Akai Katana is a top-down shooter featuring a Bullet Hell gameplay style, which means the ship has a set area called the “hit box” that must be navigated through a maze of bullets and adversaries. This shooter has six stages and three play modes: Origin (original arcade game), Slash, and Climax. They all have different play styles and levels of difficulty. The player can switch between defense and offensive mode in Origin and Climax. The ships move faster in defense, destroying enemies up close and collecting energy. The boat moves slower during an attack, but its shots are more powerful. When enemy bullets pass over the ship, the accumulated energy orbits it and grows. When going back to defense, energy is collected. For improved skills, power is necessary to activate the phantom mode. Slash mode employs a unique concept in which power is substituted by steel orbs that may be transformed into katanas.
Players take control of a rebellious pilot who uses a WWII-era aircraft to pursue his old masters. There are three pilots, each with a unique craft and power. Three smart bombs clear the entire screen, and a pilot with three lives, so not every bullet is harmful. Players have access to a supporting character for additional damage. However, its function varies depending on the game mode. Some tutorial films are included in the game to explain the scoring system and the central concept of “Bullet Hell” shooters.
