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Is Chakan: The Forever Man Worth Playing Today? - Segadrunk
Maybe the most difficult Genesis/Mega Drive game out there, and it's in the conversation for most difficult 16-bit game period...
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Cool trivia about this franchise: Blood Omen 2 started as a Chakan sequel before getting reworked into a Legacy of Kain game!
@Gatorade69
Жыл бұрын
That's awesome. I feel Chakan could make a comeback.
@shrim1481
Жыл бұрын
chacarron?
@woogha
Жыл бұрын
Chakan is even featured in the game as a crucified corpse in a mural.
@Gatorade69
Жыл бұрын
@@shrim1481 Ihni binni dimi diniwiny anitaime Ihni binni dimi dini uan mor taime Or ihni binni diniwiny ani taime O Ihni binni dini one mor taime
@moonrazk
Жыл бұрын
Speculation, according to Wikipedia.
Ninja Gaiden: "When you die on the last boss, you have to start the entire level over again." Chakana: "Hold my beer."
@khaimk4r4su
Жыл бұрын
Chakan: "hold my beer... forever. Brb"
@francescosmith7859
Жыл бұрын
That's good!
@Yussnan84.
Жыл бұрын
"Chakana"
@jonahabenhaim1223
Жыл бұрын
Mega man X2 hold my E tank
@robertwildschwein7207
Жыл бұрын
If this final boss is 1/8 as hard as in Dark Souls, I will literally go insane before finishing this game!!!
My cousin was at the mall and there was a guy selling art. My cousin seen Chakan and said hey that's Chakan. Guy said yeah I made that. Cousin said your Bob Crouse (I hope I spelled it right). Bob said you know me then buy that at half off and I'll throw in something else free. Great deal and they just shot the shit for like an hour. Bob's an awesome guy.
@erikdominick7404
Жыл бұрын
I met him once at Gencon and he was just as awesome as you said. Just was a lotta fun to talk to (and I bought plenty from him to boot)
@meatrace
Жыл бұрын
@@erikdominick7404 Oh wow, what year? I met him my first year at GenCon in 1996 and yeah we talked for a while about the game, about comics. I ended up getting a bunch of autographed prints for pretty cheap. Super cool guy.
@JJKoester
Жыл бұрын
Did you get the "Who's Next" print? I had that on my wall for ages.
@khaimk4r4su
Жыл бұрын
@@JJKoester that poster is freaking awesome
@JohnDoe-wq5eu
Жыл бұрын
This is one of those games it’s cool in so many ways but it commits at least one if not a few of the cardinal sins of game making including the enormous difficulty spike and the stupid jumping issues. With a little tweaking this game could have been awesome. I mean I know there’s ROM hacks for it that fix the issues but that’s just kind of weak. It’s better than nothing but I wish they had done the work to make the original game what it should be.
Hopefully this game has a rom hack to make it easier. Edit; found one named Ultimate Chakan which was released in September. Complete overhaul of the game.
@Liquidcadmus
Жыл бұрын
I was going to comment that this game needs a rom hack, and the first comment I see is yours haha. good to know someone worked on this one to make it more enjoyable.
@SRC267
Жыл бұрын
@@Liquidcadmus whilst searching I found another hack based on this one but with God Mode abilities activated.
I owned this game when I was 11 years old back in 93. Back then, we had no clue about the difficulty. We didn't even complain about it either. We just played. Looking back, this was the only game I was never able to beat. I remember telling my friends that in this game, you don't win. You just do better each time.
@giorgiomunzini4819
Жыл бұрын
For me that was Air Fortress,,, after you "won" the game it all turned a funky pinky devilish color that was way worse,, even after the safe codes,, at least you had that,, it was impossible to pass after the second world,, it was designed to "not" pass,,, or was it the third world,,?,, I cannot remember,, for it repeated itself....
It should be worth noting that there's a recent romhack for Chakan that makes the game a lot more passable, so that may be worth looking into.
@ivansotelo4622
Жыл бұрын
Thanks sir 😁
@MixMasterLar
Жыл бұрын
Good to know
@joseystrife
Жыл бұрын
Was wondering if anyone was going to point this out. Yes there's a romhack that improves the game IMMENSELY and I also highly recommend it. It makes the game a lot more enjoyable.
