Akuji the Heartless (1998). Play online

Summary

Akuji the Heartless lets you wander a dark, free‑roaming 3D world on the original PlayStation, where hack‑and‑slash meets platforming. You control Akuji, a cursed warrior whose claws can retract at will and whose arsenal includes fire spells, demon summons, and the ability to possess enemies’ bodies. The whole experience runs on the same modified Gex: Enter the Gecko engine that Crystal Dynamics used for its earlier titles, which gives the game a slick, though sometimes jittery, 3‑D feel. Voice work from Richard Roundtree adds a distinctive gravitas to the otherwise macabre vibe.

Critics praised the imagination behind the setting, calling it a solid action effort for fans of the gothic. Yet reviews also noted clunky controls and rough animation, earning it a mixed‑rating average and a three‑star score from Next Generation. Though it never hit mainstream acclaim in the U.S., it’s become a quirky relic worth revisiting for anyone who loves retro, off‑beat action‑adventures.

Storyline

The game centers on voodoo priest‑warrior Akuji (voiced by Richard Roundtree) whose heart is ripped out on his wedding day, cursing him to roam the Underworld. His bride, Kesho, appears as a soul and tells him his brother Orad arranged the murder and plans to sacrifice her.

Guided to the loa Baron Samedi, Akuji learns he can earn redemption by traversing hell, collecting the souls of his ancestors—souls the Baron despises—and defeating the wardens of each spirit gate to progress.

After retrieving the Seal of Sadiki, the Baron betrays Akuji, stealing the seal and revealing he used Orad and Kesho to free himself and exact revenge on the mortal world. Akuji defeats the Baron, rescues Kesho, who restores his heart, and the two return to the living world.