Maken X
Encyclopedia
is a game for the Dreamcast video game console
that fits into an sub-genre of "first-person slashers". The game is mainly regarded as a first-person action game because of the realistic elements in gameplay. It is unique in that the main character is the weapon (Maken), rather than a person.
The word "Maken" literally translates as "demonic sword". On the title screen, the "X" is shown to stand for deus ex machina
(Latin for "god out of the machine").
The player can control a number of character via 'brainjacking', which leaves the person a vegetable. The woman displayed on the boxart is the first person controlled when the facility that Maken was created at comes under attack.
s for faces), and a boss-battle against the pope set inside the Vatican
.
The PlayStation 2
remake, Maken Shao: Demon Sword
, retains censorship of the swastika in all versions, including the Japanese. It also contains significant differences to the gameplay, the most striking being that it is played in a third-person perspective rather than first-person.
Maken X was especially panned for its poor English localization
. IGN
stated in its review of the Japanese version that "the Japanese voice acting is top-notch", while stating that in their domestic review that "various problems ranging from the horrid translation to the even worse voice acting job make it hard to follow." This was part of the reason why IGN gave the US version a 'good' score of 7.9/10, while giving the Japanese import an 'outstanding' score of 9.0/10. The Japanese Dreamcast Magazine also gave it a high reviews of 9, 9, and 7.
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
that fits into an sub-genre of "first-person slashers". The game is mainly regarded as a first-person action game because of the realistic elements in gameplay. It is unique in that the main character is the weapon (Maken), rather than a person.
The word "Maken" literally translates as "demonic sword". On the title screen, the "X" is shown to stand for deus ex machina
Deus ex machina
A deus ex machina is a plot device whereby a seemingly inextricable problem is suddenly and abruptly solved with the contrived and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object.-Linguistic considerations:...
(Latin for "god out of the machine").
The player can control a number of character via 'brainjacking', which leaves the person a vegetable. The woman displayed on the boxart is the first person controlled when the facility that Maken was created at comes under attack.
Censorship
The western release of Maken X: was heavily censored from its Japanese counterpart, which featured a more National-Socialist theme for some enemies (most notably, two enemies who actually had swastikaSwastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
s for faces), and a boss-battle against the pope set inside the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
.
The PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
remake, Maken Shao: Demon Sword
Maken Shao: Demon Sword
Maken Shao: Demon Sword, originally released without the subtitle as in Japan, is an action game created by the company Atlus. The 爻 used in the title is a very rarely used kanji in Japanese, and is used merely to signify 'XX'...
, retains censorship of the swastika in all versions, including the Japanese. It also contains significant differences to the gameplay, the most striking being that it is played in a third-person perspective rather than first-person.
Critical response
Internationalization and localization
In computing, internationalization and localization are means of adapting computer software to different languages, regional differences and technical requirements of a target market...
. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
stated in its review of the Japanese version that "the Japanese voice acting is top-notch", while stating that in their domestic review that "various problems ranging from the horrid translation to the even worse voice acting job make it hard to follow." This was part of the reason why IGN gave the US version a 'good' score of 7.9/10, while giving the Japanese import an 'outstanding' score of 9.0/10. The Japanese Dreamcast Magazine also gave it a high reviews of 9, 9, and 7.