Play Daikatana Online

Summary

Unlike the infamous first‑person shooter, the Game Boy Color version of Daikatana reimagines the title as a top‑down action‑adventure that feels ripped straight from the early Legend of Zelda playbooks. Players guide a sword‑master through time‑hopping dungeons, solving puzzles, battling bosses, and navigating a world rendered in charming super‑deformed graphics.

The shift was driven by John Romero’s request for a handheld-friendly experience, and veteran designer Takeo Mogi took the helm at Kemco. Mogi deliberately modeled the game after the NES Zelda and Link’s Awakening, sprinkling in a Secret of Mana‑style vibe while reading Romero’s script for story cues.

Europe saw the game launch in September 2000, and Japan received it as a Nintendo Power download in May 2001; a planned North American release was scrapped after the original’s poor reputation, though an unreleased build later surfaced on Romero’s website.

Critics responded warmly, awarding it a 79 % average on GameRankings and dubbing it a “little GBC gem.” Reviewers praised its clever puzzles, instant‑save feature, and vibrant visuals, while noting stiff controls, a thin sound palette, and a wonky translation as minor flaws. It even earned a runner‑up spot for IGN’s best handheld adventure at E3.

Storyline

Daikatana follows Hiro Miyamoto, a young swordsman who learns that Kage Mishima, a long‑standing enemy of his family, has stolen the legendary Daikatana. Mishima plans to exploit the blade’s time‑warping powers to rewrite history. To pressure Hiro, Mishima kidnaps Hiro’s friend Mikiko and launches an assault on the family dojo. The story centers on Hiro’s race against time to rescue Mikiko, reclaim the Daikatana, and stop Mishima’s dangerous scheme.