Akuji the Heartless - PlayStation

UK publishers Eidos have been responsible for many A-list games to come from developers such as Core. They have pushed the Tomb Raider series, which is now a household name, and also Soul Reaver. Akuji the Heartless is the next Eidos project, developed by Crystal Dynamics. Unsurprisingly, Akuji appears to have been developed with the two aforementioned titles in mind.

Upon first impressions, Akuji bears striking resemblance to Soul Reaver. Atmospherically, it is of a dark nature, since you (Akuji) are to explore the underworld of Hades, seeking revenge on those that betrayed you. The game takes a third-person perspective, and incorporates fully manipulative camera controls. After as little as fifteen minutes play, the similarities to Tomb Raider become apparent. Your character has the basic abilities that include running, jumping, climbing and hanging. What differentiates Akuji from its similar counterparts is the use of magic. Often, magical spells such as the Hell Blast and Spirit Strike must be relied upon to defeat some of the game’s bad guys. Of course, magic is expendable and must be used wisely. For foolish players, Akuji is in possession of some lethal claws, should you run into stock shortage problems. Locations are varied, and are showcased with some stunning PlayStation lighting effects that complement the fantasy world perfectly.

As with all games, Akuji would have benefited greatly from a multi-player option. However, as a single player game, Akuji is quite an adventure with an involving plot that will keep you hooked for quite some time.
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