Three Games in One Package
Akai Katana Shin is a horizontal shoot 'em up set in a Taisho era world where fighter jets, tanks, and battleships share the battlefield with giants known as Guardians and Mugen. This release bundles three titles from the series: the original 2010 arcade game, Akai Katana Shin with its 16:9 aspect ratio and new Hagane and Katana mechanics, and Akai Katana Zetsu with rebalanced mechanics. The Japanese-inspired military visuals and character designs carry a dramatic story about clashes between family and old friends.
Playing Together
Akai Katana supports two players. Remote Play Together is also available, so a friend can join your session over the internet. The game is tagged with Local Multiplayer and Co-op as well. Beyond co-op, Score Attack lets you push through stages with only one life and no continues, then compare your run on the online leaderboard. Replays can be saved and edited so you can jump to any point in the recording.
Mechanics Worth Learning
Your Fighter can Soul-shift into a giant ninja called Guardian for a short boost. Two bullet shots are available: Attack Mode hits harder while Defense Mode improves mobility. In Akai Katana and Akai Katana Zetsu, timing the Soul-shift lets you block enemy bullets even on a crowded screen. In Akai Katana Shin, the shift generates a Katana shot that quickly takes down strong enemies and can negate or dispel attacks instead of just dodging them. Training mode lets you pick a stage and adjust your unit's condition to drill specific sections. Settings cover sound volume, screen display, and an optional Screen Frame that shows captions for character voices. You can also switch between three BGM versions, including the original audio and Daisuke Matsumoto's new arrangements.