Metal Max

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Metal Max (メタルマックス^?) is a series of post-apocalyptic, vehicle combat, role-playing video games dating back to 1991. They have been developed by Crea-Tech and released for the NES, Super NES, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS platforms. As the trademark dispute, series use Metal Saga (メタルサーガ^?) to release games until get trademark rights again.

Gameplay

The series is an early example of open-ended, non-linear gameplay. They lack a predetermined story path, but the player is instead given the choice of what missions to follow in whichever order while being able to visit any place in the game world at any time.^[1][2][3] The ending can be determined by the player, who can alter the ending through their actions, can complete the game at almost any time, and continue playing the game even after the ending.^[3] Some of the games give the player the freedom to complete the game almost immediately after starting it, particularly Metal Saga, which could be completed with a full ending scenario just minutes into the game, making it the shortest possible RPG.^[4]

The character classes, such as a mechanic or soldier, could be chosen for the player characters, who would fight in turn-based battles either on foot or using tanks. The player could create tanks, customize and make a variety of modifications to them, remodel and enhance each part, strengthen the defense, repair damanged parts, and give them more shells.^[1][2][3]

Development

History

The first book of series Metal Max was released by Data East for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991,^[5] and the first sequel book Metal Max 2 was released in 1993 on SNES.^[6] In 1995, Metal Max was remade on SNES by Kuusoukagaku, and named Metal Max Returns.^[7]

Since 1996 to 2005, Metal Max series have no new game. During this time, Japanese magazine Super Logo Design said that Crea-Tech would pubilshed Metal Max 3: Heart of Gold in Play Station^[8], but it's a hearsay evidence. In 1999, Care-Tech said that the sequel will published in Dreamcast, and tentative named Metal Max Overdrive,^[9] later the game named Metal Max Wild Eyes, and published by ASCII Entertainment in 2000 winter. ^[10] But due to DC stopped production and ASCII withdraw from electronic games market, the game selling suspended finally.^[11]

In late 1990s, Data East got into trouble, and sold the games' remake rights to help them survive. Now Production get the remake rights from SNES to Game Boy Advance of MM2 and MMR. MM2's remake version published at June 20, 2003 and named Metal Max 2 Kai, "Kai" means add some wanted and rent tanks.^[12] 2 Kai had some bugs, so Now Production recalled all cartridges and publisher 1.1 version and Metal Max Returns kai was also cancelled.^[13] 5 days after 2 Kai was published, Data East declared bankruptcy, then the trademark rush registered by Shinjuku Express, and insolvency representative of Data East court failed.

In 2005, Metal Saga published by Success in PlayStation 2,^[14] and it release in North American in 2006. Also in 2006, a sequel titled Metal Saga: Hagane no Kisetsu was released in Japan in 2006 for the Nintendo DS.^[15] And in 2007 a mobile phone game published.^[16] 4th entry of Metal Saga series named Metal Saga: New Frontier, it's a web game and open beta in 2010 and operating in Japan and China^[17] now.

In April 22, 2009, Enterbrain get the treadmark "Metal Max",^[18] and Metal Max 3 published in July 2010 by Kadokawa Games for Nintendo DS.^[19] And Metal Max 2 be remade in DS in 2011 named Metal Max 2: Reloaded. ^[20] Metal Max, Metal Max 2 and Metal Max Returns were remade in Wii since 2010 to 2011.^[21][22][23]

References

External links

• Official website of Metal Max series:メタルマックス2:リローデッド(Japanese)
• Official website of Metal Saga series:METAL SAGA(Japanese)
• Official website of Metal Saga New Frontier:メタルサーガ・ニューフロンティア(Japanese)
• Official website of developer:有限会社クレアテック(Japanese)