@jonahabenhaim1223
Жыл бұрын
What’s it called?
@RedSpade37
Жыл бұрын
@@jonahabenhaim1223 Good question. Let me see what I can find. As far as I know, Genesis Romhacks might be a bit harder to track down, but these days, that info may no longer be accurate.
Actually brought Chakan into a DND campaign once. Though it became comical when the players kept singing "shakakahn!"
@mikaelsza
Жыл бұрын
Chaka Khan, let me rock you Let me rock you, Chaka Khan Let me rock you, that's all I wanna do Chaka Khan, let me rock you Let me rock you, Chaka Khan Let me rock you, 'cause I feel for you
@zennyspent
Жыл бұрын
@@mikaelsza yes. Fuck, yes.
@JReed7560
Жыл бұрын
kzread.info/dash/bejne/hZ91r86KZtOplpc.html
@Spllyn
Жыл бұрын
I shuck oysters for a living, and use the phrase often lol
@at0micwerew0lf
Жыл бұрын
Oh wow...what a killer idea!!
You should do a Turbodrunk series, looking at individual PC Engine and TG16 games.
@brycepalmer-toy3618
Жыл бұрын
There's another channel called spida1a that's reviewed all the TG16 games.
@TVans-vs3gn
Жыл бұрын
Turbodrunk sounds great
@SNESdrunk
Жыл бұрын
@@brycepalmer-toy3618 Seconding spida1a, that channel is a great resource
@Justin-rv7oy
Жыл бұрын
@@SNESdrunk I know about that awesome channel, but I personally enjoy your format/input more. The TG16 gets unfairly labeled because of the 8bit cpu (but 16bit gpu), in general though, it's much more in line with its 16bit brethren. Games like Bonks Revenge, Soldier Blade, and Rondo of Blood are some of the best games of the early 1990s. I know you did that compilation video years ago, but those games deserve an individual shake. C'mon, a game like Bloody Wolf would be right up your alley. 😄
@calvinanderson4245
Жыл бұрын
I just want him to have a unique intro for Arcadedrunk videos. "ARRRRRRRRcade drunk!"
My sock drawer is organized. So I I guess it’s time to play Chakan
@themajordudes8194
Жыл бұрын
That sounds like a line from an arnold movie 🤣
This thing craves a Platinum Games-worthy remake. Throw some death metal soundtrack in it while you're at it.
@triplestar100
Жыл бұрын
I'd rather have it as a "Souls-Borne" type like Nioh or Elden Ring, otherwise I wholeheartedly agree!
@jonahabenhaim1223
Жыл бұрын
The movement in the game seems quite revolutionary.
@CharlieTooHuman
Жыл бұрын
@@triplestar100 Bloodborne is probably the closest you can get to this
I would rage quit this game so hard as a kid. I need to play this again..
@Gatorade69
Жыл бұрын
So you can rage quit it again ? :)
@musashielmaldito6848
Жыл бұрын
I did beat it but it was blood tears and one nut but satisfied
@jwill7998
Жыл бұрын
Two words: save state. I have no shame when it comes to save scumming.
@Viceroy_Sundercles_III
Жыл бұрын
I remember loving this as a kid. I need to play this again…
@shrim1481
Жыл бұрын
chacarron?
The studio that made Blasphemous should totally do a remake of this game! I had this one back in the day and played it so much. A definite fave!
I never got far with this game, as a kid but the story and art style made me love playing it. I used a cheat code to skip to the end and the ending still impresses me to this very day.
@Dizzula
Жыл бұрын
The ending to Chakan? Now I know you're fibbing!
@Maverick2736
Жыл бұрын
"the ending still impresses me to this very day" Padme: In a good way, right? :D Anakin: ...... Padme: In a good way, right? :(
I remember this game from a Let's Play I watched _years_ ago. Ever since, sometimes I sing "Play me Chakan the Forever Man" like Billy Joel's Piano Man. The idea behind this game is really cool, honestly, but way too difficult for me to bother with.
I still remember when Paw, a former and now long retired Channel Awesome contributor, played Chakan for his "Until We Win" series. I distinctly remember him using Metallica's "To Live Is To Die" as background music for the video and since then that song and Chakan have lived intertwined in my head.
