Zero Punctuation Season 13 Episode 18 Katana Zero

Zero Punctuation season 13 episode 18 features a review of the video game Katana Zero by Yahtzee Croshaw. Katana Zero is a side-scrolling action game developed by Askiisoft and published by Devolver Digital.

The episode begins with Yahtzee describing the game's plot, which follows a samurai assassin known as The Dragon who is tasked with eliminating various targets throughout the game's levels. The game's story is presented in a non-linear fashion, with the player being given choices that affect the narrative's outcome. Yahtzee notes that while the game's story is intriguing, it is ultimately convoluted and difficult to follow.

Next, Yahtzee discusses the game's mechanics, which are heavily focused on precision and speed. The Dragon is armed with a katana and various other abilities that allow him to take on enemies in a variety of ways. The game's combat is fast-paced and requires the player to be able to react quickly to enemy attacks. Yahtzee praises the game's combat mechanics, noting that they are both satisfying and challenging. He particularly enjoys the game's slow-motion mechanic, which allows the player to plan out their attacks in advance.

Yahtzee also notes that the game has a variety of abilities and upgrades that can be obtained by collecting pills throughout the game's levels. These abilities range from the ability to deflect bullets with the katana to the ability to slow down time. Yahtzee praises the game's ability system, noting that it allows for a significant amount of customization in terms of playstyle.

Next, Yahtzee discusses the game's level design. The game's levels are linear and require the player to progress through them using a combination of platforming and combat. Yahtzee praises the game's level design, noting that it is well-balanced and challenging without ever feeling unfair.

Yahtzee also notes that the game has a unique dialogue system in which the player is often given a choice between several different responses when interacting with NPCs. These choices can influence the game's story in significant ways, but Yahtzee notes that their impact is not always clear.

Overall, Yahtzee concludes that Katana Zero is an excellent game that he highly recommends. He praises the game's combat mechanics, level design, and ability system, but notes that the game's story can be difficult to follow at times. Additionally, he praises the game's unique dialogue system but notes that its impact on the game's story can be unclear.