Chakan the Forever Man: Does anyone else hate this game?

[Emperor Megas]

I'm probably alone in this, but I think this game is horrible. Bad graphics, worse sound, terrible character design, and horrible floaty controls -- and I'm always hearing people question why there wasn't a sequel? I was never interested in the game because it always looked like crap to me, but after almost a decade of the game collecting dust on my shelf, I finally decided to just put the cart in and see what all the fuss was about, and it's been the most frustrating 20 or so minutes I've spend this year.

"Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh!!" Restart the level, and 10 seconds later; "urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh!", ad nauseam.

Does anyone else not care for this game, or at least had a rough start of it? I'm hoping things get better as I play along.

[Gameguy]

I don't like it, I think it's pretty bad all around. I'm always surprised when I hear someone does like it.

[chrisbid]

the games story and character resemble modern gaming tastes. it was fairly unique in the early 90s.

[kupomogli]

Aside from the difficulty it's not a bad game.

[Emperor Megas]

So, I've spent more time with the game and it's definitely gotten better, however now I dislike because if feels like it's an otherwise good experience hindered by poor controls and the other issues I mention before. I don't mind a difficult game, but I don't like a game that's made artificially difficult because of floaty controls and poor hit detection.

The whole spells thing I didn't even take in until I was playing it for a while. I admit that I only scanned the manual. It suggests watching the 4 demo/attract mode sequences to get a better idea of how to play the game, but you have to sit through a LONG ass intro between each one.

I also started the game on hard because the only alternatives were 'practice' and 'easy'. Seriously? Why not a 'normal' setting?


the games story and character resemble modern gaming tastes. it was fairly unique in the early 90s. You're absolutely right. This license would be a really good candidate for a modern action game. I can see what they were trying to do with this game when it was released, but it's hindered by poor/sloppy execution, IMO.

Regardless, I AM enjoying it more now then I did when I first started it, and I'll likely play it all the way through at some point soon. I never want to dislike a game.

[Dire 51]

Didn't like it back then, don't like it now. I rank it down with certain other Genesis games that others seem to love, but I can't stand: Vectorman 1 & 2, Kid Chameleon, Comix Zone and the Ecco games among them.

[j_factor]

I absolutely hate this game. There are very few Sega games that I consider actually bad games, but this is one of them. Cheap difficulty, subpar controls, poor graphics, and annoying sound.

[hellraiser]

I owned this game the first time around. Defiantly not pickin it up again.

I'm not sure what it is but I just never liked this one. I mean it's dark, has a cool character and story and hard as hell. These are all things I normally love but in this game it just doesent work for me.

[Jack7]

I have a love-hate relationship with this game. ok more like mildly amused-hate. thing is i want to like it. the concept is pretty cool, and visually and audio-wise the game has so much promise. I want to like it, It's just control seems to fall very short, like whenever i want to double jump i only get it right once in a while.

[Gameguy]

http://i43.tinypic.com/30a6h6f.png

[Jack7]

http://i43.tinypic.com/30a6h6f.png

Thats awesome, you make that?

[Edmond Dantes]

I'm okay with this game. I thought it was insane difficult at first, but its one of those "easy when you know how" games.

Here's a tip: at first, don't play to win, just go thru the levels grabbing potions and intentionally suicide. Experiment to see which potions do what. From there it becomes basically a game of keeping your potion stock full.

Also, there is absolutely NO difference between Normal and Hard difficulty. I beat it on both and the only thing I noticed was enemies do SLIGHTLY more damage.

Fun fact: the Game Gear version is a completely different game with entirely new levels, though the same villains/plot, and both games are based on a short-lived independent comic by Robert A. Kraus.

[WoodyXP]

When I first bought that game I absolutely hated it. Mainly because I didn't know WTF I was doing. The manual that came with the game was cryptic.. didn't give you any clues as to what your purpose was or what to do to progress in the game. After I figured it out I found Chakan to be a great game.

[Eric Dude]

I hate this game for having so much potential with a cool storyline and character, and then ruining it with bad controls and insane difficulty. Lay in hell, Chakan.

