Chakan for the Game Gear slightly differs from the Genesis version. It has different map layouts, a different UI but at it's core, it's the same game.
As far as side-scrolling games go, it's easily one of the best looking on the platform, and quite comparable to it's 16bit Genesis counterpart. While many side-scrolling games on Game Gear and Master System consoles were colorful and cute with cheerful melody's, this is unusually grim, akin to something from from Cliver Barker. It is taken from comic book (which I have never heard of) which helps explain it's contrast compared typical titles.
The story itself is interesting, Chakan, a talented fighter, challenges death, and earns immortality. The purpose of the game is seek eternal rest, as with many games of the era, it has practically no story-telling beyond it's premise. You go from level to level, kill, move on.
Where Chakan shines is it's difficulty. Many titles were simply cheap, Chakan is comparable to something like Dark Souls, for every enemy, there is usually a method to make life significantly easier than simply massing a button relentlessly. Enemies do not die with a single hit, like you they have a health pool and it's fairly easy for a single enemy to drain almost all your life away due to carelessness, this makes you move along maps with far more care than you originality would.
The game is also non linear, instead of progressive set levels, it features a hub in which the player is free to pick at their leisure. Want to start with level 6? Go right ahead.
The game also features many items and a rudimentary form of crafting, or rather, collection. After collecting potions, a choice as to what spell you want to use the resources for is available. Exploration is rewarded and items used wisely become important, unfortunately the game never explains what they are, it becomes a learning experience.
The music doesn't match the high quality of the visuals, it's average at best. The creatures lack sound effects and the melodies are generally quite repetitive and unmemorable.
If your looking for a interesting, difficult and unusual action game for the era, this is worth a look up, as well as it's Genesis brother. Don't let the weaker hardware of the Game Gear turn you off, this is still a very fine looking game that holds up well to the Genesis version.
