Metal Max 3
{{Short description|2010 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Metal Max 3 Coverart.png
| developer = Cattle Call
| publisher = Kadokawa Games
Enterbrain
Crea-Tech
| director = Tomoki Tauchi
| producer = Yoshihiro Yamamoto
| designer = Hiroshi Miyaoka
| programmer = Kazuki Takei
| artist = Masaki Hirooka
Atsuji Yamamoto
Shun Kise
| writer =
| composer = Satoshi Kadokura
| series = Metal Max
| platforms = Nintendo DS
| released = {{Video game release|JP|July 29, 2010}}
| genre = Role-playing
| modes = Single-player
}}
{{Nihongo|Metal Max 3|メタルマックス3|Metaru Makkusu Surī}} is the seventh entry in the Metal Max series. It is a vehicle combat RPG produced by Cattle Call and co-published by Kadokawa Games, Enterbrain, and Crea-Tech for the Nintendo DS exclusively in Japan in 2010.{{cite web|script-title=ja:タルマックス3- 【製品情報】|url=http://www.metalmax.info/mm3/pinfo.html|publisher=Enterbrain / Crea-Tech|accessdate=8 February 2012|language=Japanese}}
In 1993, Metal Max 2 was published by Data East, who retained the trademark rights to the series until its closure in 2003 and the liquidation of its intellectual properties in the following year. In April 2009, Enterbrain (Kadokawa's subsidiary) obtained the rights{{cite web|script-title=ja:正当なる「メタルマックス２改」「メタルマックスＲ改」（第４５発案）|url=http://www.tanomi.com/metoo/r/?kid=65219|publisher=Tanomi.com|accessdate=8 February 2012|language=Japanese|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701134209/http://www.tanomi.com/metoo/r/?kid=65219|archivedate=1 July 2011}} and published Metal Max 3 the next year. It is the first numbered entry in the series in 17 years.{{cite web|title=First Look: Metal Max 3|url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/107/1075191p1.html|publisher=IGN|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=March 8, 2010}} A remade version of Metal Max 2 for the Nintendo DS was published in 2011, and utilizes Metal Max 3{{'}}s engine.{{cite web|last=Spencer|title=Ride A Buggy Or Leopard Tank In Metal Max 2 Reloaded|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/07/07/ride-a-buggy-or-leopard-tank-in-metal-max-2-reloaded/|publisher=siliconera.com|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=July 7, 2011}}
Similarly to its predecessors, the game is open-ended and non-linear.
Gameplay
Much of the gameplay is similar to its predecessors, Metal Max and Metal Max 2. The game is open-ended and non-linear, with the player given the freedom to decide where to go and what missions to do in whichever order. The player can choose the character classes and subclasses, besides a mechanic, soldier, artist or other, for the player characters.{{cite web|last=Nobu|title=NDS「メタルマックス3」では三つの新職業が登場。シリーズ初のパーティーメンバーを入れ替えての冒険が可能に|url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/106/G010672/20100414025/|publisher=4Gamer.net|accessdate=8 February 2012|language=Japanese|date=April 19, 2010}} The battles are turn-based, with the characters able to fight either on foot or using tanks. The tanks can be created and customized by the player, who can modify and enhance each part of a vehicle, though there is a weight limit to each tank which mostly depends on an engine. In certain areas where tanks cannot pass, the characters must engage the enemies on foot. The game also features gambling machines where minigames can be played, including third-person shooter and racing games.
Synopsis
The protagonist was picked up and revived by mad scientist Dr. Minch, but he suffered from severe memory loss and cannot remember anything about himself. Therefore, the protagonist decided to travel around the world as a bounty hunter, in order to retrieve his memories and find out his true identity.
Development
Since Metal Max 2 was released in 1993, original publisher Data East planned to release a new entry which underwent a troubled development cycle.{{cite web|script-title=ja:『メタルマックス3』の開発者、宮岡寛氏と田内智樹氏のインタビュー完全版を公開！|url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201009/02032849.html|publisher=Famitsu|accessdate=2012-06-03|date=2010-09-02|language=Japanese}} During this time, a Dreamcast game named Metal Max: Wild Eyes was planned, and was set to be published by ASCII Entertainment, but the game was later cancelled, due to the publisher quitting video game business.{{cite web|title=MetalMax概要４|url=http://www.crea-tech.net/GAMES/games_MM_gai04.html|publisher=Crea-Tech|accessdate=2012-02-17|language=Japanese|archive-date=2013-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623022544/http://www.crea-tech.net/GAMES/games_MM_gai04.html|url-status=dead}} There were also other companies interested in developing a sequel for the Game Boy, but they given up later on. In 2003, Data East went into bankruptcy, and the trademark for the game was acquired by other companies. The series was then published by Success under the name Metal Saga. In 2008, Enterbrain invited the producer of Metal Max 2 to make a new game in the series, and obtained the original trademark in 2009. The game was published in July 2010 by Enterbrain's subsidiary Kadokawa Games.
Translation
In June 2020, an unofficial English fan translation was released by a translation group known as Metal Dreamers.{{Cite web | url=https://github.com/metaldreamers/mm3-script/releases/ | title = Release: Metal Max 3 | website =GitHub | date = 23 June 2020}}
Reception
While RPGamer scored Metal Max 3 4.5/5,{{cite web|title=Metal Max 3 - Staff Review|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/metal/metalmax3/reviews/metalmax3strev1.html|accessdate=14 August 2012|author=Michael Baker| publisher=PRGamer}} Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu awarded the game 33/40.{{cite web|title=The Magic Box: International Videogame News|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/game20100720.shtml|publisher=the-magicbox.com|accessdate=14 August 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062840/http://www.the-magicbox.com/game20100720.shtml|url-status=dead}} The game was praised for its vast degrees of freedom and its tank system, but reviews criticized high encounter rates and slow-paced gameplay.{{cite web|author=A.I.|title=17年ぶりのシリーズ最新作「メタルマックス3」と，「ストーカー ～コール オブ プリピャチ～」を取り上げる今週の「読者レビューPickUp！！」|url=http://www.4gamer.net/games/106/G010672/20101115006/|publisher=4gamer.net|accessdate=2012-06-04|language=ja|date=2010-11-16}}{{cite web|script-title=ja:伝説の"竜退治はもう飽きた！"が復活！ 荒廃した世界を戦車で駆ける17年ぶりのシリーズ最新作 「メタルマックス3」|url=http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/20100824_388918.html|accessdate=14 August 2012|author=山村智美|language=Japanese|date=August 24, 2010}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.metalmax.info/mm3/}} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Metal Max series}}
Category:Cattle Call (company) games
Category:Japan-exclusive video games
Category:Kadokawa Shoten games
Category:Nintendo DS-only games
Category:Role-playing video games
Category:Single-player video games