Chakan: The Forever Man screenshot

Release year: 1992

Chakan: The Forever Man

Category: ActionAdventureHack and SlashPlatformer

Looking to play Chakan: The Forever Man online? This dark and challenging SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive classic offers a unique mix of action, platforming, and gothic atmosphere. You step into the role of Chakan - a warrior cursed with immortality until he destroys every evil force across all realms. The journey is relentless, with each stage presenting dangerous enemies, hidden traps, and intricate puzzles that demand both skill and patience.

Chakan's world is unlike most retro SEGA titles - it's bleak, mysterious, and driven by deep lore. The game's haunting soundtrack and detailed visuals create an atmosphere that pulls you deep into its dark fantasy setting. From desolate wastelands to otherworldly realms, every location feels unique and filled with dangers that test your reflexes and strategy. As you battle through surreal landscapes and master your weapons, you'll face some of the most demanding platforming challenges of the 16-bit era.

Every victory brings you closer to lifting the curse, but the road ahead is filled with peril. Along the way, you'll uncover fragments of Chakan's tragic past, adding depth to his endless quest. The combination of precise combat, creative level design, and a story shrouded in mystery makes this game stand out even among other SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive classics.

New players will discover a cult classic, and veterans can relive old memories by playing Chakan: The Forever Man online. Its dark fantasy setting and challenging gameplay remain as unforgettable as ever. Step into Chakan's boots, sharpen your skills, and see if you have what it takes to end his eternal quest.

Start
Start / Pause in game
Joystick
Movement
A
Weapon
B
Attack
C
Jump
Save / Restart / Load

🗡️ Tips & Tricks for Chakan: The Forever Man

Even the most fearless warriors can use a little guidance in Chakan's dark quest. These quick tips will help you master the game's unique mechanics, uncover hidden tricks, and sharpen your skills before facing the toughest challenges.

Chakan performing an Infinite Double Jump in mid-air on SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive

Infinite Double Jump

After making your first jump, quickly alternate between pressing the Space and K buttons. Done correctly, each sequence will give you an extra mid-air jump, allowing you to stay airborne much longer.

Note: Pressing the Space and K buttons at the same time triggers a spinning attack, which will stop you from performing more mid-air jumps until you land.

Spell Map menu in Chakan: The Forever Man on SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive

Spell Map

Open the spell menu by pressing Enter. The spells are displayed on an open book, with icons arranged across both pages. Each spell requires specific potion ingredients to activate. Move the cursor over a spell, then press the confirm button to equip it.

If a spell icon is dimmed, you don't have the necessary ingredients yet. Some spells, like Passage, can be used to access hidden or otherwise unreachable areas.

Practice Mode in the Options menu of Chakan: The Forever Man on SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive

Practice Mode

From the Options menu, enable Practice Mode to freely explore any realm with all portals unlocked. You start with Chakan's dual swords, additional weapons (scythe, axe, hammer, etc.) still need to be discovered in their respective stages, even in Practice Mode.

Use this mode to learn enemy patterns, experiment with spells, and practice tough jumps without progression pressure.

📜 Story & Setting

In Chakan: The Forever Man, you take on the role of a legendary swordsman whose pride became his downfall. Convinced of his unmatched skill, Chakan declared that no being - mortal or immortal - could defeat him in combat. This bold claim reached the ears of Death itself, who appeared before Chakan and proposed a wager: if Chakan could win in a duel, he would be granted eternal life. If he lost, his soul would belong to Death.

Chakan triumphed in the battle, but his "reward" was twisted into a cruel curse. Granted immortality, he could not know peace until every form of evil across all realms was destroyed. His body could never truly die - only return again and again, forced to continue the fight.

His journey spans multiple realms, each with its own atmosphere and dangers:

  • Earth Realm - dark caverns and stone fortresses.
  • Fire Realm - burning volcanoes and rivers of lava.
  • Water Realm - flooded ruins and deadly aquatic beasts.
  • Sky Realm - floating platforms high above the clouds.

