Katana ZERO

You play as Zero, a katana-wielding assassin carrying out violent assignments in a neon-noir world. As he moves from mission to mission, cinematic scenes and conversations gradually reveal a mystery tied to his past.

Fight through rooms of enemies using slashes, dashes, dodges, and time manipulation. Slow time to evade attacks or deflect gunfire, and use thrown objects, traps, and explosives to deal with opponents. Enemies can kill you in one hit, but a death quickly returns you to the room to try another approach.

Each hand-crafted level can be cleared in different ways, with combat built around finding a quick route through each encounter. Dialogue offers response choices, while the story's surreal turns and shifting sense of reality develop alongside the action.

Players frequently praise the fast, precise combat and the satisfaction of refining a room into a clean run. The electronic soundtrack and pixel-art presentation also draw recurring praise, while many find the surreal, unfolding story memorable and well connected to the gameplay. Some reviews criticize the short campaign and its open-ended conclusion, and describe the repeated attempts as challenging or frustrating.