Kate: Collateral Damage

Kate is a deadly assassin who has been poisoned with Polonium 204 by the Yakuza crime boss she is now hunting. The clock on her survival is literal: a time bar at the top of the screen depletes toward her death, slowed only by killing enemies. Weapons picked up from the environment and fallen opponents — pistols, submachine guns, knives, katanas — all carry limited ammunition and get discarded when depleted. Stimulant syringes, earned through play, fully restore the time bar and can occasionally prevent a killing blow. Ani, a hostage who becomes a companion, provides special abilities in combat. Most enemies die from one or two hits. So does Kate. Persistent upgrades and temporary perks accumulate between levels to improve the odds.