The Adventures of Might Max Retrospective Review
By: Nik S
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: Ocean Software
Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis
Played on: Genesis
If you grew up in the early 90's then you're probably familiar with a brand of miniature toys called Polly Pocket. The toys were targeted primarily at girls, so there really wasn't anything for boys. Bluebird Toys, a company based in the United Kingdom, decided to take the basic premise of Polly and make it EXTREME. In the United States and Canada, they were distributed by Irwin Toy Limited and Mattel respectively. The toys consisted of places called "Doom Zones" and "Horror Heads". All toys featured the hero, Max, who went up against menacing creatures. The toys eventually got adapted into a TV series and had its own tie-in video game.
The Adventures of Mighty Max was released for both the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the SEGA Genesis in 1994. Regardless of which system you play this on, the gameplay is essentially the same. The game came with a small comic book which gave a small insight into the video game; some versions of the game were packaged with a VHS tape of an episode of the cartoon (either Day of the Cyclops or Let Sleeping Dragons Lie!).
Now you've probably seen or heard of Ocean Software, especially since they're known for making bad licensed games all throughout the late 80's and early 90's. The Adventures of Mighty Max is sadly not an exception.
After blowing into your cartridge and popping it into the console, you're greeted with a still image of Max and friends. There are only three things to choose from, start the game (and its various difficulties), options, and a password system. When you start a new game you're greeted with three children to choose from: Max, Felix, or Bae. The game is two player so you can play two characters simultaneously in split-screen couch co-op. After selecting your character, you're taken to a level select screen which is just a two story house with your character's face hovering over the windows.
In each stage you're given 9 lives, a health system, time limit, and a goal. At the top of the screen you have a point system and an arrow pointing you to the nearest portal. Now the goal varies from stage to stage, but it's primarily find two or three piles of... something, and throw them into a portal. Once you've reached your goal you hop through the portal, just to go to a very similar looking level.
There's plenty of collectibles and enemies (most of which are not from the toys or show), which just aimlessly move about the level. The children have a flashlight-like weapon which shoots out pellets at enemies which stuns them temporarily after a few hits. There are a few power-up items scattered throughout, but they just have Virgil (an owl humanoid) who gives you hints, and Norman (a large man with a sword who used to say "I eat ____ for breakfast!" as his catchphrase) who kills stunned enemies.
There's really no plot to this game other than you're just trying to stop Skullmaster (who was voiced by the legendary Tim Curry in the cartoon). There's not really any boss fights or anything, you're just solving mediocre puzzles and trying not to die from being hit by enemies.
There really is nothing to say other than you might have a small nostalgia trip from this game, but it will be short lived. The controls are clunky and almost unresponsive, and the mechanics are bland and run-of-the-mill. You're better off finding something else in your second-hand game store's bargain bin.
Interested in more retrospective reviews? We got you covered.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Okage: Shadow King
Guardian's Crusade
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Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: Ocean Software
Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis
Played on: Genesis
If you grew up in the early 90's then you're probably familiar with a brand of miniature toys called Polly Pocket. The toys were targeted primarily at girls, so there really wasn't anything for boys. Bluebird Toys, a company based in the United Kingdom, decided to take the basic premise of Polly and make it EXTREME. In the United States and Canada, they were distributed by Irwin Toy Limited and Mattel respectively. The toys consisted of places called "Doom Zones" and "Horror Heads". All toys featured the hero, Max, who went up against menacing creatures. The toys eventually got adapted into a TV series and had its own tie-in video game.
The Adventures of Mighty Max was released for both the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the SEGA Genesis in 1994. Regardless of which system you play this on, the gameplay is essentially the same. The game came with a small comic book which gave a small insight into the video game; some versions of the game were packaged with a VHS tape of an episode of the cartoon (either Day of the Cyclops or Let Sleeping Dragons Lie!).
Now you've probably seen or heard of Ocean Software, especially since they're known for making bad licensed games all throughout the late 80's and early 90's. The Adventures of Mighty Max is sadly not an exception.
After blowing into your cartridge and popping it into the console, you're greeted with a still image of Max and friends. There are only three things to choose from, start the game (and its various difficulties), options, and a password system. When you start a new game you're greeted with three children to choose from: Max, Felix, or Bae. The game is two player so you can play two characters simultaneously in split-screen couch co-op. After selecting your character, you're taken to a level select screen which is just a two story house with your character's face hovering over the windows.
In each stage you're given 9 lives, a health system, time limit, and a goal. At the top of the screen you have a point system and an arrow pointing you to the nearest portal. Now the goal varies from stage to stage, but it's primarily find two or three piles of... something, and throw them into a portal. Once you've reached your goal you hop through the portal, just to go to a very similar looking level.
There's plenty of collectibles and enemies (most of which are not from the toys or show), which just aimlessly move about the level. The children have a flashlight-like weapon which shoots out pellets at enemies which stuns them temporarily after a few hits. There are a few power-up items scattered throughout, but they just have Virgil (an owl humanoid) who gives you hints, and Norman (a large man with a sword who used to say "I eat ____ for breakfast!" as his catchphrase) who kills stunned enemies.
There's really no plot to this game other than you're just trying to stop Skullmaster (who was voiced by the legendary Tim Curry in the cartoon). There's not really any boss fights or anything, you're just solving mediocre puzzles and trying not to die from being hit by enemies.
There really is nothing to say other than you might have a small nostalgia trip from this game, but it will be short lived. The controls are clunky and almost unresponsive, and the mechanics are bland and run-of-the-mill. You're better off finding something else in your second-hand game store's bargain bin.
Interested in more retrospective reviews? We got you covered.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2
Okage: Shadow King
Guardian's Crusade
We're on social media!
Twitch
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