Game Description

M.A.X. 2 is a strategy game that can be played in either real-time or turn-based mode. In real-time mode the player also has the option to pause the game and still issue orders.

Gameplay involves harvesting resources and building units to go out and conquer the enemy. Players build mining structures and factories to gather gold and produce armored vehicles. The game features over 80 different unit types, land, aerial and naval.

The two opposing forces are the Concord Alliance and the alien Sheevat. Campaigns for both forces are included.

Some of the game features include waypoints, a spycam and fluid zoom levels. Victory conditions for multiplayer game are customisable and a scenario editor is included. ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

Fun if you like real-time strategy games, but lacks innovation. ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Production Credits

INTERPLAY PRODUCTIONS

Producer: Paul Kellner

Associate Producers: Chip Bumgardner, Ryan Rucynski

Line Producers: Dave Simon, Amy Mitchell

Lead Designer: Gus Smedstad

Game Design: Ali Atabek, Dave Boulanger, Paul Kellner , Chris Taylor, Bernie Weir

Lead Programmer: Dave Boulanger

Programmer: Bernie Weir

AI Design & Programming: Gus Smedstad

Network Support: Erik Bethke, Dave Boulanger, Bernie Weir

Art Director: Scott Bieser

Additional Programming: Andy Pal, Jim Gardner

Artists: Tony Postma, Mike Harris, Adam Rote, Stephen Beam

Additional Artists: Arlene C. Somers, Chris Regalado, Mark Bergo, Mike Dean, Acorn Productions

Music: Rick Jackson, Ron Valdez

Visual Concets and Storyboards: Tony Postma

World Creation: Steve Beam, Adam Rote

Head Writer/Campaign Scenario Design: Chris Taylor

Writer/Mission Scenario Design: Dave Hendee

Dialogue: Drew Markham

Manual Writer: Petra Schlunk, Chris Taylor

Manual Editor: Steve Bokkes, Amy Mitchell

Manual Design: Tracie D. Martin, Craig Owens

Manual Reflow: ED Rubin

Box Cover Design: Tony Postma

Traffic Manager: Thom Dohner

Audio Director: Charles Deenen

Audio Administrator: Gloria Soto

Sound Design: Charles Deenen, Larry Peacock, Gregory R. Allen, Sergio Bustamante II

Game Music: Rick Jackson, Ronald Valdez

Voice Casting Direction/Supervision: Chris Borders

Voices: Clancy Brown, Frank Welker, Dee Bradley Baker, Kevin Michael Richardson, Grey Delisle

VO Editing: Frank Szick, Kevin Fraysr

Mastering: Craig Duman

Director of Quality Assurance: Chad Allison

QA Manager: Steve Victory

QA Project Supervisor: Cory Nelson

Testers: Steve Bokkes, Donnie Cornwell, Michael Wood, Mark Holtzclaw

QA IS Manager: Frank Pimentel

QA Technicians: Bill Delk, Chris Peak

Director of Compatibility: Phuong Nguyen

Compatibility Technicians: Marc Duran, Dan Forsyth, Derek Gibbs, John Parker

Director of Marketing: Karen Schohan

Senior Product Marketing Manager: Dean Schulte

PR Director: Kirk Green

PR Manager: Christine Nagata

Internal Coordination Manager: Mike Wood

FlatCat Division Director: Ali Atabek

VP of Development: Trish Wright

Additional Art: Flatline Studios, LLC, Acorn Entertainment

FLATLINE STUDIOS

Production: Bryand Lassiter, Seth, Glenn Israel

Supervisor: Eric Smith

ACORN ENTERTAINMENT, LOS ANGELES

Executive Producer for Acorn Entertainment: Thad Kuentz

Addt'l CGI Animation: Stevan del George

Lead Artist: Rudy Obrero

Asst. Illustrator: Deanna Ino

Addt'l Illustrator: Patrick Shigetani

Cover Design Concepts: Edemer Santos ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

M.A.X. 2 offered little that was new at the time of its release. It is a standard collect the resources, build the units, send them after the enemy affair. It is a well-designed and fun game, but compared to other games such as Total Annihilation and Starcraft, it has a stale flavor.

Most of the unit types are fairly standard for real-time strategy games, there are a few alien units that have different abilities, but for the most part, the alien units are made different by coloring them green and giving them different names.

There are some innovations, like spycams which allow you to monitor certain map locations or units. The main thing that sets this game apart from other real-time strategy games is the ability to pause the game and still issue orders to units, or even to play completely turn-based. Turn-based play is somewhat slow and dull compared to real-time mode and does not offer the strategic options of other turn-based games. Real-time mode makes for a much faster game, and with the ability to pause the game and still build units and

The unit artwork is particularly ugly and distinguishing the different unit types can be difficult. The option to have unit names printed above units goes some way to negating this, but the screen can start to look cluttered.

The multiplayer support is good, and victory conditions can be customized, allowing for things like capture the flag. A simple to use scenario editor is included, but unfortunately it does not allow the player to build their own maps.

M.A.X. 2 suffers from a general blandness. There are no cut-scenes between missions and there is no real storyline, you are essentially just told to go out there and destroy the enemy. It is a game worth checking out if you are a real fan of the genre, but there are better games available. ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Unit artwork is poor ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Nothing special ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

Scenario editor allows players to create their own missions ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

Comprehensive manual ~ Aidan Doyle, All Game Guide