Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Maken Shao: Demon Sword reinvents the original Maken X’s frenetic slasher mechanics by shifting to a third-person perspective, providing a broader view of combat arenas and enemy placement. This perspective allows players to better time their strikes and dodges, making every encounter feel more strategic than in its predecessor. The core combat loop revolves around chaining melee combos with quick weapon swaps, ensuring that battles remain fluid and engaging throughout the campaign.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

One of the standout innovations is the Image Flare System, which lets you extract and apply skills from different characters’ images. This mechanic encourages experimentation: collect an image from a stealth-oriented ally to gain a shadow dash, or harness a heavy-hitter’s aura to unleash devastating charged strikes. By mixing and matching these abilities, you can tailor your hero to your preferred playstyle, whether that’s agile hit-and-run tactics or brute force assaults.

Difficulty tuning has also seen thoughtful updates. The additional lower difficulty level makes the game more approachable for newcomers or those who prefer a more narrative-driven experience. At higher settings, enemies exhibit smarter AI behavior, coordinating attacks and exploiting openings in your defense. Paired with the item-carry system—where you decide when to use healing herbs or stat-boosting elixirs—this results in a balanced challenge that rewards planning as much as reflexes.

Graphics

The remake’s graphics overhaul takes full advantage of modern hardware, transforming the once-dated environments of Maken X into lush, detailed backdrops. Urban sprawls, clandestine labs, and war-torn battlefields spring to life with dynamic lighting and realistic textures. Reflections shimmer off metallic surfaces, while particle effects add weight to every sword slash and magical flare.

Character models have also received substantial upgrades, with higher polygon counts and more expressive facial animations bringing NPCs and enemies alike to vivid life. The transformations—when the protagonist merges with a new persona—are particularly striking, featuring unique visual flares that underscore each character’s identity. Even minor enemies boast distinct appearances, helping you recognize their attack patterns at a glance.

Performance is generally stable, with smooth frame rates on consoles and PCs alike, though the occasional stutter can emerge in densely populated scenes. In these moments, the game’s cinematic camera angles help mask any minor hitches. Overall, the graphical enhancements successfully modernize the experience without losing the original’s stylistic flair, creating an immersive world that feels both familiar and fresh.

Story

Set in a near-future geopolitical hotbed, Maken Shao: Demon Sword pits the USA and China against each other in a covert battle for global dominance. Central to this conflict is Maken, an ancient weapon capable of tapping into human consciousness. As the player, you navigate a moral tightrope: exploit Maken’s power for personal gain, serve one of the warring nations, or forge an independent path.

The branching narrative unfolds through intense mission scenarios and character-driven cutscenes. Switching perspectives by transforming into different allies not only shifts your combat abilities but also offers unique story threads. Each persona brings its own motivations and backstory, enriching the overarching plot with varied viewpoints on power, loyalty, and identity.

Dialogue is well-written and voice-acted convincingly, though some exposition-heavy exchanges can drag in the mid-game. Nevertheless, key plot twists are delivered with cinematic flair, culminating in multiple endings that reflect your choices. The result is a storyline that incentivizes replayability, encouraging players to revisit pivotal moments and discover alternate outcomes.

Overall Experience

Maken Shao: Demon Sword succeeds in breathing new life into the Maken X formula. Its robust combat system, enhanced by the Image Flare System and refined difficulty settings, provides an engaging gameplay loop that rewards both skill and strategy. The transition to third-person perspective is a welcome change, fostering a stronger connection to the action without sacrificing the original’s intensity.

While the visual and narrative upgrades shine, minor technical hiccups and occasional pacing issues prevent it from feeling entirely polished. That said, these are small blemishes on what is otherwise a compelling package. The modernized graphics and expanded story paths make this remake a standout title for fans of action-adventure and slasher games alike.

Ultimately, Maken Shao: Demon Sword offers a rich, customizable experience that balances fast-paced combat with thought-provoking narrative choices. Whether you’re drawn to its deep skill-extraction mechanics or its geopolitical thriller storyline, you’ll find plenty to explore and master. For both series veterans and newcomers, this enhanced remake delivers an engaging journey into a world where power and identity collide.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10