‘Mad Max’ (PC) Review

Game releases, just like movies and other forms of entertainment can at times be all about timing. Who would dare go up against Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain? I guess you would have to be mad…Mad Max.

mad-max

The story for Mad Max sticks to a tried and trusted form, Max loses his car and he has to get it back. With the Interceptor stolen he now has the Magnum Opus, and with the help of Chumbucket he has to build it up to be able to tackle the War Boys of the wastelands, building it up before he takes on the ultimate challenge, reclaiming his beloved car and making it over the Plains of Silence.

As soon as you start playing the game it is obvious that a lot of inspiration has been taken from Shadow of Mordor, but another thing that stands out is the Wasteland and his it feels sparse. While this can feel detrimental to the game at first, build up the Magnum Opus and take on more of the map, and you soon realise just why the world is as it is. Mad Max is at its strongest when you are exploring the wastelands, searching for loot, water, and guzzoline, oh and kicking plenty of ass.

What works with Mad Max is the fun factor, and the fact that the designers understand what they are working with. Feeling like a combination between Road Warrior and Fury Road the writers of the story know how to get you invested in the world and keep you hooked. There are moments near the end of the game that truly cut deep, and some that are all out bat-shit crazy. This is why they get it right though. There are many weird and wonderful things in the wastelands, and Max is one of them.

If you are a fan of the so-called Ubisoft model of making a game, this is one for you. There is a fairly sizable map to explore and plenty of things to do. Even trying to make it through the story missions only is a time-consuming affair, and this is because of the way you not only have to level of Max himself but also the Magnum Opus and the different variations of car that are available to you. There are even the “perfect” Archangel cars to create, which are more like a blueprint version featuring perfect racing cars, battle cars or whatever meets your needs and need specific parts selected.

When trailers were being revealed for Mad Max there was a feeling of Borderlands about it, and that same feeling does exist in the game, though not as much. There are bases around the map with characters to interact with, and you can build these buildings up to provide you with ammo, water, and guzzoline and this is the main interactions with characters you will have. Chumbucket will be with you at all times though, praising the Magnum Opus and making sure the car is fully repaired after battle. The side-kicks relationship with the car is quite worrying at times.

The fact with Mad Max is it is never going to be Metal Gear Solid, and while that game is consuming so much time for gamers right now, Max deserves some attention too. If anything, Mad Max is definitely a victim of the timing of its release. I hope that it will find some life when people are looking for a good game to play after they’ve exhausted everything that Metal Gear Solid 5 has to offer, it is one that deserves some of the spotlight too.

Mad Max is a game that is well worth your time, yes there are a few glitches in there but they never really get in the way of gameplay (on the PC at least). The performance is good; on my PC I managed to get a constant 60FPS (or above) at 1080P, though there was some slowdown at times but nothing too bad. Personally as a fan of the Batman games, Shadows of Mordor, and Far Cry 4…I loved Mad Max, I just hope it gets the success it deserves.

Mad Max is available on PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4 now.

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