Omfg this is the name of this game! For the last 20 years I couldn't remember the name but i remembered his face and hat!!
I had the Game Gear version of Chakan, and it was even more cryptic and frustrating. Still loved it.
@clockworkengine
Жыл бұрын
Same, it was a fun little game
@vasilas432
Жыл бұрын
Same for me. One of my childhood best games
I loved it as a kid. The atmosphere reminded me of some forgotten world on the edge of oblivion. The little written story parts at the beginning of the stages seemed more serious than 99% of anything else out there at the time. I still feel bad about having to kill the fire dude. Last of his kind, but it’s time had come…
OMG!!!!!! I've been trying to remember what this game was called for well over 20 years! Recognized it in the thumbnail instantly. Rented it a couple times as a kid for Sega Genesis.
I always see this game on my hunts and never knew wether I should pick it up or not!? Thanks for this SNES DRUNK! 👊🏻
There’s a good improvement patch available that makes this game MUCH more digestible
Awesome art and music, you can really feel that sense of eternity starting levels over and over again. Love this game even though I never finished a single level 😅
@gregames4843
Жыл бұрын
Not a single level? Come on, the first water level isn't too bad!
@Vetpix
Жыл бұрын
@@gregames4843 I'm an RPG gamer, dexterity on hands it's not for me 😅
Legendary game, it gives me chills just looking at the cover art and my mind starts out to bring childhood memories.
Not sure about the U.S version, but the one released in Australia had a practice mode where you could play the game with unlimited potions, so you could use all the different swords at any time. It was so much more fun to play that way.
In an interview, the developer would admit that this is one of those games that had its difficulty toughened with the primary intent being to prevent people from beating it in a weekend rental. It feels like it could have been great if they toned something down, like letting Chakan run, giving him a block, or adjusting the distance on some of the platforms. I still like it, but it's probqbly the last Genesis game I'd recommend to anyone.
@BoozeAholic
Жыл бұрын
There's a lot of worse games though. I'd recommend it to people who want a Genesis game that has an oppressive atmosphere like Super Metroid. Chakan, and both Ecco the Dolphin games are really the only 3 that come to mind that have Metroid's isolated oppression, but unlike Metroid both of these titles are hard.
Really good video and I think you nailed all the strengths and weaknesses of Chakan. I look at it as a bit of an acquired taste. The first time I tried playing I had no idea what I was doing, why I got sent back to the main hub or what I was trying to accomplish. I went back to it with a walkthrough to help guide which stages need different potions or require an item and had a lot of fun though I have to admit to making heavy use of both save states and even the rewind function as missing one of those jumps and either dying or falling all the way down having do it again is INCREDIBLY frustrating. But it really does have cool aspects and the overall concept of the game is just fantastic though I recommend taking advantage of some modern conveniences if you can. I always enjoy Segadrunk!
@jonahabenhaim1223
Жыл бұрын
Oh no... telegram is back
I initially read that as "Chikan", and let me tell you I thought this would be a VERY different episode.
@ThePageofCups
Жыл бұрын
Chikan, the Subway Man :^)
@nozoto
Жыл бұрын
@@ThePageofCups The forever grope 🤣
For someone who's supposed to be an immortal forever man, Chakan sure does a lot of dying.
@nozoto
Жыл бұрын
And at the end of the day, his goal is to die definitively as he is sick of immortality, oddly enough 😂
A weekend rental from West Coast video with constant play And a friend sleepover was enough to beat it as a young teen. The jump increase was important.
New schedule seems to be Thu/Sat. I can definitely rock with that! SATTTTTTTdrunk!
Looks and sounds a lot like the first X-Men Genesis game but I guess its not made by the same people.
@supersexysega
Жыл бұрын
Same producer Ed Annunziata. Same artists Steve Ross and Mira Ross. There are more people involved with both games but it gets complicated because some people left early/mid development.
I was thinking David Carradine when you said John, which made your next line darkly hilarious "One day Chakan was feeling himself a little too much and decided to challenge death itself to a fight"
@ryancole4015
Жыл бұрын
Dark
@ninjacrypt5795
Жыл бұрын
Ouch👍
@darkchild130
Жыл бұрын
RLM levels of humour😂
@elneco4654
Жыл бұрын
Good to know I wasn't the only one who thought that.
