The main character does not go by Max
.With Metal Max Xeno Reborn, I fell hopelessly in love. I have never seen the series before, even though it has been airing in Japan since 1991. For me, it was quite the roller coaster. I went online right after and ordered a few of the early games in the series. I experienced the heartache of Metal Max: Wild West being postponed. Then, in \i>Metal Max for the Famicom, I fell in love once again. I became depressed once again after reminding myself that \i>Metal Max: Wild West was canceled.
With the exception of \i>Xeno and its \i>Reborn cousin, \i>Metal Max has mostly remained in Japan. On the PS2, we received \i>Metal Saga, although not much was said about it. Now that Sony is doing it once again, maybe a re-release for the PS5 is in the works. Numerous titles passed us by unnoticed by us English speakers, and I want to peruse as many of them as my quick fingers allow me to. I can talk to \i>Metal Max via Famicom Friday, therefore I'll share it with you.
Get a legitimate job
I am in love with Metal Max. Whether they're a Mother or a Dragon Quest, Famicom RPGs may be difficult. It was a somewhat poor console role-playing game period. No, maybe it isn't correct. Console RPGs were at a tough period at the time. A wonderful time for PC role-playing games, but console RPGs were rather unbalanced. I had no trouble eating \i>Metal Max, however. without becoming bored.
Much of what made \i>Metal Max Xeno Reborn so great was previously there on the Famicom, which helps. It's a tank-centric post-apocalyptic JRPG. The storyline is simple: you only have to get out of the path to hunt creatures. The primary goals are to locate cars and save up enough cash to upgrade them. The creatures are absurd, yet behind it all lies a cunning, dark sense of humor.
Furthermore, for a JRPG from this era, it's rather polished. I could have played Metal Max Returns, the Super Famicom remake, or the Famicom original. Because the original's artwork is so timeless for the system, I chose it. It's evident that Dragon Quest had a significant effect on it, much like other RPGs from the time. Enemies are large, environments are sparse, and characters are squat. It suits the appearance wonderfully if you like the Famicom RPG style.
Insane Strength
A similar sheen is shown in the gameplay. While grinding is a choice and it is totally conceivable for you to overwhelm yourself, the gaming cycle is flawless. You search for Wanted Monsters while traveling the globe. However, the Wanted Monsters are only an idea—a fantastic method to earn a lot of money quickly. The basic gameplay has additional elements: locate better weaponry and tanks, and if you're feeling ambitious, fix the issues facing the several cities you encounter.
It has an almost open universe. Although the development from town to town is essentially linear, it is not opposed to going back or forth. Bosses are not the Wanted Monsters. You don't have to kill them to continue. You must do a few tasks in order to pass the gate, however they are mostly found in the game's early stages. I think calling it an open-narrative game would be more appropriate. Most character development takes place within your thoughts. You are reminded of your lowly origins, but you discover why. Riches, cash, a badass tank? Without a doubt, I'm here for the tanks.
Magnum Tank
It seems odd to describe a turn-based role-playing game as "fun." Combat via a menu is boring. Alternatively, I suppose I could argue that Metal Max is interesting. Finding new tanks and obtaining new gear is amazing. Lining up your weaponry against large, powerful enemies is a pleasant feeling. I wish the world was, if anything, more responsive. Since you're not asked for much, people aren't very interested in your accomplishments. Towns are often stagnant and unchanging. Maybe that's how much \i>Metal Max's polish costs.
Although the music is great, it is repetitive, which is typical of a JRPG. I mean, I can definitely hum the overworld theme from Dragon Quest off the top of my head, and that's not even because I enjoy it. There is a respectable quantity of music, however. Occasionally, in between pounding you with the combat or overworld music, it will introduce something fresh and captivating.
The electrical power
The growth of Metal Max is what makes it so fun, but its peculiar sense of humor is the cherry on top. A large number of the adversaries are hybrids of combat robots and animals. Sometimes you find yourself in strange situations, such as trying to persuade a factory full of flower enthusiasts to give you a car. However, many of the mechanics are somewhat peculiar from the start.
You replenish your tank at the tank supply location, get healing at the inn, and upon dying, are brought back to life by a lunatic scientist. Really, when a character is capped, they turn into a lifeless body that is pulled behind the other characters. The doctor receives your "fresh corpse," and he zaps them back to life. Ultimately, all of the party members are essentially zombies by the time the game ends, deprived of the tranquil embrace of death. Your father willfully brings you back to life if all of your characters are erased, and you will then have to locate your fallen comrades. It is without a doubt the most macabre regeneration method I have come across.
The series' bare storyline is one of the things that has really captivated me. The 8-bit era of JRPGs wasn't exactly known for its strong storytelling, but I find it funny that in Metal Max , you essentially stumble into the main enemy before realizing who they are. When it's all done, no one knows that you rescued the world since they were unaware that it was in danger to begin with. James Bond is certainly familiar with that feeling, but in this case, there isn't even any celebratory sex.
While you're at it, save the world
Without exaggeration, Metal Max is the finest RPG I've ever played on the Famicom. Yes, it's better than the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest tetralogy, and even Mother. It has the tightness of Dragon Quest and the Mother's strangeness. It's fair to say that no 8-bit RPG has ever brought me as much delight.
However, we were unable to acquire it here. We missed much of the series. So far, we have Metal Saga for the PlayStation 2 and Metal Max Xeno along with its remake and remaster. I'll never understand why the DS titles were never sent to us. I doubt we'll ever actually see them until I can get a few million people to get on the Metal Max Xeno Reborn wagon. After Metal Max: Wild West was canceled, I don't think we'll ever see the show again.
Thankfully, there is a fan translation of Metal Max, which I have included here since I find the Japanese language to be very overwhelming. Maybe I could have persevered, but I doubt I would have enjoyed the experience as much. As I previously said, there is a fan translation and a 1996 SNES remake of \i>Metal Max titled \i>Metal Max Returns. You decide whether or not to play. I have a whole series that I now need to get into, but I'll probably get to the remake sooner rather than later.
See past Fridays on Famicom right here.