The setting is unlike most SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive games of its era - bleak, gothic, and unrelenting. Each realm has its own enemies, hazards, and a fearsome boss waiting at the end. Even after Chakan defeats them all, his curse lingers, leaving the ending open and haunting, as if his fight will never truly end.

💬 Trivia & Facts

⏳ Hidden post-credits twist

After defeating all the bosses and watching the credits roll, the game shows an image of an hourglass. If you wait for about 90 seconds without pressing any buttons, the text "Not the end" appears. This leads to an additional, extremely difficult bonus stage - a surprise for players who thought the quest was over. This ending reinforces the idea that Chakan's curse can never truly be lifted.

📖 Based on an independent comic book

The game's protagonist and dark tone are directly inspired by the Chakan comic series, created by Robert A. Kraus of RAK Graphics in 1990. The character first appeared as a secondary figure in the Thundermace comic, but quickly gained his own title after attracting attention at conventions like Gen Con. Kraus's original Chakan was even darker and more surreal than his game counterpart, but the core traits - cursed immortality, gothic visuals, and a relentless hunt for evil - remain intact.

🌑 Unusually grim for a SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive title

In the early 1990s, the console market was dominated by colorful, family-friendly platformers, many tied to popular licenses. Chakan broke this pattern with a bleak, gothic atmosphere, muted color palette, and a story about eternal suffering. According to producer Ed Annunziata, he was drawn to the project after meeting Kraus and seeing Chakan's design at a comic convention, recognizing it as a perfect fit for a unique and challenging game.

💽 Cancelled Dreamcast sequel with ties to another series

A sequel was once in development for the SEGA Dreamcast by AndNow, again under Ed Annunziata's direction. The project was eventually cancelled, but much of its concept art, enemy designs, and even some gameplay ideas were later reworked into Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain (2002). This explains certain visual and thematic similarities between the two games.

🔥 One of the hardest platformers on the Genesis/Mega Drive

Chakan is widely regarded as "Nintendo Hard" - an unofficial term for games that demand extreme precision, patience, and mastery. Tight platforming, aggressive enemy patterns, limited health, and no traditional continues make it a serious test even for experienced players. Its difficulty has helped cement its cult status among retro gaming fans.

🎮 Game Gear connection

A portable version of Chakan was released for the Game Gear, featuring different level layouts and gameplay adjustments. A planned sequel for the Game Gear and Game Boy Advance was started but never finished. The Game Gear sequel was handled largely by a single programmer, Paul Hutchinson, despite other names appearing in the credits.

🪂 The Infinite Double Jump glitch

Players discovered that by alternating the jump and attack buttons in mid-air, Chakan can effectively jump indefinitely. This allows for completely bypassing certain obstacles or reaching otherwise inaccessible areas. The move is not mentioned anywhere in the manual, making it one of the game's most famous community-discovered tricks.

🚪 Iconic portal designs

Players often notice that each realm's portal in the hub appears to feature an emblem that visually reflects its theme - such as a winged creature for the Sky Realm, a flame for the Fire Realm, or a wave for the Water Realm. While these symbols are not officially described in the game's manual, they are widely recognized by fans and contribute to making the hub one of the most memorable areas in the game.

🔍 Hidden Details & Easter Eggs

✨ Subtle animation details

Chakan's idle animation includes a faint, ghostly shimmer around his swords, a visual effect that's easy to miss during gameplay but adds to the supernatural feel of his curse.

🔊 Unique death sounds

When Chakan's health runs out, the sound effect is not a typical "game over" chime, but a distorted, echoing tone designed to resemble a soul being dragged away - fitting the game's grim theme.

💀 Atmospheric, non-interactive objects

Many stages feature background details like skeletal remains, crumbling statues, and ominous silhouettes. These objects serve no gameplay function but significantly enhance the oppressive atmosphere.

📜 Comic book nods

Certain enemies and weapon designs directly reference artwork from Robert A. Kraus's original Chakan comics, particularly the scythe and the appearance of the final boss, which closely resembles sketches from early issues.

You can play Chakan: The Forever Man online right here and test your skill against its dark worlds. Step into Chakan's boots, sharpen your weapons, and continue the fight against evil.