@oniongummy8969
Жыл бұрын
Got me all choked up
I tested this back in the day when it came through Sega Test (Ed Annunziata was the producer), and I heartily agree with your entire assessment. However, one pro tip: Chakan doesn't just have a double-jump, he has an infinite jump if you time it just right (I discovered this on my own, and I'm not the greatest gamer, so I think anyone could replicate it). When I showed it to Ed, he said, "Cool! I'm leaving it in (the game). If a player finds it, they deserve to use it."
Thanks for highlighting this one. There are some hacks that make it a little bit more bearable to play, but yeah it can be super frustrating. I do love the presentation though.
This is one of a few 16-bit-era games that is improved by just emulating it on a PC. Save States are a vital quality-of-life improvement in this game, making the chore of trying to finish it into a pretty palatable experience.
@mikewilliams4443
5 ай бұрын
Same with Blades of Vengeance. I was actually able to complete it using save states.
So whoever came up with the look of Cad Bane in the Clone Wars was a big fan of either this game or the comic.
@Viceroy_Sundercles_III
Жыл бұрын
The first time I saw Cad I was like “Chakan..??!?”
i just love the timer. no indication of how long it actually takes to finish AND just arbitrary pixels with no specific time so if you wanted to track time you need an actual stopwatch IRL. amazing
A SNESDrunk video on a Saturday... Hell to the Yeah!
@joshjohnson6891
Жыл бұрын
Did it last week too. I wonder if it's now a new schedule. I'll take it 💪
I played Chakan on my cousin's Game Gear for hours, we never managed reach the end but had lots of fun. Never did I ever imagine there being a 16 bit version the game, and it looks even harder than the GG one! There at least you could find the Ice, fire and Thunder sword scattered around the level. Thank you for this bit of nostalgia!
@tinkerer3399
Жыл бұрын
The Game Gear version was easier... except for one dastardly trick from the developers. They numbered the worlds and then made world 1 the hardest world in the game (and I think world 2 was the second hardest but I dont quite recall). So many people thought it was insanely tough because of that.
Everything about it seems badass, but that difficulty though 😵💫
The cover looks like a combination of Stranger in a Strange Land Eddie and (new album) Senjutsu Eddie 🤘
This is one of those games that molded me, when I got it, it was so cryptic, so disgustingly beautiful and so hard, but I loved it ans it made me fall in love with the macabre and the whole Lovecraft, gigger and cosmic horror genre, until today I wonder why this game didn't get much in thr way od a remake or remaster or at least a new part.
Romhacking it with Ultimate Chakan to help make the game a bit more bearable. The mod makes Chakan more capable, but it still doesn't fix the level layouts, which is definitely the games biggest weakness.
Thursday and Saturday schedule, eh? Love it! If It works for you, I'm down with it. Great channel as always
@SNESdrunk
Жыл бұрын
Halloween and other stuff kinda threw me off, should be back to normal next week
@MentalLiberation
Жыл бұрын
@@SNESdrunk it happens. Keep up the awesome work
I love how whenever I am having a bad day where I am feeling all burnt out, IF I watch a random SNESdrunk video and I feel like a fun loving kid again that wants to play some old video games.
I remember the game magazines had a lot of promotion for this game, I even had a poster of the very cool artwork hanged up on my wall I never really played it XD
I remember this game but especially the indie comic title Rob Krause did way back in the early 1990s when I met him in the Northeast Ohio local conventions. Nice guy. Very kind to take the time to talk to me over my work and offer advice. I ended up going to the same art school he went to. My cousin bought the game a couple years later and played it on my SEGA Genesis all day. I had wondered about him over the years, though and if he was still doing the character's story.
That sock drawer joke at the end was awesome
I think I remember you and trav talking about this one on an older DF episode.
Holy shit, Chakan the Sometimes Man is HILARIOUS, you and your pal were on point.
I had this game growing up and fucking loved it. I don't remember ever beating it but do remember drawing maps and writing down what the potions did. Good times.
