Let’s be honest: two years ago, when the game based on the cult trilogy Mad Max was announced, the brand value was not very high. Yes, everyone recognized the cultural impact of the great film, but not many people actually watched it and loved it reverently. The demo versions of that time did not make a very bright impression on the press: all last year’s previews were written indifferently and skeptically – they say, it’s funny in places, but in comparison with other blockbusters it’s uninteresting.
After the release of Fury Road, everything changed: Mad Max again became a phenomenon and a subject of cult. The requirements for the game have increased significantly, and the game itself has become prettier in the two years since its announcement. Journalists have become much more willing to note the beneficial aspects of the project, but there are still too many incomprehensible and controversial things in it to be completely sure of anything.
In one far, far away post-apocalypse
Avalanche Studios, creator of the series Just Cause, tries to disown any obligations as much as possible: her Mad Max will have nothing to do with any movie. The game has its own geography, its own plot and unique characters. There is some slyness in this: the enemy models are clearly tailored to the fourth part, and classic elements flash in the trailers.
The story begins just about nowhere. Max gets into trouble – a bunch of screaming psychopaths throw him out of the "Pursuer", strip him, kick him and leave him in the middle of the desert. And that’s the whole plot: the hero just wants to take his “car” from a villain named Scrotus, constructing a worthy replacement for it as the game progresses.
In the first half hour we are introduced to Chumbucket – another psychopath, but at the same time a brilliant auto mechanic. It helps you start creating a new car: you need to choose a frame and hang the simplest modifications. The garage house will become the first stronghold and quest hub where you can receive story tasks.
The developers are reluctant to talk about https://casinoluna.uk/ the open world, but one gets the feeling that they have no surprises. Enemy outposts, random encounters, secrets scattered around the map and additional tasks are mentioned here and there: remove snipers, capture a convoy, search an abandoned settlement.
The authors are suspiciously silent about the size of the map, saying that the main thing is saturation. But not everything is going smoothly with her either: in the proposed gameplay videos, the main character cuts through a beautiful, non-existent, but lifeless desert, which is not exactly full of adventures. And although several locations are announced, different in spirit and color scheme, those who played note that the trips themselves are boring and monotonous. And what are you driving on there: through volcanic landscapes or a dried-up sea – that’s the tenth thing.
Nevertheless, interesting features are still present. For example, a full cycle of changing time of day and weather conditions. That is, on the way to the next quest, the player can easily encounter a sandstorm (visually very similar to the one in the movie Fury Road), through which he will need to break through or go around for several kilometers. By the way, the border of the world will be furnished in the same way: the further you go, the more storms you will encounter along the way. But with proper skill, you can find the most valuable “upgrades” and resources in them.
The need for resources is generally intriguing. Here the authors are completely confused in their testimony: on the one hand, they say that they will have to watch for vultures in the air, look for corpses and feed on carrion; save water and explore hiding places. But on the other hand, they note that this is not micromanagement or survival at all, but the game is actually about the high and great, so there is no need for small worries here.
One way or another, you still have to collect something. And then spend it on improvements, to which almost everything is subject. Of course, the hero grows in level, but the bonuses look funny: “Use the weapon longer until it breaks”. In addition, there is a standard set of characteristics such as “stamina” and “attack power” – Max’s clothes are responsible for them, which also need to be updated and modernized.
The distant road, the straight road
But the most interesting thing begins with “pumping” the car. The authors do not provide any specific evidence or examples, but they promise that creating your own car will be a creative process.
You can choose a car frame – from a light “beetle” to a healthy pickup. You can hang armor, spikes, nails and other clever devices. As you progress, different models of engines, wheels and other standard elements will open. Moreover, you need to take into account their relationship: with a powerful engine and bad brakes, the car will suddenly begin to handle worse.
In general, the choice is offered between two options. On the one hand – speed, lightness and the ability to quickly ride around a heavy convoy. On the other hand, it is massive, thanks to which you can fly out of an ambush and burst into the midst of enemies at full speed, pushing everyone in different directions.
Car fights are generally the best thing in the game so far. An assistant sitting in the trunk throws grenades and wields a harpoon. He can cling to any car, pull it towards him or tear off a couple of pieces. It is possible to use a shotgun to knock down a couple of sheets of armor from the hood, and then “with meat” rip out the engine, eliminating the opponent. Psychopaths are constantly jumping on the hood of Max’s car, everything is constantly exploding, and different types of enemy cars behave differently.
When you manage to arrive somewhere, the rhythm becomes somewhat calmer. The grappling hook can be used to clear away rubble and destroy buildings. To clear an outpost, for example, you first need to remove snipers in the area: the developers defiantly drop the turret of one of them with a hook, the other is simply “removed” with a gun.
The only shame is that upon entering a certain location, the player is forcibly pulled out of the car and forced to fight hand-to-hand. What’s going on here is the lame and not always responsive "Batman" – with counterattacks and a "two-button" combat system. This, least interesting, part of the gameplay is allocated a significant part of the gameplay time.
In general, it’s not very clear what’s wrong with the volume of the game. It is mentioned that we will meet friendly forts, which we can help develop by extracting resources and materials, and then receive bonuses from this. But again, it is unclear what this will give to the world of the game and how it will affect the story. If it seriously improves the wasteland, great. If it gives a conditional “+5 to water” – it’s boring. In fact, all that the authors show for the second year in a row is how fun it is to drive and how boring it is to fight.
The best you can expect from Mad Max, – this is history repeating itself Shadow of Mordor. A not-so-intriguing open-world game can become a great game with just a few smart game design decisions. Because the failure of certain aspects of the game is already clear. The racing stages look interesting and exciting – but will it be enough?? We’ll find out on the first of September.