History VideoGame / AkaiKatana

** The ''EXA LABEL'' UpdatedRerelease adds the hidden Ultimate difficulty, which makes enemies fire far more bullets. However, since this game's scoring mechanics in all modes revolve around cancelling bullets, [[HardModePerks this can also result in much higher-scoring runs]].

** The home editions add Novice difficulty to Origin and Shin modes, boosting your resource gains but also giving you weaker score gains.
** The ''EXA LABEL'' UpdatedRerelease adds the hidden Ultimate difficulty, which makes enemies fire far more bullets. However, since this game's scoring mechanics in all modes revolve around cancelling bullets, this can also result in much higher-scoring runs.

* BattleInTheRain: Stage 5 in the non-Origin modes is set during an intense typhoon.

* IfItSwimsItFlies: Inverted. The Shakevolt fighters, which are clearly modeled after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII-era fighter planes, can "fly" underwater without any ill effect, as demonstrated in the first act of Stage 4.

* VersionExclusiveContent: The ''EXA LABEL'' version features a unique ArrangeMode not available in any other version of the game, not even the later console and PC release by City Connection (due to using the Xbox 360 version as the base rather than any of the later rereleases).

* ''Akai Katana EXA LABEL'' / ''Crimson Katana EXA LABEL'' (Arcade via exA-Arcadia hardware platform - 2021), published and developed by exA-Arcadia[[note]]Development by their [=AM2=] division[[/note]] -- Another arcade updated rerelease, featuring the content of the previous versions, as well as a new FM synth soundtrack, a new Exa Label ArrangeMode, and a new "Extreme" difficulty. It also introduces significant performance improvements.

* IKnowYoureSomewhereInThereFight: When Botan and Kikyou engage Hiiragi in the latter's Stage 4 boss fight, the two siblings try to invoke this by telling him to come to his senses, but Hiiragi insists he's perfectly sane and knows what he's doing.

* CallingTheOldManOut: Reaching the FinalBoss Basho as his children Kikyou and Botan results in an exchange where Kikyou calls their father a [[YouMonster "savage brute"]] while Botan pleads with their father to stop. The feeling appears to be mutual:

* InvincibilityPowerUp: In Origin and Climax modes, entering phantom form creates a shield that renders you invincible to bullets and additionally repels them away as long as you are not in Attack mode (holding down the shot button). Even if you ''do'' get hit, it will just exit you back into fighter form with some of your Spirit gauge lost without any loss to your lives. As such, if you aren't concerned with score, you can just spend much of stages and boss fights in phantom form and stay invulnerable that way. Note that staying in Defend mode in phantom form also greatly reduces your damage-per-second, so you can't just cheese through boss fights with it.

* ''Akai Katana EXA LABEL'' / ''Crimson Katana EXA LABEL'' (Arcade via exA-Arcadia - 2021), published and developed by exA-Arcadia[[note]]Development by their [=AM2=] division[[/note]] -- Another arcade updated rerelease, featuring the content of the previous versions, as well as a new FM synth soundtrack, a new Exa Label ArrangeMode, and a new "Extreme" difficulty. It also introduces significant performance improvements.

* ''Akai Katana Shin'' (JP) / ''Akai Katana'' (NA/EU) (UsefulNotes/Xbox360 - 2011 in Japan, 2012 in North America and Europe), developed by CAVE[[labelnote:Publishers]]CAVE in Japan, Rising Star Games in the West[[/labelnote]] -- An UpdatedRerelease of the game featuring two new modes, Climax (Zetsu in JP ver.) and Slash (Shin in JP ver.). The Japanese version has a free 2-stage trial version.

* ''Akai Katana EXA LABEL'' / ''Crimson Katana EXA LABEL'' (Arcade via exA-Arcadia - 2021), published and developed by exA-Arcadia[[note]]Development by their [=AM2=] division[[/note]] -- Another arcade updated rerelease developed by , featuring the content of the previous versions, as well as a new FM synth soundtrack, a new Exa Label ArrangeMode, and a new "Extreme" difficulty. It also introduces significant performance improvements.

The game has received several ports and [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]]

''Akai Katana'' (2010) is a BulletHell ShootEmUp by Creator/{{Cave}}, originally released for arcades on the CAVE [=CV1000=]-D hardware. It is Cave's third HorizontalScrollingShooter and revisits the concept of the pilot and gunner being different characters, such as in ''VideoGame/{{Progear}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}''. Programming was done by S. Yagawa of Creator/EightingRaizing fame. Music was composed by the late Ryu Umemoto. There is an UsefulNotes/Xbox360 port, titled ''Akai Katana Shin''. Those with a Japanese Xbox 360 can download a free trial of the first two stages. It has been localized for Europe and the US by Rising Star Games as simply ''Akai Katana'' (although having the same content as ''Akai Katana Shin''). This version was ported back to arcades as ''Akai Katana Shin for [=NESiCA=]×Live'' in 2012. Another arcade release, ''Akai Katana EXA LABEL'' (or ''Crimson Katana EXA LABEL'' when the game is set to English), was released in 2021. An additional consumer release of ''Shin'' was released for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in Japan on December 15, 2022, and globally on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} for Windows PC on the same day; the console versions would later be released internationally on June 29, 2023. This version is handled by Creator/{{City Connection|Developer}}'s TAKE×OFF division (the same team that worked on the ''VideoGame/{{Deathsmiles}} I・II'' release for the same platforms); aside from being a straight port of the Xbox 360 version, it also features a brand new arrange soundtrack.

