Mad Max Reviews
Mad Max is probably the best example from the past few years of games that were released on the wrong date. There are moments in the game that will bring a broad smile to your face and leave you feeling incredibly satisfied, but at the same time you'll sit there thinking "Man, I wish there was more variety". For all the comedy, action and genuinely beautiful visuals that the game throws your way, some of the flaws will bring you back to the barren wasteland with a bump. It's a game worth playing, and I really enjoyed the highs that the game has to offer, but it's hard to recommend picking this up over a lot of titles that are out in this horrendously busy period. Unless you like Australian accents. In which case you won't find a better game this year.
For a game based on a move, Mad Max was a surprising treat. The vehicle combat was a lot of fun and very intense once you have unlocked the upgrades.. The melee combat also works quite well and makes the base attacks really enjoyable. The story is nothing to sing about, but does a good job at filling you in on how the world works now that modern civilization is a thing of the past. The visual quality is ok, but regular and severe frame rate drops impact the game quite hard when the action is heating up. Base and fortress attacks will keep you entertained for a while but the work to build them up to the point where you can make use of them is a waste since you have to leave the area once it is complete.
Mad Max is another generic open world game tossed on the ever-growing pile of open world games. Even with its unique setting and stunning visuals, Mad Max is very much a game of fetch quests and tall towers.
Mad Max doesn't break a new mold for open world games or feel like an epic cinematic experience, but it's nowhere near being a cheap movie tie-in either. It's fun to build your car, wreck some things, and explore the wasteland, and it's clear that a lot of attention has been put into building this world. Even when you've been through dozens of bandit camps, it still has a way of surprising you with what's around the next corner. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Max, in the game, could be anyone. There's no story. He's just a reason to drive around a desert, crashing into things, blowing things up, and fighting. Not that I've got anything against that. Mad Max provides plenty of enjoyable hours of crashing into things and fighting. But, for a desert wasteland there is an awful lot of gasoline, I never got close to running out.
Some of the best car chases in recent gaming memory and a stunning post-apocalyptic world, although when Max gets out of his car he becomes more mediocre than mad.
A sprawling game that packs plenty of content. The problem is that many of the missions end up feeling like recycled material. As such, the game lacks variety and, at worst, some quests feel like busy work. Overall, Mad Max offers a lot, but ends up feeling somewhat rote, with little in the way of truly new and novel things to do. You've ultimately played the sum of its parts before.
Despite the mundane plot, there's plenty to do and distract yourself with within the game world and any fan of the Mad Max franchise will definitely get the Mad Max experience they want from this game.
I went back and forth in terms of my assessment multiple times throughout my time with Mad Max. I'd be having a blast in the car, and then I'd get to a particularly samey part on foot, and so on. But ultimately, I did enjoy my time in the wasteland, even if it doesn't offer up a whole lot that we haven't seen before.
It isn't a bad game and there is entertainment to be had, but the lack of variety in this world and some drawn out moments keep it from greatness.
Every component of Mad Max is at least satisfactory: at best, fantastic. While it mostly relies on a tried and tired Ubisoft-open-world formula, the exhilarating car combat, the gleeful punk-rock absurdity of its world and the characters that populate it, and its almost flawless presentation make it something more than the sum of its well worn parts.
[M]uch like the Max of the movies, there's something about this road warrior to which I've become attached.
Mad Max's narrative may not be as tight or progressive as Fury Road's, but the addictive leveling system and intense combat in and out of the car make the game irresistible for fans of the franchise.
A chaotic dust bowl of an open world, rendered and recorded with Avalanche's usual technical excellence on PC. Like Max's car some parts are a little ramshackle, but if you stick to causing bedlam there's plenty of fun to be had.
While it's a jack of all trades and master of none, there is a distinct charm inherent with Avalanche Studios' take on Mad Max and provided you can get it cheaper than its full price listing you could certainly do a lot worse.
Overall, Mad Max is a game that's solid but could've used just one more extra push to really reach its true potential. Folks who are burnt out from standard open world gameplay or don't like driving won't get as much bang for the buck from it. If you love great car combat and wandering around a large sandbox while checking off side missions, however, this is a game you'll get lots of extra mileage from.
Mad Max has its ragged edges, relying too much on not-so-optional side activities, but it's a fast, thrilling open-world action game that captures the spirit of the George Miller films. Bad timing makes it unlikely that it will be this year's Shadows of Mordor, but if so it won't be for a lack of effort, quality or style.
An almost equal number of significant pros and cons make Mad Max an interesting and polarizing title. Ultimately, it's a game I would recommend, but with some due caution as described in the article.
A solid sandbox adventure, lacking in the chaos and madness that the title and license would suggest.