Max Adventure Review

When we last heard from Imangi Studios they were attempting to provide their unique spin on the line drawing genre with their smash hit, Harbor Master.  This time out they are back to redefine another genre seeing tremendous growth on the iOS, the twin stick shooter.  As great a developer as they have proven to be, will their new game Max Adventure be able to compete in the already overcrowded shooter market, or will this end up being an adventure that wasn't worth taking?

Imagine waking up one morning, rolling out of bed, only to find that your parents were missing.  Not only are your parents AWOL, but every single parent on the planet is gone.  Facing this dire scenario, poor young Max decides to do what any other kid his age would do: slap a colander on his head, locate the nearest laser gun, and look for malicious space invaders to "Welcome to Erf."  As childish as this may sound, rest assured that it is the kind of game that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Interestingly enough, though the invading force thought it was worthwhile to do away with any parental units on the planet, they didn't seem to think it was necessary exterminate the pesky ones that cry and defecate on command.  So in an effort to save the remaining pre-pubescent citizens of earth, Max sets out to re-gather all of the children scattered throughout his community, while simultaneously zapping, exploding, and dodging anything that gets in his way.

Max's masterful quest spans a wide variety of environments, that when combined with any number of different power-ups and the stellar soundtrack, gives the game a different feel and vibe during every stage.  Sure, things may seem repetitive from time to time, but it becomes far more excusable when you know that the next level is going to potentially throw something completely different your way.  Things are further complimented by stellar controls that are straightforward and simple to understand.

If there were anything worth complaining about in Max Adventure, it would be that it seems too short.  Despite two to three hours being forever in portable gaming time, it is so enjoyable that experienced veterans of the genre will be able to blow through the

game in no time flat.  Fortunately there is also a survival mode that is thrown into the mix to help prolong the replayability.

Imangi has once again proven why they are one of the best independent developers on the iOS platform.  They have delivered another solid title that takes a proven genre and further refines it, with a flare and touch that is all their own.  Max Adventure is an experience that should not be missed.

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