Katana Dragon by Tsunoa Video games
Katana Dragon has you taking part in as a ninja in coaching.
All the things goes swimmingly till a mysterious pressure begins turning folks into ghosts. It’s as much as our rookie ninja to uncover the rationale why and discover a strategy to save everybody.
The sport is structured very like a traditional top-down Zelda recreation: an open map crammed with secrets and techniques and puzzle-filled dungeons to discover. Katana Dragon has a story however isn’t essentially narrative-driven, because the story-telling takes a backseat to fight and exploration. It’s acquainted floor, however for essentially the most half, it succeeds.
I say “for essentially the most half” primarily due to fight points. As of the present construct, fight isn’t very satisfying. Firstly, the sword you utilize has such a brief vary that it’s important to get very near enemies to hit them. In live performance with restricted defensive choices, fight feels tedious and unsatisfying.
Puzzle Dragon
My favourite areas of gameplay concerned Katana Dragon’s dungeons. The puzzles discovered inside them supply the proper quantity of problem. Sliding block puzzles, switches, timed platforms, strain plates aplenty…it’s all recognizable however nicely finished.
Many dungeons additionally require some platforming, however since our ninja protagonist can’t soar, you utilize your sprint to get from one platform to a different. Total, I had essentially the most enjoyable inside these dungeons.
The sport has a pair RPG mechanics — there’s a leveling system the place you get stronger the extra enemies you kill – however there are not any handbook stat will increase. Leveling up is automated and thus simplified.
Objects like runes have an effect on stats like energy and protection. I preferred these inclusions, which give a strategy to make your character really feel a bit extra personalized to suit your play fashion.
Crashes and Colours
Sadly, I had a few efficiency points whereas taking part in. The framerate stuttered a number of occasions, primarily throughout out of doors areas.
A handful of occasions, the sport froze and crashed to the desktop. This was notably irritating because the recreation makes use of save factors as a substitute of autosaves, which led to the lack of over an hour of progress throughout an extended puzzle space. Hopefully, these efficiency points might be ironed out through the Early Entry course of.
Visually, Katana Dragon has a chunky, voxel fashion. All the things has a blocky, colourful look. I actually preferred how colourful the sport was, and results just like the shine of the water look nice. Even the slight sway of grass and the small particulars like little fireflies look good. Total, it nails its 3D pixel aesthetic.
I need to point out the sport’s music. It suits the sport like a glove. Tracks supply simply the correct quantity of caprice in addition to some serenity, which makes exploring the map extra pleasant. The music, alongside the colourful artwork fashion and enjoyable ambiance, makes for an general lighthearted and enjoyable expertise.
The Verdict:
Katana Dragon is an Early Entry motion RPG that also wants extra work. It has some vivid spots, just like the enjoyable puzzle dungeons and ambiance, that are sadly introduced down by lackluster fight and efficiency points.
However I’m inspired by the stable basis it’s laid out to date. Total, Katana Dragon feels promising, and I’m wanting ahead to seeing how this one progresses.
Katana Dragon is out there by way of Steam Early Entry.
Take a look at the official trailer for Katana Dragon beneath: