Katana Dragon [Review]
From the moment you dive into its world, Katana Dragon immediately distinguishes itself as a loving homage to classic Zelda titles, yet it masterfully carves out its own identity with a beautiful voxel art style. Currently in Early Access, the game invites players on a journey through the world of Sogen, where you control Shin and Nobi, twin ninja siblings bound by a shared destiny to restore balance.
Katana Dragons gameplay loop has a satisfying progression system, allowing players will utilize dragon gems for upgrades, so you can meticulously craft cursed seals to customise your gear. The customisation system adds a surprising layer of depth to the game, ensuring that every encounter feels meaningful and every upgrade impactful. The controls are remarkably tight and responsive, providing a fluid and enjoyable gameplay experience.
like 3D Dot Game Heroes from the PlayStation 3 era, “which was a total rip-off of Zelda one to one”. Katana Dragon confidently avoids feeling like a mere imitation. Instead, it evokes the spirit of classic Zelda games while also bringing to mind the action-packed flair of titles like Samurai Bringer and Metal Bringer from Steam and PlayStation 5. Perhaps an even more apt comparison for long-time fans would be the cult classic Brave Fencer Musashi from the original PlayStation. “One of my personal favorite games of all time.”
Visually, Katana Dragon is a triumph. Its handcrafted voxel art exudes a wonderful nostalgic charm while simultaneously feeling fresh and contemporary. Every bioem, character, and enemy is masterfully crafted, creating a vibrant and immersive world. Kitana Dragon does have its issues and shortcomings being in early access, but everything is subject to change. I usually don’t give a score to Early Access games, but this game was just so darn fun. With Steam Deck support, Katana Dragon delivers an engaging, retro-inspired action-RPG experience, polished with modern sensibilities.