@zombizzle_
Жыл бұрын
Also, going to check out the Ultimate Chakan romhack! Looks like it has a lot of changes to make it more accessible!
Total length of video: 405 secs. Total length of "SEGA Drunk": 3.5 secs. .86% of the video was spent listening to "SEGA Drunk".
The graphic style and the music/audio remind me of the first X-Men game on Genesis.
I only play about 2% of the games that you talk about. But your commentary has become such a staple over the years that I can't imagine my KZread account without you on it.
Trivia: Eddie from Iron Maiden did some video game cover modeling on the side.
This sounds like a game prime for moders to make balance patches or level design changes
The 'end sequence' to this game is hilarious! I think they realised that nobody would beat it, so they failed to put in a real ending! :D
Played this one as a kid when a friend rented it. Closest we will likely ever get to a Solomon Kane game.
I've been trying to remember what this game was for years. I didn't remember the console due to being like 4 or 5 so i literally didn't progress and had no clue what to type into a search engine, but i held on to the memory of it 25 years
My first thoughts were "Chaka Khan, The Music-ian"
The intro sums up my memory of this game perfectly. I never got far, but the art stuck deep in a corner of my brain.
I used to try and place this game a lot as a kid and "Laughably Difficult" is a perfect description of this game. I didn't even know it was THAT difficult as a kid I just knew that you had to be REAL CAREFUL getting through the whole game. I eventually was able to get through like 1-2 specific stages but I never beat it.
My husband and I bought this at a used game store just because Chakan looks like Cad Bane. It is actually pretty dope due to the alchemy system.
Fun fact: It's rumored that an intended sequel to this game evolved into Blood Omen 2 of the Legacy of Kain franchise. But the only connection between the two is the same lead artist. Another fun fact: The producer for this game also created Ecco the Dolphin.
I bought a Genesis for this game. Met creator Robert at a Chicago Comic Con. Bought custom art from him. Drew a Chakan at show and gave to him which he published in fan art pages of a Chakan book. Good times.
The 8 way sword swiping makes Chakan look like a blind person trying to find their way around with a cane
My friend giving me his "Chakan" cartridge way back in the day was paralleled later in life when another friend gave me his "Requiem for a Dream" DVD.
Every time you cover a Sega game or he covers an SNES game, I always hope it's you doing a collaboration with Sega Lord X.
@SNESdrunk
Жыл бұрын
That'd be cool but I'm really bad with collabs. I never have any idea how it would work. How would you imagine a video like that going?
My 8 year old self loved this back in the day. Never got close to beating this but Chakan and Alisia Dragoon got the most play for single player games for me back then
the four classical elements are something that philosophers dating back to antiquity attributed to the workings of the universe and 'magic' that they could supposedly perform. there's actually a really good SuperBunnyHop episode about that.
First game I ever owned for SEGA, couldn't think of the name for years, thanks!
Yo great vid! Also thanks for appreciating the soundtrack. There are a lot of other channels that despise it, despite it being very unique and fitting the game perfectly.
You left out the best Sega intro screen on the console! The howl! The drums!
I feel like I discover a new Genesis game once a week after thinking I’ve seen them all.
I could never remember the name of this game. But, i remember loving it. I remember it being all dark and gritty
Wow, this takes me back. Musta spent a 1mth learning to beat this game. And that ending, spoiler alert. Where he finds out just how badly he's screwed...brutal !
The Eddie resemblance is striking indeed. But he always reminded me of Tex Hex too, the main villain of Bravestarr (yeah, I'm old). a weird undead-mystique-gunslinger kind of vibe I guess.
Thanks for covering that! I was suddenly reminded of the box art from when I was a kid - having never thought of it since - and it was wholly unexpected
One of those games I didn't appreciate till I got my hands on an action replay cart to take away the frustration
@Gatorade69
Жыл бұрын
Seems like it is in dire need of a rebalancing romhack. I remember emulating it once before and it was pretty frustrating, however I do like some aspects of it.
