Credit: Banjo Toad Studio
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Dust off your katana and sharpen your reflexes, samurai. One-Thousand Cuts, a side-scrolling adventure by Banjo Toad Studio, is poised to deliver a brutal dance of combat that will test your mettle. Forget mindless button-mashing; here, every clash is a desperate duel demanding precision and skill. One wrong move could be your last, but the rewards are high. Imagine a world steeped in the rich tapestry of Japanese lore, where each decision you make carries weight.
One-Thousand Cuts promises a haunting atmosphere reminiscent of Blasphemous, but with the punishing combat inspired by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Brace yourself for a crimson ballet of steel – are you ready to carve your name into legend?
What is One Thousand Cuts?
In One Thousand Cuts, you play as a warrior who must hack and slash through an Army of One-Thousand to reclaim your rightful place as Daimyo. Explore a vibrant world filled with legendary warriors, treacherous shogunate officials, and fearsome supernatural yōkai. As you fight your way through these perilous landscapes, you’ll uncover hidden truths and make choices that shape your journey. Keep your wits about you and your blade sharp—it’s a challenging road ahead.
A 2D Sidescroller with Rich Storytelling
The game is a 2D sidescroller with a design philosophy centered on simple yet satisfying combat. Your journey is filled with deeply consequential choices that add depth to the story. The developers have crafted a lore-rich world where each battle and each decision has an impact. With its unique pixel-art style, the game transports you to a world where retro gaming meets traditional Japanese aesthetics.
A Unique Blend of Art Styles
One Thousand Cuts features a hand-animated art style that combines the charm of classic Gameboy-era games with the traditional beauty of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Every frame is meticulously crafted, creating a visual experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh. This unique blend of art styles sets the game apart from other sidescrollers, drawing you into a visually captivating world.
Planned Kickstarter Campaign in 2024
The game is slated for a Kickstarter campaign in 2024, with a full release expected in 2025. This gives you the opportunity to support the game’s development and become part of its journey from concept to completion. If you’re ready for a game that challenges you to survive against overwhelming odds, One Thousand Cuts is worth keeping on your radar. Try not to die.
Between Loyalty and Honor: The Tale of Hiroyuki
The age of the samurai is teetering on the edge of uncertainty. Whispers of betrayal and conspiracies swirl through the air, infecting even the most loyal clans with suspicion. At the heart of this turmoil is young Hiroyuki, a samurai exiled as a child by his father, Hidetsugu. For years, Hiro trained relentlessly at his uncle’s dojo, honing his skills and building a bond with the only family he’s ever truly known.
A Family Divided by Betrayal
Now, Hiroyuki finds himself in the midst of a hostile takeover within his clan. The father who cast him out is leading a fearsome army, bent on consolidating power at any cost. Hiro is faced with an impossible choice: should he side with his father, Hidetsugu, and turn against the friends and uncle who took him in, or should he stand with Uncle Jiro and defy the overwhelming force of his father’s army? This decision is not just about loyalty or honor—it is about survival and the future of the samurai way.
A Choice Between Loyalty and Blood
Hiro knows that only one cut can be the difference between life and death, but his path is fraught with peril no matter which side he chooses. If he joins his father, he will have to betray those who have shown him love and guidance. If he fights against his father’s army, he faces nearly impossible odds. Hiro’s journey will test the limits of his loyalty, his skills, and his courage. What can one man do against an Army of One-Thousand? The time has come for Hiro to find out.
Gameplay Overview
In “One Thousand Cuts,” the game provides two distinct moral routes for players to choose from after completing the tutorial. These routes shape not only the level of challenge but also the story outcomes, influencing the dialogue and ending that players will encounter.
Mercy Route: Hard Mode
Choosing the Mercy route sets the game to Hard Mode. In this mode, your first hit on an enemy, knocks them out for a brief period, temporarily incapacitating them. However, if you hit the enemy again before they recover or if you knock out every enemy in the room before the first one revives, they go down permanently.
This route offers access to the “good” dialogue options and leads to the “good” ending. It’s a more challenging path, requiring precision and restraint, as you must carefully time your attacks to avoid accidentally killing foes.
Lethality Route: Easy Mode
Opting for the Lethality route sets the game to Easy Mode. Here, each attack kills enemies outright or knocks off one level of armor, allowing for quicker progression through the game. This route provides the player with choices when facing defeated bosses—you can either execute them or spare them, with your decisions affecting their role in the story later on.
