Test Katana ZERO (Switch eShop)

The 80s were a decade that fascinated modern media, to the point that it becomes almost boring to see another game or the film that makes its 80s influence a big selling point. Often, these works only delight nostalgia, going beyond the simplest goals in order to further expand demographics. Katana Zero is not one of those games. It's an extremely fast-paced, continually exciting and flawlessly elegant experience that proudly displays its 80s out-of-the-box signs without overshadowing the excellent action sequences and intriguing narrative, providing another compelling experience. to your Switch.

The plot is extremely rhythmic and truly surprising in many ways, which is largely due to the active role you play in almost every cinematic. When a character is talking to you, a small bar fills up quickly during or just after, and you have to choose an answer in a reduced amount of time. If you wish, you can usually delete characters from half of the sentence, but each answer will affect how that character sees you and changes the direction of the plot. For example, an early scene sees you talking to a secretary on the way to a brand, and you can either be nice to her or bluff her and pursue her resolutely. However, a later scene during your escape involves it once again and, depending on how you dealt with it, the level unfolds differently.

Although captivating storytelling is a huge part of the overall experience, much of your playing time will be spent on side-scrolling action games that end up feeling like a mix between the style of The messenger and Hotline Miami. Each level is composed of several screens, and before you can go to the next screen, you have to kill everyone on the current. You do it by applying cold revenge to the edge of your blade, but your samurai is far from invincible; it is the very definition of a glass cannon. In almost all cases, if you are touched once, you have to redo the whole screen from the beginning, constantly trying out new tactics and approaches until everything is perfect.

Of course, more and more types of enemies and stadium hazards are introduced as you advance through the story. Although your samurai's abilities remain static, it is very satisfying to master the controls and survive against incredibly difficult opponents. Much of your survival depends on disposable weapons and objects scattered at every step – like lamps and incendiary grenades – and when you meet new enemies and levels, you have a much more specific idea of ​​when to throw an object and who to throw it at, with the most effective places to slow down time. Despite a relatively simple set of controls and simple combat encounters, Katana Zero is always at the forefront of style and neat design; each level is a roller coaster of thrilling action and thrills, punctuated to perfection by well-directed cinematics that allow the plot to progress at a steady pace.

It would be useful not to mention the audiovisual presentation of Katana Zero, which is one of the most elegant and memorable we have ever seen in such a huge video game. Katana Zero is strongly inspired by the 80s imagery, with neat touches such as how the screen distorts and twists like an old VHS tape at key moments, or how "PLAY" appears at the top of the screen. screen when the game "replay" each success. clear of a screen. On top of that, the work of the sprites is unmatched, with colorful sprites infused with neon lights, which convey a surprising amount of emotion and animation given the reduced size of the canvas. And while the environments you face are usually dimly lit corridors, we've enjoyed how the levels shook the picture, with exceptional footage like a contract in which you make your way through a lively nightclub. , or a work that makes you cut through different sets in a movie studio. There is even a minecart level, for all Donkey Kong Country the amateurs there.

It is worth mentioning that Katana Zero, although her action and style are stellar, has a relatively low duration of execution; It's a ten-hour match. However, we do not discuss the fact that it is something that plays for the game; each level is so well designed and precisely designed that the high quality remains constant, as there are no noticeable gaps or dull sections. Katana Zero is a game that kills all tastes and does not do unanimity. Since many contemporary games strive to make the experience as long as possible, it's refreshing to play in a game that goes straight to the point and who knows when to leave while it's in. advanced.