[megasdkirby]

Never liked it, but quite honestly, never quite gave it a chance either. Seemed a bit "generic" for some reason, though I can't really pinpoint how exactly.

[BydoEmpire]

Never played it back in the day, and I only checked it out briefly on an emulator much later. I love the art style, and thought it as a good looking game. Hard as hell, though, not something I'd spend a lot of time trudging through.

[rbudrick]

A buddy of mine and I rented this back when it came out. We were so friggin pissed at the difficulty, but kept at it. Some levels were incredibly difficult, but we never thought it was a bad game, just extremely challenging. Basically, aside from difficulty, I found it slightly above average for the time. Not a "bad" game by any means.We had to leave it on pause overnight and pick up again then next day, but after two days, we made it to the end boss, which you WILL die at. Wanna fight him again? START THE WHOLE GAME OVER. Yes, the game has unlimited continues, except at the last boss. The weird part...it STILL gives you the ending whether you beat him or not....only found this out years later with save states

-Rob

[Gameguy]

Thats awesome, you make that?
Yes I did. :)

[Edmond Dantes]

You actually get a better ending if you lose to the final boss.

He's not impossible, actually--just use the potion that lets you shoot fireballs and attack from a distance. He can't hurt you. Its as I said earlier, once you figure Chakan out, its easy as hell. The biggest game-breakers are the ranged attacks, the temporary invincibility, and the potion that allows you to set your own checkpoints. But it doesn't matter because once again, beating that final boss isn't really worth it because you actually get a lamer ending for doing so.

[wingzrow]

Didn't this game have a lot of slowdown at seemingly random points?

[Baloo]

You actually get a better ending if you lose to the final boss.

He's not impossible, actually--just use the potion that lets you shoot fireballs and attack from a distance. He can't hurt you. Its as I said earlier, once you figure Chakan out, its easy as hell. The biggest game-breakers are the ranged attacks, the temporary invincibility, and the potion that allows you to set your own checkpoints. But it doesn't matter because once again, beating that final boss isn't really worth it because you actually get a lamer ending for doing so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKKTW3Rv3p0

Biggest troll ending for such an unbelievably difficult game.

[WoodyXP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKKTW3Rv3p0

Biggest troll ending for such an unbelievably difficult game.

The game is Hell. No way to win, really.

[Parodius Duh!]

I have a love-hate relationship with this game. ok more like mildly amused-hate. thing is i want to like it. the concept is pretty cool, and visually and audio-wise the game has so much promise. I want to like it, It's just control seems to fall very short, like whenever i want to double jump i only get it right once in a while.

ditto. This was 1 of 3 Genesis games I had for about 2 years before receiving any other games. I would try and force myself to enjoy the game, but I just can't as much as Id like to. It has so much promise but once you get in there its a total let down.

[Spidey80]

I have the Game Gear version.Not the greatest game I`ve ever played,but it`s OK

[sheath]

I dislike Chakan for the same reason I dislike the original Genesis X-Men game and the Incredible Hulk game. So much potential, and so many unavoidable cheap shots. Although, I need to give X-Men another try, somebody explained some goodies to me and it actually sounds like it has a lot more depth to the gameplay than I previously thought.

[WoodyXP]

Although, I need to give X-Men another try, somebody explained some goodies to me and it actually sounds like it has a lot more depth to the gameplay than I previously thought.

Like what.. having to get off your arse to press the reset button? It took me forever to figure that one out. @_@

[DigitalSpace]

Chakan is one of the few Genesis games I wish I'd never bothered with. Bought it because it was cheap and the box looked cool. After trying it out, I came to the conclusion that my time was better spent with one of the many great shmups on the system. The copy I purchased is now in someone else's collection.

[Emperor Megas]

I fired up my JVC X'Eye after about 2 years and, yeah...fuck this game. I'm never going to relearn the little progress I made nearly 2 years ago, so I guess this is just a frustrating memory and a place holder now to pad my collection.

[T2KFreeker]

I hate to admit it, but yeah, this game was so cool for me back in the day. Nowadays though, I know better. The cheap play mechanics and horrendous lack of a learning curve cripples it.