Now we’re seeing a resurgence of horror stories around apocalyptic scenarios because we are all living in a time of tension and concern around what future – if any – there is for humanity. Slasher horror was a conservative reaction to the relaxed attitude towards sex and drugs that the youth of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s had developed. The gothic horror was a reflection on tensions between society and the Christian religion.

This is why the horror genre goes through phases, with sub-genres fading in and out of popularity as society becomes terrified of one thing or another. Our full review.įor as long as humanity has been telling stories, horror has been used as a framing device to explore that which humanity finds terrifying. While it's become a bit cliché to compare indie titles to the 2012 smash-hit 'Hotline Miami,' 'Katana Zero' shows clear inspiration: both games have instant-death combat, an 80s-centric style, and an unreliable narrator.Related reading: For more Korean horror, consider White Day. Players make use of The Dragon's time-control abilities to create perfectly planned runs of each stage, eliminating every opponent without getting hit.Ĭreated by indie developer Askiisoft and published by Devolver Digital, 'Katana Zero' is a part of Nintendo's 'Nindies' lineup of independent games that was teased earlier this year. Luckily, The Dragon can slow down time for brief periods, allowing him to dodge enemy attacks, deflect bullets, and navigate obstacles. The gameplay is fast, violent, and challenging The Dragon can kill nearly all of his enemies with a single blow, but he dies in one hit, too. 'Katana Zero' embraces retro-wave style, incorporating neon visuals and synth music to invoke familiar vibes of 80s pop culture. 'Katana Zero,' which launches Thursday on PC and Switch, is a stylish retro action game that tells the story of The Dragon, a time-manipulating samurai who's forced to assassinate gang members in exchange for a mysterious drug.

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