Chakan - The Forever Man

Chakan: The Forever Man is a dark fantasy action-platformer developed by Extended Play Productions and published by Sega for the Mega Drive and Game Gear in 1992, based on the independent comic book series by Robert A. Kraus. The story follows Chakan, a warrior so confident in his swordsmanship that he challenged Death itself to a duel. Chakan emerged victorious, but Death condemned him to an eternity of undeath, forcing him to wander existence until all evil in the world is destroyed. Players control Chakan through four elemental planes (Earth, Air, Fire, Water), each containing three levels and a boss. Chakan wields twin swords that can attack in eight directions and possesses a double jump. An alchemy system allows mixing potions for temporary buffs such as invincibility.

Game Gear

Released in North America in December 1992 and in Europe shortly thereafter. This portable conversion is very similar to the Mega Drive original. A unique hourglass timer adds pressure; if time expires, the player must restart the entire plane. Chakan can acquire four additional weapons including a hook for wall-grabbing and a hammer for breaking through walls. The alchemy system carries over from the 16-bit version. Contemporary critical reception was mixed. Reviewers praised the game's unique dark atmosphere and eerie graphics, but the extreme difficulty, occasional stiff controls, and obtuse level design were heavily criticized. Some publications noted that the Game Gear version suffered from the same punishing challenge as its 16-bit counterpart, making it a frustrating experience for dedicated players. The game has since gained a cult following.