Akuji the Heartless

About

Akuji the Heartless is a side-scrolling action game where you play a voodoo priest cursed to wander the Underworld. You slash through enemies, jump between platforms, and solve environmental puzzles while navigating layered hellscapes. Combat feels weighty with melee attacks and magic, balanced by platforming sections that demand precise timing. The story follows Akuji’s quest to reclaim his ancestors’ souls and escape his fiery purgatory, driven by a mix of revenge and redemption. Voice actor Richard Roundtree brings gravitas to the title character, adding a unexpected layer of intensity. The game stands out for its bold concept and unapologetic weirdness, blending voodoo lore with 90s action mechanics. Its modified Gex engine gives it a distinct visual style, though technical quirks remain. A small but vocal group of retro gamers praise its ambition, with some highlighting the contrast between Akuji’s grim tale and the lighthearted Gex roots. Released in 1998, it’s a niche title that flies under most radars but rewards curiosity with a wild, if uneven, ride.

Storyline

The game centres on the voodoo priest and warrior Akuji (voiced by Richard Roundtree), who had his heart ripped out on his wedding day, and through the use of voodoo magic is now cursed to wander the Underworld. However, Kaisha, his would-be bride, finds him in hell and speaks to him in soul form: she informs him that it was Orad, Akuji's own brother, who orchestrated his murder. She begs Akuji to escape and stop him, as their families are preparing for war, and Orad is preparing to sacrifice her to the gods. Upon traveling through the first level of the Underworld and consulting loa Baron Samedi Akuji discovers he has a chance for redemption: if he traverses hell and collects the souls of his ancestors, which the Baron despises for their evil, then he will grant Akuji safe passage out of the underworld. On his way through, he must also defeat the wardens of each of the spirit gates, which will enable him to advance on his quest for the souls.