So I've Been Playing: MAKEN SHAO [ Review PS2 ]

Maken Shao: Demon Sword Review by ThorHighheels
Game by Atlus for Playstation 2
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Thanks for watching!

[@whatamalike]

"Standing out like a cyst on my bellend" Such a way with words... I love you.

[@DrDemoman74]

If you ever get a Dreamcast I highly recommend Maken X. I didn't even know it got a PS2 port. I always considered the PS2 to be more "powerful" than the dreamcast (look at how good Silent Hill 3 looks) but I've noticed a lot of Dreamcast ports are objectively worse on PS2-- odd.

[@Mr.Atari2600]

afaik, the PS2 despite being more powerful was also kinda difficult to work with. The Dreamcast however actually had a Superior GPU than what PS2 had. Unlike the PS2, the Dreamcast GPU comes with Anti-Aliasing, Texture Compression, Tile Rendering, & Normal Mapping. The PS2 lacks all of this. They say the PS2 can do AA but only through Software. + the Dreamcast has more VRam (8mb's unlike the 4mb's PS2 has) & on top of that, VGA Support which is compatible with like 90% of the Dreamcast games. Overall, The Dreamcast runs at a higher resolution, clearer picture, better textures, & AA. But I do think the PS2 has a higher Polygon count.

[@KingStr0ng]

The Dreamcast and PS2 were both a part of the same generation. The Dreamcast was much stronger but the PS2 succeeded mainly due to inclusion of the DVD player and because of all the popularity that Sony gained in the last generation from the PS1.

[@SAWmacaco]

Ps2 has a better library, and second analog, ps2 wins

[@gf618]

Grandia II is a good example of a crappy port. Which is a shame

[@JennyTheNerdBat]

Looks a lot like some kind of a forgotten Shin Megami Tensei game, to the point of MAKEN X's cover having those signature "stone faces with colored lips" from SMT character designs. Considering both games share the same artist and developer, I wonder if there's any actual connection between MAKEN and SMT canons.

[@thorhighheels]

I think this is one of the first games made by the exact team that would go on to make the Persona games P3 onward. Or at least, it was the first pairing of the composer, artist, and director. As for canonical connections, I wouldn't know. But I wouldn't be surprised if Maken had at least an easter egg or two hidden in the Persona games.

[@Bi0mega]

Fans generally think of it as a 'spiritual sidequel' to the core SMT series. It carries some of the same Law/Chaos/Neutrality themes of the classic games and Kazuma Kaneko provided the art and designs for both. But as far as easter eggs or anything goes, sadly, it stands alone. It was surprising that the game even got a PS2 remake, given how it was pretty much forgotten after release.

[@mmichaelwwong]

It's one of the first games the smt team created as a way to test out 3D graphics at the time as it was one of the first really 3d games that Atlus made at the time. There is an Easter egg/reference to this game in digital devil saga where one of the music tracks is a direct remix of I believe the Sicily stage music from maken

[@pugbeastidon]

As far as I know there is no connection in terms of timelines or canon. I’ve only played Maken X on the Dreamcast so maybe but I really doubt it.

[@Vanity0666]

​@@pugbeastidonsmt5 relitigates a lot of the foundational plot, japan creates an artificial demon using a spawning pool, Susano-o fusing with the main character, the war for the throne of creation etc.

[@WhaleNamedJonah]

It took like four seconds of footage for me to immediately recognize Shin Megami Tensei's character design

[@gororo9380]

There's a manga of this. I didnt realize it had a game.

[@kuronoroux8864]

Yeah, and the author is working in Dai Dark now, her new manga She created DOROHEDORO

[@LeonFf10]

OMG, I was looking for this game for so long, I'm so glad you made a video about it thank you!

[@ewanherbert3402]

Man, they should reboot this series and make it stylistically more in line with Q Hayashida's manga. That'd be fuckin' rad

[@Spaghettaboutit]

Pretty sure the US Dreamcast release has English voice acting. I was floored that a game back in its time had voice acting when I found this out a year ago. Sure Shenmue and Sonic had it, but most those are Sega games and most games back then just didn't have that much VO, and deffo not in English if they came from Japan. -- Edit: I see at the end you say this. Yeah it would be cool if you could revisit the game on DC.

[@Bi0mega]

Sadly, I can't say the Dreamcast version of the game does much better. It has far bigger problems, such as first-person platforming, special attacks taking health, rather than MP and even fewer health items. For all its faults, Shao is the better version of the two. Genuinely amazing soundracks for both games though, Shoji Meguro was on fine form with these two.

[@dextersbeard3472]

I really like the Dreamcast version. I wish there was an option to switch between first and third person point of view though like you have in this version.

[@Vanity0666]

Physical attacks costing health is a megaten thing

[@hemangchauhan2864]

Fuck, I too watched a lot of anime on such sites, with fan subs, and really low audio and video quality. Call me a nostalgia-tard, but there was something charming about them, that I won't ever find on something as high quality is Crunchyroll. In fact, I think that's the best way to watch older shows IMO. The atmosphere and eerieness of "Monster" was greatly increased I watched it that way (I still have it on my hard drive somewhere) Whenever a game like Maken comes along, it reminds me of those passionate low quality anime I used to watch online.

[@reefatbakht]

Hemang Chauhan truth

[@mangabrojojo9559]

funnily enough Maken x is actually a manga made by a very skilled artist. The manga itself is shitily translated so I never bothered to read it but it's interesting how it had a video game.

[@thorhighheels]

Oh I never knew that. Like I said, a good story still shines through the shitty presentation, so that probably why haha.

[@Primaeros]

Game came first. The manga was the tie-in to the game.