Set in a parallel world resembling Japan's Taisho period, the people have discovered the powerful Blood Swords, the titular [[TitleDrop Akai Katana]]. Requiring human sacrifices to unleash their immense destructive power, these swords have been used by TheEmpire to crush neighbouring countries. However, all the bloodshed and power gained through sacrificing close family members has made some of the swordsmen reconsider. With new fighter planes and the powered up swords at their disposal, this small band of rebels now fight back against the tyrannical empire.

* InvincibilityPowerUp: In Origin and Climax modes, entering phantom form creates a shield that renders you invincible to bullets and additionally repels them away as long as you are not in Attack mode (holding down the shot button). Even if you ''do'' get hit, it will just exit you back into fighter form with some of your Spirit gauge lost without any loss to your lives. As such, if you aren't concerned with score, you can just spend much of stages and boss fights in phantom form and stay invulnerable that way. Note that [[CollisionDamage colliding with enemies]] even if your shield is on will also have the same effect as being hit in Attack mode.

*** Slash Mode (''Shin'' in the JP version) also removes the score item {{Cap}}, and disables the Phantom's invincibility when in Defense mode, but allows the collection of Steel Orbs and Katanas. Both can cancel bullets, and anything Katanas pierce create huge score items. Like Climax, this version of the game is also 7 stages long.

*** Slash Mode also removes the score item {{Cap}}, and disables the Phantom's invincibility when in Defense mode, but allows the collection of Steel Orbs and Katanas. Both can cancel bullets, and anything Katanas pierce create huge score items. Like Climax, this version of the game is also 7 stages long.

** The limited White and Red modes only available on a "Limited Edition" PCB has a stage select option and can only be played on Free Play mode. In the White mode, the option has a shorter tether, and bomb invincibility is reduced. In addition, while in Phantom mode, Gold, which gains its value from the HIT counter, is sucked in, as opposed to orbiting the phantom. Red mode is a harder mode of White mode, with rearranged enemy placements and bullet patterns. In addition, the HIT counter only resets when the player is hit, instead of when the player exits Phantom mode.
** ''Akai Katana Shin'' contains three modes: Origin, which is the original arcade version, Climax (''Zetsu'' in the JP version), which is a modified version of Origin with widescreen compatibility, and Slash (''Shin'' in the JP version), which is the designated arrange mode. Climax mode removes the on-screen score item {{Cap}}, as well as increases the number of suicide bullets fired. Slash Mode also removes the score item {{Cap}}, and disables the Phantom's invincibility when in Defense mode, but allows the collection of Steel Orbs and Katanas. Both can cancel bullets, and anything Katanas pierce create huge score items. Climax and Slash both feature a new stage between Stage 4 and the old Stage 5.

* InvincibilityPowerUp: In Origin and Climax modes, entering phantom form creates a shield that renders you invincible to bullets and additionally repels them away as long as you are not in Attack mode (holding down the shot button). Even if you ''do'' get hit, it will just exit you back into fighter form with some of your Spirit gauge lost without any loss to your lives. Note that [[CollisionDamage colliding with enemies]] even if your shield is on will also have the same effect as being hit in Attack mode.

''Akai Katana'' (2010) is a BulletHell ShootEmUp by Creator/{{Cave}}, originally released for arcades on the CAVE [=CV1000=]-D hardware. It is Cave's third HorizontalScrollingShooter and revisits the concept of the pilot and gunner being different characters, such as in ''VideoGame/{{Progear}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}''. Programming was done by S. Yagawa of Creator/EightingRaizing fame. Music was composed by the late Ryu Umemoto. There is an UsefulNotes/Xbox360 port, titled ''Akai Katana Shin''. Those with a Japanese Xbox 360 can download a free trial of the first two stages. It has been localized for Europe and the US by Rising Star Games as simply ''Akai Katana'' (although having the same content as ''Akai Katana Shin''). This version was ported back to arcades as ''Akai Katana Shin for [=NESiCA=]×Live'' in 2012. Another arcade release, ''Akai Katana EXA LABEL'' (or ''Crimson Katana EXA LABEL'' when the game is set to English), was released in 2021. An additional consumer release of ''Shin'' was released for UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and UsefulNotes/XboxOne in Japan on December 15, 2022, and globally on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} for Windows PC on the same day; the Western console versions are to be released at a future unknown date. This version is handled by Creator/{{City Connection|Developer}}'s TAKE×OFF division (the same team that worked on the ''VideoGame/{{Deathsmiles}} I・II'' release for the same platforms); aside from being a straight port of the Xbox 360 version, it also features a brand new arrange soundtrack.

%% ** ''EXA LABEL''[='=]s unique arrange mode