PS1 Underrated Gem: Akuji the Heartless

This is a series of gameplay vids I'm doing highlighting overlooked games for the various consoles I own.

This is played on a PS2 with Texture smoothing on.

Akuji the Heartless is a dark action/adventure/platformer for the PS1. It's gameplay is like a mixture of Soul Reaver and Gex. It's got platformer style levels with the dark atmosphere and more adventure style gameplay of Soul Reaver. In fact, Akuji runs on the Gex 3 engine same as Soul Reaver, and...well...Gex (but that's obvious).

If you were a fan of Soul Reaver, or just dark games in gnenral, then Akuji should be up your alley. You play as Akuji who's a voodoo master that's murdered and sent to hell by his own brother (who ripped his heart out). Now Akuji has to escape from the underworld and save his bride.

The Voice acting is impeccable in the game, and the graphics are top tier for a PS1 game (the Gex engine was one of the best on the system).

The controls and camera system are flawed though. They take some getting used to, but they do flair up from time to time, and become a nuisance. They work just fine most of the time, but sometimes you just can't get the right angle you want for your jump. It's a problem that plagues many 3D games of the era though, and it just takes a little getting used to. Luckily you can zoom the camera behind Akuji with the touch of a single button, and you can also go into firt person view which helps remedy some of the camera issues.

Overall, I'd say that it's a shame that this game was overlooked. It's actually a pretty good game, and if you're a fan of Soul Reaver, or Shadow Man, then check out Akuji.

Akuji the Heartless is only available on the PS1.

Note: This is the original copy of the game as played on a PS2. I do not support roms, or piracy, so don't ask me where to download the game, because I don't know, and wouldn't tell you even if I did.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Akuji
• the
• Heartless
• Sony
• Playstation
• PS1
• Underrated
• Gem
• PSX
• Video
• Game
• Crystal
• Dynamics
• Eidos
• Soul
• Reaver
• Gex

[xLastToHearYourDeadx]

what is this human version of crash bandit? lol

[teh2Dgamer]

@xLastToHearYourDeadx It's more like Gex meets Soul Reaver

[foka527]

was akuji really underrated i mean this is one of my favourite games ever i havent been able to find the original disc in a good condition

[teh2Dgamer]

@foka527 It was generally overlooked by PS1 gamers. Soul Reaver was the big Crystal Dynamics game that got most of the attention, and well as GEX. Akuji just kind of slipped bye.

[Semidioz]

Did akuji actually goes out after Soul Reaver.... i played Soul Reaver like two years after finishing Akuji.

By the way, i´ve been enjoyoing a lto your vids.... so now im a suscriber

[teh2Dgamer]

@Semidioz Akuji came out in 1998, and Soul Reaver came out in 1999.

I was just using Soul Reaver to describe Akuji, because it's a better known game.

[Oneworld87]

Holy fucking shit! I remember this off a Station 4 demo! :O

[adestickbaby]

This game was farking awesome. got to the l;ast dude but never got around to beating him. loved this!!

[FugaenDomenor]

Akuji Rules! i need to play it again, I Used to play this ame alot when i was kid, but never beated it =(

I Really Love you vids why dont u speak on them? I mean I Think it would be better if you talk what u write in the description

[modernhitler]

awesome game!

[DeadIslandTrailers]

@pabsensi

mj in moonwalker, shaq in shaq fu, spawn, and michael jordan all had games before akuji.

[louiscfc93]

i remember playing this a few times at my cousins house in the 90s.never played it since

[HoneydewHuey]

Thank you *so much* for these and the PS2 Underrated Gem videos. If it weren't for you I probably wouldn't have discovered Sphinx for the PS2, which my GF and I enjoyed immensely.

[RedSniper108]

i had this game when i was like 4 i never completed the first level :D i couldnt read when i was 4 and i didnt know that you need to hold the X to jump higher and i couldnt reach 1 place but when i finaly reached it that big ass chicken came out and scared the shit out of me :D i turned the console right away :D

[Mickeyzzzz]

Excellent game!