noticed some of the flows during main story but they were so much pain in the ass in the speedrun mode.
    (For example some of them: there is cooldown between hits so you can't deflect multiple bullets if they are close to one another so the strategy is to roll behind the backs and only than slash; then, bad gameplay design of enemies. Enemies in the games should expose combat system but here almost every enemy 'locks-up' some abilities of yours. So for example with him you can't do that with them you can't do some other stuff and so on (especially enemies on hard mode); And the last major one. There is roll in the game for dodging but should be dash. Because if you jump you can't roll so it means you can't dodge so you just die (and most of the times these 'jumps' after sword's hits so you turn up in mid-air (I know I can push down button but it takes some time anyway))).
    Also dialogues are not so good written (developers have no experience in that so it's understandable).
    Game has no ending just to be continued.
    Music would be ok if hotline miami wasn't release almost 9 years ago where every track is 10 times better.
    Had so many expectations. But after completing the game I was disappointed. And after biting all achievements I hate the game.
    For people liking challenge my piece of advice is to play Furi. One of the best combat systems in the history. Had soo much fun getting platinum trophy on ps4.    … Expand
  13. Ghostee
    Nov 14, 2020
    5
    An ok art-style and fine controls, but oh my lord is the difficulty spike the worst thing ever. By the third stage it is so hard to even open doors because woopsie woo you have summoned 19 people all with impossible to dodge attacks, you can try to block it but that is not happening. With a sentries, katana wielders, heavies and gun wielders. It is so hard to move. Also the katana swingAn ok art-style and fine controls, but oh my lord is the difficulty spike the worst thing ever. By the third stage it is so hard to even open doors because woopsie woo you have summoned 19 people all with impossible to dodge attacks, you can try to block it but that is not happening. With a sentries, katana wielders, heavies and gun wielders. It is so hard to move. Also the katana swing animation is so long when you are trying to block a bullet rain of stuff. The game also gets really repetitive and is annoying at most times with mechanics flying out of the depths of hell whenever you breathe. I really want to like this game but I just cant. There are WAYY too many problems, it outmatches the goods, like the graphics and feel.

    Graphics- 9
    Controls- 5
    Responsiveness- 7
    Gameplay- 2
    Difficulty (1=Easy, 10=Impossible)- 9    … Expand
  14. vlady_lives
    Mar 30, 2022
    7
    A very decent little game. Fluid and fast, not to mention fun, gameplay with an interesting enough story and pretty fascinating premise. However, it is a bit too short, with it taking me 4 hours to fully complete it. I would say that it could benefit from a wider variety of enemies, or a wider variety of mechanics, and it does get a bit repetitive, but nonetheless it was an enjoyableA very decent little game. Fluid and fast, not to mention fun, gameplay with an interesting enough story and pretty fascinating premise. However, it is a bit too short, with it taking me 4 hours to fully complete it. I would say that it could benefit from a wider variety of enemies, or a wider variety of mechanics, and it does get a bit repetitive, but nonetheless it was an enjoyable experience, though I do not see myself ever replaying this game. However, I must say, the art is absolutely gorgeous and the music design is fantastic.… Expand
  15. Rarted
    Jan 6, 2021
    7
    The game is pretty good, although it's unfinished. I think it makes a really interesting connection between story and gameplay. I think I would scale the rating up to an 8 when the game is finished, because right now we now almost nothing about the real plot.
  16. bokarsh-z
    Jan 9, 2023
    5
    =======
    only worth 5 dollar or watch it utube.
    =======
    - 2.30 - 3 hour long.
    -disappointment ending (open ending), bad controls, rebitive gameplay.
    -good challenge bosses and interesting story hope make movie for this game.
    -buy hot Miami 2 full price instead.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PC Game of 2019
26
#26 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
28
#28 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. GameCritics
    Jun 21, 2019
    85
    Katana ZERO is relatively short action experience, but the fast, brutal, and provocative play left me wanting more — and that’s about the highest praise I can give it.
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  2. 4P.de
    May 13, 2019
    83
    Intense and challenging arcade-action embedded in a great story.
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  3. GameGrin
    May 13, 2019
    85
    Weighing in at over five hours, it’s not the longest game you’ll ever play, but it’s wide open for replayability, and the story is great.
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