Kusan: City of Wolves' biggest inspiration, Hotline Miami, is evident from the moment I load into the game's prologue, which introduces fast-paced combat that feels like the 2012 classic.

Most of my time in Kusan is spent slicing my way through rooms of enemies, gradually unlocking new abilities and upgrades for the main character, Jin.

The game is extremely challenging throughout the course of the campaign, which can cause some frustration, but I felt extremely satisfied after clearing a stage. Boss fights are also introduced throughout the adventure, acting as a test of skill.

At first, you're restricted to a punch before quickly learning how to parry, throw a dagger, shoot a pistol, and more. These options encourage you to combine attacks to launch Jin through rooms quickly, being rewarded based on your time, combo, and variety of attacks.

You're also quickly introduced to the game's upgrade system, which sees you installing modules to add extras to Jin's toolkit. You may decide to install a node that increases your ammunition, movement speed, or lets you parry projectiles.

The way you grab upgrades is also enjoyable; you install them onto a grid-like panel, with each upgrade requiring a certain amount of room to be applied. Some require significant space, but you can expand your grid by spending the in-game currency you collect throughout the game.

Although Jin's arsenal is varied, parrying feels a bit stiff; the window isn't clear, even following the tutorial. I found myself unintentionally parrying an enemy, or failing to do so when I meant to.

This problem also translates to the controls, which can sometimes feel a bit rigid, but if you're able to pull off stylish combos, you're rewarded tremendously for your efforts. A ranking is presented at the end, encouraging you to master the stages.

This is also complemented by a funky musical score, which the developers say is influenced by Korean hip-hop.

The overall presentation of Kusan is akin to Bladerunner mixed with the anthropomorphic animal characters of Beastars. The visual presentation is stylish, with comic book-like cutscenes combined with gorgeous pixel art.

However, the narrative itself is tricky to initially follow, and I found myself lost at parts.

Overall, despite a couple of issues regarding the controls and narrative, Kusan: City of Wolves is a fun top-down action game that likes to challenge you, but rewards you for playing smart by taking advantage of the tools provided.