Katana ZERO

Katana ZERO is a stylish action platformer where you play as a samurai with precognition, taking on assassination jobs in a dystopian city. Enemies and the player are both one-hit kills, requiring precise timing, quick reflexes, and clever use of the environment and throwable items to succeed. This guide covers the game's campaign, key locations, boss strategies, alternate paths, and achievements.

Saves and Checkpoints: The game features permanently unlocked checkpoints for significant progress and temporary 'soft' checkpoints that save screen-by-screen progress when exiting the game. These soft checkpoints are erased if you start a new stage.

Variable Events and Replaying Stages: Player choices impact later events and achievements. Stages can be replayed from checkpoints to alter outcomes, especially for achievements like "Psychotherapy" and "Forbidden Ultimate Danger Tempest-Eyed MAJORDOMO Imperial Barrage Crab, Evixion." Some choices require replaying large sections of a stage to lock in new outcomes.

Walkthrough Sections:

1. Tutorial
2. Factory Hideout
3. Murdower Hotel
4. Club Neon
5. Mutual-Nil Prison
6. Studio 51
7. Mansion Hideout
8. Chinatown
9. The Dragon's Tape
10. Slaughterhouse
11. Bunker - Part 1
12. Bunker - Part 2

This guide covers the Hotel section of Katana ZERO, detailing enemy encounters, item usage, and strategies for progression, including steps to unlock secret content.

Psychiatrist Day 1

Begin by sitting and talking to the Psychiatrist. To secure the secret boss fight, you must interrupt the Psychiatrist every time they offer you medicine.

After the conversation, you can examine the Psychiatrist's desk for a family photo.

Murder Hotel

Enter the Murder Hotel. Your next target is upstairs. First, you'll have a conversation with the woman at the front desk. While your dialogue choices are flexible, selecting the following responses will help set up an achievement later in the game:

1. I'll just be on my way.
2. It's called cosplay.
3. *Obviously Shinju Sakamura from Ex Vs X - Sakura reDUX 2.
4. Childrens card games in a cyberpunk dystopia.
5. Uh, sure.
6. Thanks.

After this interaction, proceed to the right.

Zone 1 - The Elevator

Go to the elevator and press the button. Two Suits will appear, but only one will exit. Eliminate this enemy quickly and move to the right.

Zone 2 - Stairs Galore

You'll encounter a potted Plant. This zone introduces throwables.

How-To: Throwables

You can now throw various items like pots, plants, lamps, bottles, and knives. Pick up items by rolling or pressing the 'A' button (Switch). Throw them by pressing 'A' again. The direction of the throw is determined by the left stick input before releasing. Some items, like lamps, break on missed throws, while knives remain intact until they hit an enemy. Throwables are particularly effective against enemies that can parry, such as Greasers, which you'll encounter later. Since throwables cannot be carried between screens, use them liberally.

Pick up the potted plant, ascend the stairs, and practice throwing it to defeat enemies. Eliminate the first Brawler, then the second on the floor above. A third Brawler will approach from the right; defeat them and continue.

Zone 3 - Greasers

This zone introduces Greasers.

New Enemy: Greaser

Greasers move similarly to Brawlers but are more dangerous due to their crowbars, which allow them to parry your sword attacks. If a parry occurs, you'll be unable to attack until the stun meter above your head depletes. To counter Greasers, use speed, throwables, or rolling. Throwing items is the quickest method, but requires having an item available and avoiding interception by other enemies. Attacking as soon as you are in range can also work, but is best against single opponents. Rolling through them and attacking from behind is the most reliable tactic, especially against groups, and can be aided by slow-motion.

Break down the door to eliminate a Brawler. Roll through an incoming Greaser and attack from behind. Proceed upstairs, grab a Lamp, and break the door to defeat two Brawlers. Climb the stairs to the left and throw the Lamp at the Greaser on the landing. Ascend the final stairs, grab a Plant by rolling, defeat the Brawler, and throw the Plant at the Greaser. Behind the next door are two Greasers. Retreat two floors to find a Bottle, which can eliminate one Greaser, allowing you to easily dispatch the second.

Zone 4 - The Hill

Grab the Lamp at the bottom of the stairs. Ascend and attack the Brawler, then throw the Lamp at the Greaser to their right. One Greaser will emerge from the central door, and two more will enter from the sides. Try to strike the first Greaser quickly. Use the Roll + back attack maneuver for the other two. Enter the central doorway.

Zone 5 - Long Haul

Grab the Lamp at the start. Bash the door to kill the Brawler. Throw the Lamp at the first Greaser while rolling through the second and attacking from behind. Kick open the next door to fling the Brawler into the laser. Roll through the laser and strike the Greaser on the other side. Defeat the Greaser behind the next door, then the final charging Greaser.

Jump up the walls at the end to proceed.

Zone 6 - The Penthouse

If playing on a platform with achievements, replay this section.

Proceed right and drop down the chute to land on a Knife. Pick it up, throw it at the Greaser to the right, and then attack the Brawler approaching from the left.