Execution animations in this mode are particularly brutal. Players who follow this route gain access to “bad” dialogue options and eventually reach the “bad” ending. It’s a quicker and more aggressive approach to the game, catering to those who prefer to deal with enemies decisively.
Optional Boss: One-Eye the Low-Blood
At the end of the “Hallway” area, players encounter an optional two-stage boss fight against One-Eye the Low-Blood. Defeating this boss unlocks valuable abilities, allowing you to perform takedowns while in stealth mode and deactivate lantern hazards. These abilities provide players with new strategies to tackle challenging segments of the game, adding depth and replayability.
Optional Rooms and Hidden Cats
Throughout the game, there are optional rooms to explore. While these rooms contain more challenging enemies, they also hide collectible cats that players can pet. These cats aren’t just for show—they’ll follow you throughout the demo, adding a touch of charm to the experience. If you respawn, you can pet them again, providing a sense of continuity. Furthermore, these cats grant access to hidden areas and shortcuts, rewarding players who take the time to explore off the beaten path.
Customizable Experience
One Thousand Cuts offers a versatile gameplay experience, with moral routes that affect the level of difficulty, narrative outcomes, and gameplay mechanics. Whether you choose the challenging Mercy route or the fast-paced Lethality route, the game provides a rich and immersive adventure where your choices matter, and exploration is rewarded.
Features Overview
One Thousand Cuts offers a range of unique features that make the game feel immersive and engaging. Each element is designed to contribute to the game’s depth and replayability. Let’s take a detailed look!
Unique Characters with Impactful Stories
Every character in the game is unique, with their own names, backstories, and relationships with the main character. Depending on the moral route you choose, these relationships can lead to funny, heartwarming, or even tragic consequences. The choices you make during your journey can shape how these characters react to you and, ultimately, how the story unfolds. Even seemingly non-threatening characters like custodial staff can turn hostile if you show aggression, adding an unexpected layer of risk to your interactions.
Pet Lounge for Your Feline Friends
For cat lovers, “One Thousand Cuts” includes a Pet Lounge accessible via the main menu. Here, you can relax and spend time with the hidden cats you’ve pet throughout the main game. It’s a fun and interactive way to engage with these collectible companions. As you progress through the game and collect more cats, the Pet Lounge becomes more lively, providing a charming distraction from the game’s intense combat and storyline.
Additional Lore and Dialog
Another interesting feature is the additional lore and dialog from bosses you’ve defeated who later join you on your quest. This offers players a chance to dive deeper into the game’s narrative and understand more about the world and its characters. Depending on your choices and which bosses you spare, the interactions in the Pet Lounge can vary, leading to unique story experiences.
Variety of Video Modes
“One Thousand Cuts” also lets you customize your visual experience with a selection of video modes in the settings menu. Each mode provides a different aesthetic, allowing you to enjoy the game in the style that suits you best:
Kurosawa – This mode transforms the game’s visuals into a black-and-white style, reminiscent of classic samurai films by Akira Kurosawa.
CRT – This mode simulates the look of an old-school CRT television, giving the game a retro feel.
GBA – This mode imitates the screen style of the original GameBoy, bringing a nostalgic vibe to the game.
Game Details: Key Information
Here is some of the key information about One Thousand Cuts:
Projected Steam Release Date: Q1 2025
“One Thousand Cuts” is expected to launch on Steam in the first quarter of 2025, giving gamers an exciting new title to kick off the year.
Projected Price: $19.99
The game is priced at $19.99, offering great value for an indie game with rich content and high replayability. Players can expect a quality experience without breaking the bank.
Resolution & Frame-Rate: 1920 x 1080, 60fps
With a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a smooth frame rate of 60fps, the game delivers crisp visuals and fluid animations, providing a visually immersive experience.
Current Availability: PC, Mac, Steamdeck
“One Thousand Cuts” will be available on PC, Mac, and Steamdeck, offering players flexibility in how they choose to play. This multi-platform approach allows for both traditional desktop and portable gaming experiences.
Experience the World of One Thousand Cuts
One Thousand Cuts promises a unique and engaging journey filled with challenging combat, compelling characters, and a richly crafted storyline. With its distinct moral routes, players can shape the game’s outcome through their choices, making every playthrough a unique experience. The combination of pixel art and traditional Japanese aesthetics brings the game to life, creating a captivating environment to explore.
Want to get a taste of the game before its full release? You can play a preview of One Thousand Cuts by following this link. It’s a great opportunity to dive into the world of the game and see what’s in store for you in 2025. Try it out and get ready for an epic adventure that blends action and storytelling in an unforgettable way.
