Atlus made a first-person sword game. You could swap your brain into enemies to use their abilities.
Maken X was developed by Atlus and released for Dreamcast in December 1999 — a first-person action game in which the player controlled a psychic sword that could 'brainjack' enemies, transferring consciousness into their bodies to gain new abilities. The game's protagonist was the sword itself; human allies and enemies served as vessels. The brainjacking system made each fight a choice about whether to defeat an enemy or possess them for their moveset. The narrative — a supernatural conspiracy involving a Satanist organization — was presented in visual novel-style dialogue sequences. Maken X was later remade as Maken Shao for PlayStation 2 in 2001 with a changed perspective.
About this game
Maken X, released in November 1999, was director Katsura Hashino's debut as a game director at Atlus — the same director who would later create Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5. The game is a first-person action RPG in which players possess and control various human characters (called 'Brainjacking') to progress through the story, accumulating the abilities of each host. Character design by Kazuma Kaneko and music by Shoji Meguro give the game an unmistakably Atlus identity that foreshadows later Shin Megami Tensei titles.
The Story Behind
The development of Maken X was notoriously turbulent: after initial production began, the Dreamcast's greater-than-expected capabilities led to scope creep. Despite the chaotic development, the game sold 66,000 copies in its first week in Japan — Atlus's best-ever Dreamcast opening. A remake titled Maken Shao: Demon Sword was released for PlayStation 2 in 2001, switching to a third-person perspective. This is a historically significant early work in the career of one of the JRPG genre's defining creators.
Tricks & Tales
Maken X is the earliest example of the distinct visual and narrative sensibility that Katsura Hashino would refine over the following decade into the Persona series. The Brainjacking mechanic — inhabiting and controlling other people — carries ethical weight that foreshadows the moral complexity of later Hashino titles. Shoji Meguro's soundtrack for Maken X shows early signs of the jazz-inflected, genre-crossing approach he perfected in Persona 3's soundtrack.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The Dreamcast enforces a regional lockout by software, with discs manufactured for Japan (NTSC-J), North America (NTSC-U), and Europe (PAL) each restricted to their respective consoles. Most Japanese Dreamcast games output at 60 Hz over composite or S-Video, which works on NTSC televisions worldwide; VGA output bypasses the TV standard entirely and is supported by the majority of titles, making a VGA box or HDMI adapter a practical solution for overseas buyers. PAL-specific titles are the exception: a minority of PAL games do not support VGA or force 50 Hz, so checking compatibility lists before purchasing PAL software for use on a Japanese console is advisable.
Maintenance Tips
The GD-ROM drive is the Dreamcast's most common point of failure — the laser lens wears out faster than those in most contemporaneous CD players. If games freeze, fail to load, or the drive makes repeated seeking sounds, the lens is the first thing to check. Clean it gently with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; do not press hard or use high-speed cleaning discs, which can scratch the lens. Compressed air is useful for blowing dust out of the drive bay and the fan area. The console's internal clock is maintained by a rechargeable ML2032 coin cell — the correct replacement type is ML2032 (not CR2032, which is non-rechargeable and can be damaged by the console's charging circuit).
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Maken X copies regularly.
Will this Japanese Dreamcast game work on a North American or European Dreamcast?
No, not on unmodified hardware. The Dreamcast enforces regional lockout via the console BIOS — Japanese GD-ROMs will not run on Western consoles. Options include a boot disc (such as Utopia Boot Disc or DC-X) that bypasses region protection without hardware modification, a BIOS replacement, or a Japanese Dreamcast. The Dreamcast's regional protection is widely considered one of the easiest to bypass among disc-based consoles of its era.
Do I need a VMU (Visual Memory Unit) to save game progress?
Yes. The Dreamcast has no internal save storage. A VMU must be inserted into the controller's memory card slot to save game data. Each VMU holds 200 blocks; most games use 1–20 blocks per save file. The VMU also has a small LCD screen and can run mini-games independently of the console. Third-party memory cards are available, but the official Sega VMU is recommended for reliability.
How should I handle and care for a Dreamcast GD-ROM disc?
The Dreamcast uses GD-ROM, a proprietary high-density disc format. Handle by the edges and center hub, avoiding the data surface. Clean by wiping from the center outward in straight radial strokes with a soft lint-free cloth — never in a circular motion. If the console struggles to load an otherwise intact disc, the Dreamcast laser may need cleaning or adjustment, which is a common maintenance issue in aging Dreamcast hardware.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Maken X
A short checklist for buying a used Dreamcast disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Dreamcast GD-ROM. The Dreamcast is region-locked, so a Japanese disc generally needs a Japanese console.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a VMU — no disc battery
Dreamcast games save to a VMU memory card; the disc itself has no battery.
Make sure you have a VMU with a working battery and free blocks.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what it's selling for on eBay →Unexpected Discoveries
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