Recent reviews by Ata

Shanoaaaaaaa

Better than Vampire Survivors, which isn't a bad game itself. Progression and pace feel a lot faster here. It's also a lot more fun than VS in my opinion.

Worth it for the characters, humor, and endless gaming references. Story is decent too and it's self-contained which is nice.

But yes be warned, the game can be very grindy if you don't know where to level. Enjoyment of the grind and gameplay will ultimately come down to personal preference!

I am famished

An overall excellent horror adventure that also tackles themes of trauma, grief, and depression. What it lacks in some gameplay segments it makes up for with a strong narrative and compelling characters. David is such a good protagonist!

I haven't played Akai Katana since way back when it launched on Xbox 360, and I'm still pretty casual when it comes to shmups and bullet hells in general. So I can't say much about how this port compares, nor can I talk about the more technical details.

What I can say though is that upon booting this up, I instantly remembered why this game appealed to me all those years ago. Like other CAVE games, the presentation is fantastic, with beautiful visuals and a great soundtrack (original and arranged). I also appreciate all the dialogue, with the boss intros and just the voice acting in general really making the game feel more alive. Plus there's some cool extras like a ton of different wallpapers to choose from which is nice.

As for the gameplay itself, there's a decent selection with three different modes and ships, each with their own duos of characters. There's also novice modes for both the Arcade version and Akai Katana Shin. Honestly though with Soul Shift, the shield mechanics, and the way bombs work, the game even on normal feels a fair bit more accessible than say Progear. Which is another CAVE title I've seen gets compared to Akai Katana a lot, and some even consider AK to be a spiritual successor to it. At any rate with all these features it's a game where pretty much anyone with an interest in the genre can jump into it comfortably.

Overall Akai Katana is a great addition to any shmup fan's library, especially considering it's a horizontal shmup and it's harder to find really solid ones compared to vertical. Personally I can see this as a game I'll play for a long time to come.

It's a crime this game is free

Nice time-killer and pretty addicting.

Deceptively difficult unlike what the adorable art style would suggest. The lore is great, and the numerous ways you can interpret the story along with the gameplay mechanics are what really makes the game stand out. Your enjoyment may vary depending on your willingness to adjust to the unique controls, but to me the trial and error approach feels very rewarding. All in all, the game is fantastic.

game good for the price