《鴉-Karous》是由日本Milestone Inc.開發的垂直卷軸射擊遊戲，最早於2006年登陸SEGA NAOMI街機平台，之後移植至多個家用平台，包括Dreamcast、Xbox 360，以及後來的Nintendo Switch。以其獨特的黑白素描風格美術、沉重的世界觀與實驗性極強的系統而在射擊遊戲愛好者間形成獨特的口碑。

在劇情方面，設定於一個被戰爭與權力鬥爭摧殘的近未來世界，主角是一名名叫「鴉」的少女，她擁有駕駛先進武裝機體的能力，肩負著在荒廢都市中生存並尋找真相的使命。故事透過關卡過場與簡潔的文字呈現，帶有濃厚的寓言與末世感。在遊戲過程中，並不會得到完全明確的劇情，而是透過碎片化的敘事與關卡氛圍，逐步拼湊出世界的全貌，這種留白手法讓作品有著強烈的藝術實驗色彩。

操作方面，雖然屬於傳統的射擊遊戲，但系統設計極具深度。不僅可以使用遠距離射擊武器，還能釋放近戰劍擊，以及使用護盾格擋與反擊，三種武裝都能透過擊毀敵人獲得經驗值而升級。升級不僅影響火力，也改變武器的外觀與攻擊範圍。由於遊戲採用無限子彈與可持續強化的系統，必須在不同武器間靈活切換，並利用高分連鎖系統來追求更高的評價。此外，還設有獨特的「透明 HUD」設計，把介面融入背景畫面，使玩家完全沉浸在遊戲的視覺氛圍中。

市場反應方面，在街機時代雖然屬於小眾，但因為是NAOMI系統最後推出的垂直射擊遊戲之一，加上美術風格前衛，很快在硬核玩家中獲得關注。之後 Dreamcast版與Xbox 360合輯版《Milestone Shooting Collection》讓更多玩家接觸到本作。Switch版本則因攜帶性與高解析度重現原作畫面，使得它再次受到射擊遊戲愛好者與復古遊戲收藏家的青睞。不過，由於本作畫面風格偏灰暗、敘事隱晦，加上難度偏高，對主流玩家的吸引力有限，依舊維持在小眾佳作的地位。

"Karous" is a vertical scrolling shooter developed by Japanese studio Milestone Inc., first released in 2006 on the SEGA NAOMI arcade platform. It was later ported to several home consoles, including the Dreamcast, Xbox 360, and eventually the Nintendo Switch. The game is renowned among shooting game enthusiasts for its distinctive black-and-white sketch-style art, heavy thematic tone, and highly experimental gameplay systems.

The story is set in a near-future world ravaged by war and power struggles. The protagonist, a young girl named Karous, possesses the ability to pilot an advanced combat machine, tasked with surviving in a ruined city while seeking the truth. The narrative unfolds through stage interludes and concise text, carrying strong allegorical and post-apocalyptic undertones. Rather than presenting a fully clear storyline, the game delivers fragmented storytelling and immersive level atmospheres, encouraging players to gradually piece together the full scope of its world. This minimalist approach gives the game a distinctly artistic and experimental edge.

In terms of gameplay, while it belongs to the traditional shooting game genre, its system design is notably deep. Players can utilize long-range firearms, unleash melee sword attacks, and deploy shields for blocking and countering. All three weapon types can be leveled up by destroying enemies, with upgrades affecting not only firepower but also weapon appearance and attack range. With unlimited ammunition and a continuously upgradable arsenal, players must strategically switch between weapons and make use of a high-score chaining system to achieve better ratings. The game also features a unique “transparent HUD” design, blending interface elements seamlessly into the background to heighten visual immersion.

Market-wise, while the arcade release remained niche, it garnered attention for being one of the last vertical shooters on the NAOMI system, as well as for its avant-garde art direction. The later Dreamcast release and Xbox 360 compilation “Milestone Shooting Collection” helped the game reach a broader audience. The Switch version, with its portability and high-resolution reproduction of the original visuals, renewed its appeal among shooting game fans and retro collectors. Nevertheless, due to its muted color palette, cryptic storytelling, and high difficulty level, the game retained its status as a cult classic rather than a mainstream hit.