Chakan (Game Gear)

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega Drive game, see Chakan (Mega Drive).

n/a

Chakan GG title.png

Chakan
System(s): Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action[2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
US
2414
Sega Game Gear
EU
2414
Sega Game Gear
PT
Sega Game Gear
UK
£29.9929.99[6] 2414

Chakan is a Sega Game Gear action platform game based on the character Chakan from the 1986 Robert A. Kraus comic book series Thunder Mace[7]. It was developed by independent contractor Paul Hutchinson.

Story

The warrior Chakan considers himself so unbeatable that he challenges Death himself to a duel. Death appears and makes a wager: if Chakan wins, he gets eternal life, but if Chakan loses, his soul belongs to Death for eternity. Chakan accepts, and the two battle.

Eventually, Chakan triumphs and receives the gift of eternal life, but he learns that the gift has a stipend: he must wear the visage of Death and destroy all the evil in the world to earn his eternal rest.

Gameplay

Chakan GG, Navigation Level.png

Navigation Level

Chakan GG, Ship of Death.png

Ship of Death

Chakan GG, Pause Menu.png

Alchemy

The game is an action platformer played as the immortal swordsman Chakan. The player starts in a hub level and can choose to play the first six levels in any order. Each level has multiple segments and ends with a boss fight. Chakan's health is indicated by a skull in the corner of the screen, which fades away as he takes damage. Owing to its premise, the game has no concept of "lives". If Chakan runs out of health, he is carried away on a "Ship of Death" and then returns to the hub level with full health.

Chakan walks with Left and Right and ducks with Down. He jumps with 2; he performs a double spin jump by pressing 2 again while in the air. He rolls along the ground with Down+2. He enters doorways and portals by standing in front of them and pressing Up. Some doorways require finding a key dropped by a slain foe. Chakan attacks using his twin blades with 1; he performs a spinning attack by pressing 1 while doing a double spin jump.

Chakan can collect potions, which are strewn throughout the levels (including the hub level). Potions can be combined into "alchemies" that grant him temporary powers such as enhancing his swords with elemental powers or increasing his jump height. The player can open the inventory of collected potions and list of alchemies with  START  and select one with 1. Chakan can also find special swords throughout the levels that are imbued with elemental strengths. Once found, these weapons are chosen through the same menu as the alchemies. The player can revisit levels after they have been completed to collect potions and swords; levels do not have enemies after they have been completed.

The game has multiple difficulty levels (Wicked, Deadly, and Mental), which are selected with Up and Down from the title screen before beginning the game. Chakan takes more damage from enemies in higher difficulties; on the highest difficulty, he starts the game and revives with only half of his health. The final level can only be played if the game is completed on Deadly or Mental difficulty.

Weapons

Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Twin Swords
Chakan's standard weapons. They have no particular strength and are initially available.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Fire Swords
These swords do additional damage to Water-based enemies. Found in the Lava (VI) level.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Ice Swords
These swords do additional damage to Fire-based enemies. Found in the Ice (V) level.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Lightning Swords
These swords shoot sparks when they are swung and do additional damage to Air- and Earth-based enemies. Found in the Fire (IV) level.

Alchemies

Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Returns Chakan to the hub level. Requires 1 green potion and 1 yellow potion.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Slows down enemies temporarily. Requires 2 grey potions.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Damages all enemies on screen. Requires 2 yellow potions.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Confuses Chakan and reverses the direction controls. Requires 1 green potion and 1 grey potion.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Makes Chakan invulnerable temporarily. Requires 2 black potions.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Makes Chakan invisible temporarily. Requires 2 green potions.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Doubles the power of Chakan's weapon temporarily. Requires 1 black potion and 1 yellow potion.
Chakan GG, Weapons.png
Fully restores Chakan's health. Requires 1 black potion and 1 gray potion.

Levels

The first six levels can be played in any order.

Chakan GG, Stage 1-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 1-2.png

Chakan GG, Stage 1-3.png

Chakan GG, Stage 1-4.png

Air (I)

Chakan GG, Stage 2-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 2-2.png

Earth (II)

Chakan GG, Stage 3-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 3-2.png

Water (III)

Chakan GG, Stage 4-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 4-2.png

Chakan GG, Stage 4-3.png

Fire (IV)

Chakan GG, Stage 5-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 5-2.png

Ice (V)

Chakan GG, Stage 6-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 6-2.png

Lava (VI)

Chakan GG, Stage 7-1.png

Chakan GG, Stage 7-2.png

Final (VII)
This level is played after the end credits if the player completes the game on Deadly or Mental difficulty. Chakan can use the teleport chambers in this level by standing in them and pressing 1. He teleports to a different area depending on whether he is facing left or right.

Production credits

Thanks for Playing and Look for the Further Ventures of Chakan in R.A.K. Graphics Comics.
Source:
In-game credits
Chakan GG credits.pdf
[8]


Source:
US manual
Chakan GG US Manual.pdf
[9]


Source:
Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: Chakan (Game Gear)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) #58: "Marzo 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #12: "Abril 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Sega Game Gear
Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
83
[6]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
79
[12]
Game Power (IT) PAL
70
[13]
Gamers (DE)
53
[14]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[15]
Joypad (FR)
93
[16]
Joystick (FR) PAL
92
[17]
Mega Byte (UK) PAL
80
[18]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
60
[19]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
77
[20]
Player One (FR)
84
[21]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
67
[22]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[23]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
69
[24]
User (GR) PAL
90
[25]
Sega Game Gear
78
Based on
15 reviews

Chakan (Game Gear)

Game Gear, US
Chakan GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngChakan GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Chakan GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Chakan GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Chakan GG EU Box Back.jpgChakan GG EU BoxSpine.jpgChakan GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Chakan GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Chakan GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, PT
Chakan GG PT Box Front.jpg
Cover
Chakan GG US Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 dfc7adc8
MD5 096e525c29af9f5a0a0ddd8b67dd8fbf
SHA-1 bdb82464147ef20792162cff7922824d4dee0dc1
256kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References


Chakan (Game Gear)

Chakan GG title.png

Main page | Maps | Development | Magazine articles | Reception


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