[@chestergordon7534]

You seriously should have played the dreamcasts version. It was ahead of its time

[@0XReactor]

The Dreamcast version is kinda better.

[@janusan89]

As someone who played the original Maken x on dreamcast long ago, I agree with you at the end: this was such a poor game in comparison with so much potential lost in the process, I can't believe they did this. To be honest, my biggest gripe was the third person perspective switch: being in first person was actually charming in a way and the controls were much smoother as well (there's no jumping over the shoulder and the EX is learned if im right). It went from a pretty decent 1rst person brawler game to a crappy third person action game, since there's barely tactics anymore. On the other hand...I do like how the game has some RPG elements: the synchro was basically a levelling system that while nothing special, it actually made me replay more than once with the same character and it was actually pretty fun! But yeah...the game felt really rushed with basically all tactics being removed (Hakke Marguerite, one of my worst nightmares in Maken X , I beat her so easily in Maken Shao). I really wished that Maken X would make a comeback for good but it's been so many years, I doubt it will now. R.I.P.

[@AngryDemonBowser]

...wow....A Dutch person reviewed this game?......DUDE I AM SPEECHLESS

[@thorhighheels]

Trust me, it amazes me too sometimes.

[@spiderjerusalem100]

Yay more PS2 games :)

[@dextersbeard3472]

Wow it's in 3rd person view on PS2, it's locked in first person in the original on Dreamcast

[@Zephyr_Weiss]

love that tekken 4 music at he bodyswap part lol

[@shiestiestkretin5975]

Yah.....this game is actually fun.....on the dreamcast.

[@tipsyConfection]

Dayum, Thor, how do you even find this games? And, Are you doing this on purpose? Anyway, i am glad you do what you do, because if not you most of us would probably never ever hear about all this wierd shit. Thanks for the video.

[@thorhighheels]

Thanks man! I just look around online, and investigate anything I think looks cool. I think I found out about this one on wikipedia of all places.

[@gf618]

@@thorhighheels dunno if you have already, but if you didn't, take a look at 7 Blades. It's this kind of wacky

[@theaceofspades56]

Maken X got a port? I played the original and that was more arcade-like but rushed with some very rigid controls. Throw in the POV and the fact you couldn't quick turn to fight enemies that appear behind you and it felt like you were playing as one of those jobber Zaku pilots without the newtype reflexes. I still think it deserves a playthrough just because the enemy designs are top 10

[@beat-man5167]

Do you have a bunch of blank cds lying around your house? Or you're not gonna even hassle with switching out boot disks and isos?

[@thorhighheels]

Not sure yet. Dreamcast emulation isn't too good of an option for me now, on my current PC, and I prefer doing things legit if I can. Though alotta DC stuff seems to be expensive, or hard to come by in the PAL regions. So I might not have any other option then to burn isos.

[@KingFossilFER]

I always tought the gameplay of makenX was the same thing but in first person, and the game being translated is kind of a surprise. Btw, have you lpayed any of the Earth Defense Force games?

[@thorhighheels]

Nope. Sadly a series I have yet to dig into. I'm sure I will do at some point though ;)

[@GuyOnAChair]

ThorHighHeels You should try Baroque for the PS1/Saturn.

[@leonking4843]

will you ever do a top all time favorite games list?

[@especialdeporrada9843]

Leon King I approve this message. I'm pretty sure Killer 7 is going to be there somewhere.

[@thorhighheels]

Sure? Never really considered it something people would want to see. But I wouldn't mind doing it one day though.

[@especialdeporrada9843]

ThorHighHeels Well, I'm pretty sure it would be something your subscribers would definitely want to see. :p

[@eduardorozo8129]

Yes please!

[@hemangchauhan2864]

There is a modified nullDC emulator at shenmuedojo. I used that to play Shenmue 1 and it run really good on my laptop. Give it a go.

[@thorhighheels]

Oh that actually sounds pretty good. I'll be sure to try it out.

[@dextersbeard3472]

It's in English on Dreamcast North American copy

[@nunyabisness1979]

hey if you still want to play maken x the redream emulator is really good

[@miteruno]

you can tell the music is by shoji meguro by that piano sounds a lot like persona 3

[@gotinogaden]

Actually I liked the PS2 version. The SD first-person perspective did not do it for me.

[@hitkid2456]

This on PSN in US? Perhaps it was just EU...

[@MrRhysReviews]

I believe it was just the PAL Region PSN, it was on the Australian PSN and glad I grabbed it (as I never got around to it on PS2 and sold it before playing for whatever reason... This was in the 2010's btw not like back in the day) and the game has since been Delisted I believe 🤷

[@mopeybloke]

I'm waiting for the arcade HD rerelease to finally play this.

[@zydian_]

I'm gonna pick this game up :) no kapp btw

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

first time watching your videos

[@thorhighheels]

The beginning of the end.

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

i agree with most of what you said about ffviii. Its still not the best FF game

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

Yeah I agree with most of your ffviii review its not the best game and not the worst

[@bubblegumgun3292]

looks like this belongs on the ps1

[@e2rqey]

Big KissAnime vibes 9:59

[@CaptainPsychopath69]

this has got to be the dumbest port of a game I've seen. looks like an.... interesting game though

[@dextersbeard3472]

Why do you say that? I think it's pretty cool, I haven't played this version but I own the game on Dreamcast and it's locked to first person view but they added third person view here which is really cool. The game plays great on Dreamcast and I would imagine it's even better on PS2 with the use of twin analog sticks.

[@N_Wah_]

Do Nioh Thor-Senpai!

[@jonathanplooij3666]

weird game

[@bennyboiii1196]

looks like a shitty goldsrc game

[@jihlnabaat6329]

not to mention it was done by the SMT team