KAI: Shadow Requiem guide
KAI: Shadow Requiem is a free story-driven samurai action game that runs in your browser, on phones and computers. You play KAI, a young swordsman, and fight chapter by chapter through a burning village, a haunted forest and a stormy mountain pass, with combos, special moves and a boss at the end of every stage. This guide covers the story so far, every chapter, all the moves and the tricks that make the bosses easier.
The story
KAI grew up in the hidden village of Akatsura, trained by Master Ren, a legendary swordsman who taught him that a sword should protect life, not feed anger. KAI lost his parents in an attack when he was young and has always believed the Shadow Clan was behind it.
The game opens on the morning of Master Ren’s last lesson. Then the Shadow Clan attacks, Akatsura burns, and KAI sets out after them. Along the road he finds letters, memories and clues that suggest the truth about his past, and about the Shadow Clan’s leader Kurogane, is not as simple as he thought.
Chapters and bosses
Prologue: The Last Lesson
Dawn in Akatsura. Master Ren teaches the basics in the courtyard (you can skip the tutorial), then the bell rings and the attack begins: run through the burning village to rescue the villagers. A short picture cinematic leads into Stage 1.
Stage 1: The Fallen Village
Fight through the ruined, rain-soaked village against grunts, rogue swordsmen, spear guards and corrupted hounds. The boss is the armoured Clan Commander, who fights in three phases. Beating him unlocks Shadow Slash and upgrades KAI’s sword (+15% damage).
Stage 2: The Cursed Forest
Into the haunted forest of Yomikage: shadow assassins, forest stalkers that leap out of the background, spirit archers and corrupted monks whose shockwave you must jump. Cross a root bridge that collapses under you. Aya joins the story here. The boss is the Veil Assassin, with shadow copies and an eclipse phase. Rewards: a quicker dodge out of any attack and a stronger Shadow Slash.
Stage 3: The Iron Pass
Up the stormy mountain road to Kurogane’s fortress: shield brutes, crossbow hunters, elite samurai and engineers with machines, plus cannon fire, crushing pistons, electrified conduits and lightning. The boss is the Iron Warlord. Reward: Iron Breaker, so heavy attacks do full damage through armour.
Moves and controls
Keys are for a keyboard; on a phone every move has its own button (see below).
- Walk and runA / D or ← →
- Double-tap or hold Shift to run.
- Attack and comboJ
- Tap again for the 5-hit combo. While running it becomes a dash slash.
- UppercutW / ↑ + J
- Launches an enemy upward.
- Jump and aerial slashK or Space
- Press J in the air for an aerial slash.
- CrouchS / ↓ (hold)
- Duck under high attacks and projectiles.
- Heavy attackU
- Slower, breaks guards. After Stage 3 it goes through armour.
- GuardI (hold)
- Blocks most hits in front of you.
- DodgeL
- A backstep that also cancels the combo.
- Spin and Shadow SlashO
- Spin attack; with a direction it is Shadow Slash (needs 50 meter, unlocked after Stage 1).
- Dragon RendP
- The strongest move (needs a full 100 meter). Try it in the training ground.
Playing on a phone
- Turn the phone sideways: the game plays best in landscape, and the full-screen button gives you even more room.
- Move with the floating stick: put your thumb down anywhere on the left side. Attack is the big button on the right, with Jump, Dodge, Guard, Heavy, Shadow Slash and Dragon Rend around it.
- If the game feels slow, switch HD graphics off in the menu. Blood effects can be turned off there too.
Tips
- Don’t stand still in a crowd. Hit, then dodge back and let enemies come to you one or two at a time.
- The meter fills as you land hits. Save 50 for Shadow Slash when a group bunches up, or when a boss is open.
- Bosses tell you before they strike: watch for the wind-up, guard or dodge, then punish with a combo.
- Ground marks show where cannon fire and lightning will land. Step out of them first, fight second.
- Losing just sends you back to the last checkpoint: there are no lives, so try a different approach.
- Use the training ground to practise: every move is unlocked, and you can call any enemy to fight.
KAI: Shadow Requiem: questions and answers
Is KAI: Shadow Requiem free?
Yes. It is free on SquadAdda, with nothing to buy.
Do I need to download it?
No. It runs in the browser on Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers.
How many chapters are there?
Right now the Prologue and three stages: The Fallen Village, The Cursed Forest and The Iron Pass. More chapters are on the way.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, on your device: finished stages, checkpoints and unlocked moves. Clearing your browser data resets it.
How do I unlock Shadow Slash?
Beat the Clan Commander at the end of Stage 1. Stage 2’s boss makes it stronger.
Can I play with a keyboard?
Yes. All controls are in the list above, and the Controls button in the game shows them too.
Who made KAI: Shadow Requiem?
SquadAdda, an independent Indian platform that helps gamers find teammates. KAI is an original game, not connected with any other studio.