@RejonMunchausen
Жыл бұрын
@@Gatorade69 Exactly, some great tone and elements let down by frustrating level design
You just brought back a hidden PTSD that suppressed when I was 8. This game was and IS the only videogame I'll never beat. I remember spiking my controller when I died on the 3-4 levels hoping the game "got something wrong" and would miraculously let me start again...only to hear SEEEGGAAA *cries immensely*
@zetareticulan321
Жыл бұрын
Hey Pablo. Silver or lead?
I don't have the patience for a game like Chakan today. So I'm glad your channel features such interesting and cool looking games so I can enjoy them for a bit without subjugating myself to misery. Keep up the great work!
@robertwildschwein7207
Жыл бұрын
IDK, if you just want to experience the game, try using a save state before the final boss and reload if you die.
Saturday the new Tuesday! Cheers for the Video Snesdrunk!!! I loved this game growing up I was lucky enough to have both sega mega drive and the super nintendo as me and my bro couldnt agree which one to buy I didnt know how lucky we were back then :)
A difficulty patch would be nice for this one
@SonofSethoitae
Жыл бұрын
There is one
@ivansotelo4622
Жыл бұрын
@@SonofSethoitae great to hear man! Thanks for sharing 🙏
He looks so much like Eddie that's I'm surprised Iron Maiden never found out and tried to sue for infringement, haha Excellent review, I bought this game off a friend but have yet to play it.
Fun fact: This was probably my second Sega Genesis game ever, lol. Is it tough, absolutely. And I would 100% agree that this chalks up as one of the most difficult Sega Genesis games in the library, easily top 5 lol. But in all honesty I think what can either make or break this game for a lot of players is the alchemy system. If you can use it in tandem with mastering your placement on the screen with Chakan, you can fly through a lot of levels MUCH easier, lol. This game has a sense of mysticism about it that just feel so cryptic, desolated, and unique, unlike anything else on the console, and I really love it for that, lol. Imo, although unfair at times, this game rocks and actually constitutes as a hidden gem to me. A gem hidden in plain sight 💖.
There is also Chakan on the Game Gear. The Genesis had so many of these "1 sitting" games, where you had to complete the game in one sitting, and a lot of players ended up losing to the last boss and having to spend another 1.5 or 2 hours to get to the final boss again. It already felt dated in the 90s, when there were many NES and SNES games that had passwords or save files. I can understand playing Sonic 1, 2, or the Game Gear games in one sitting because they were roller coaster rides where playing a level again was a pleasure. But a lot of Sega Genesis and Game Gear games really should have had save or password features.
Can confirm. Had this game as a kid. Was fucking brutal, went back to it off and on for years, only managed to finish it a couple of times. The lava stage towards the end is a ball breaker.
"Or maybe its Eddie, the Iron Maiden dude" yes, that is EXACTLY what he looks like. I'm actually 98% sure they did an album where Eddie was dressed almost exactly like this "protag"
I played this game so many times as a kid. By that I mean I started a game, was mesmerized by the graphics, audio, and overall presentation then when it came to actually playing the game I immediately died repeatedly and got nowhere. Like scores of times till I just gave up. This game needs a quality of life patch.
Just found this channel. My kid loves the opener
I'm hyped for "Chakan the every other rainy Thursday's late afternoon man!"
Chakan the “Official Consulting Hours are every other Thursday between 3 & 4pm” Man
Loved Chakan back then. Rented a couple of times. Then a few years back I bought a complete edition and couldn't be happier
I know the guy who created Chakan, Rob Krauss. I'm going to see him at Akron comic con later today. He still gets a laugh out of how hard this game is.
Never went too far as a kid, but it's one of the games that stood with me for the art and music. Even the Sega logo in the beggining announces something different is about to happen. It's the kind of game that only Sega would release back then. I love this game though I never actually managed to play much. Hahaha I know there are some hacks to balance difficulty, might try those someday.
This was one of my favorite games when I was younger, I still have it
I'm sorry, I had to say it; this character looks 100% like Eddie, Iron Maiden's mascot. When I first saw this artwork, I couldn't believe my eyes, it's crazy! The resemblance is uncanny!
Really enjoying the DrunkFriend podcast at work, especially talking about individual years in the 1990s!
Oh man, i remember getting to the FINAL final boss, after the credits roll, exactly ONCE.
I remember when Continueshow did this It was a great episode Love your channel SNES Drunk