First Cut 1.0

Samurai fighting game for PC

First Cut is a free action title for PC by an indie developer who goes by the name Drasnus. It is a fighting game with a Japanese theme to it, wherein players will be controlling a samurai and engaging in one-on-one duels. Everything is presented in retro pixel art styling, with a variety of locations and character designs.

Similar to Katana ZERO or Samurai Gunn 2, First Cut takes heavy inspiration from Japanese culture for its themes and design. It has over-the-top action and grounded and realistic gameplay, making it a more engaging and immersive experience.

Draw your sword

First Cut is essentially a samurai duel game with a focus on realism. In it, you will be engaging in 1v1 fights with either AI or human players. It features pixel art for its design, and coupled with rather violent and gory effects, makes for a visceral experience. There are multiple distinct locations to battle in, from open fields to dojos, and under a waterfall, to name a few.

The game supports solo and local multiplayer gameplay. Attacks involved a horizontal slash and both low and high vertical slashes. Holding the button down will charge your attack and delay the timing to confuse your enemy. Press in the same direction as the incoming attack to block it, while pressing attack immediately after will result in a counterattack. You can also duck or sidestep against them if you prefer.

You can even shove your opponent to throw them off balance and be susceptible to a quick attack. Just be aware that every action affects your fatigue, which will slow down your attacks if you don't take a pause. Before diving in, know that this is the prototype version of the game. You can opt for the premium version, which is the one that's receiving regular updates and improvements.

Fight to the death

If you're a fan of Samurai games, First Cut is pretty much a must-play for you. It has a prototype status, but it is surprisingly polished in both design and gameplay. You can play it solo or via local multiplayer. The combat itself is deceptively simple, but actually offers flexibility in playstyle. If you liked what you played, get the premium version for the best and most updated experience possible.