Really satisfying to play

I should love this game. I really enjoy Neon White, which shares a similar high-speed, precision-based gameplay style. Unfortunately, BRUTAL KATANA has several mechanics that demand an excessive level of precision, making the experience frustrating rather than exhilarating.

One of the biggest issues is slicing enemies. While the game provides audio and visual indicators—a sound cue and a red glow—to signal when an enemy is in range, the attack often fails to register if the cursor is even slightly off. This inconsistency makes it incredibly frustrating when a missed slice ruins an otherwise perfect run. Later, enemies introduce a new requirement: they must be attacked either vertically or horizontally. This added complexity is not enjoyable when sprinting through a level at high speeds and practically forces memorization of enemy placements. I immediately hated this mechanic when it was introduced within the first six levels, and it completely ruined the game for me.

The platforming also demands an unreasonable amount of precision despite the game's fast pace. There are sections where the player must run across pillars, but if they move too fast or too slow, they will miss the next platform and have to restart. This serves as a momentum killer rather than an enjoyable challenge.

Another major momentum killer is wall running. To ascend a wall, the player must jump toward it, then leap backward to a platform behind them. However, during this sequence, the player cannot turn their camera, forcing them to stare at the wall while waiting to jump. Not only is this visually dull, but it also makes it difficult to gauge the timing of the next jump since the platforms are out of view. Worse, the timing doesn’t seem standardized because walls vary in height, adding even more guesswork to the process.

The last major issue is the game's par time system for achieving three-star ratings. The required times are incredibly strict, to the point where missing by literal milliseconds can cost a top rating. While optional, this makes any slight mistake feel especially punishing and discourages experimentation.

Ultimately, BRUTAL KATANA’s rigid design and memory-test-style level layouts sucked the fun out of what could have been a thrilling experience. I rarely put games down this quickly, but when a game actively frustrates me, it's hard to justify continuing. I feel bad not recommending it because it's very affordable, and I appreciate that the developer has continued adding content. I won’t be refunding it for that reason, but I hope my experience helps shape improvements in the future.

Funky fresh game.
Feel the velocity.


The music selection is crazy good in this one.