PAX East Spotlight - Katana ZERO
Katana ZERO is a slick-quick 2D action game. Players control a murderous samurai character in a neo-noir setting assassinating targets, as well as any goons that get in the way.
Katana ZERO does not feature health bars, so death is a single smack away, which keeps the tension high. Fortunately, dying in the game simply places you back at the start of the screen, letting you jump right back into the fray. The combat is fast and satisfying, and clearing a stage for the first time feels rewarding.
The game also features a dialog system, with some clever writing. Choices made during the demo effected later outcomes. If you can't stand dialog in your action games, you can interrupt NPCs in an attempt to end the conversation early. However, this can frustrate the NPCs, potentially effecting later outcomes in the game.
While at PAX, we were able to grab a quick interview with Justin, one of the developers. Give it a listen, and then check out Askiisoft's site for more details.