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| Magmax | |
|---|---|
 Arcade flyer | |
| Developer | Nichibutsu[a] |
| Publishers | Nichibutsu
|
| Platforms | Arcade, NES, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum |
| Release | Arcade NES C64, CPC, ZX Spectrum
|
| Genre | Scrolling shooter |
| Mode | Single-player |
MagMax[b] is a 1985 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Nichibutsu for arcades.[4] It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System, released in Japan on March 19, 1986,[3] and by FCI in North America in October 1988. The game was also ported to the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC by Ocean Software and released on their Imagine label in 1987.
The three-headed mechanical dragon found as a boss character in the game, known as Babylon, strongly resembles Mecha-King Ghidorah from the Godzilla franchise. Hamster Corporation acquired the rights to the game alongside Nichibutsu's intellectual property, and released the game as part of their Arcade Archives series for the PlayStation 4 in 2015 and the Nintendo Switch in 2020.[5][6] Hamster scheduled the NES version of MagMax to be re-released as part of Console Archives for the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5.[7]
Gameplay
editPlayers control the titular spaceship in an attempt to completely construct the ship into a giant robot and to destroy any enemies attempting to stop it. The ship must avoid various obstacles while shooting enemies on a 3D field. After a successful transformation into the robot, the ship gains increased mobility, while the gameplay becomes that of a typical horizontal scrolling shooter.
Reception
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (August 2025) |
| Publication | Award |
|---|---|
| Amstrad Action | Mastergame[8] |
In Japan, Game Machine listed MagMax as the second most successful table arcade unit of April 1985.[9]
Notes
edit- ^ Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum versions developed by Ocean Software.
- ^ Japanese: マグマックス, Hepburn: Magumakkusu
References
edit- ^ a b Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)]. Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 56, 127. ISBN 978-4990251215.
- ^ "NES Games" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "マグマックス (FC)の関連情報 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com". ファミ通.com.
- ^ "MagMax". Killer List of Videogames. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ Doolan, Liam (May 8, 2020). "Hamster's Latest Retro Offering For Switch Is The Horizontal Shooter Magmax". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "MagMax". Hamster Corporation. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "ファミコン『ドラえもん』も！ コンソールアーカイブス始動。第1弾としてFC『忍者龍剣伝2』とPS『クールボーダーズ』が2月6日より順次発売【Nintendo Direct】". Famitsu (in Japanese). February 5, 2026.
- ^ Game review, Amstrad Action magazine, Future Publishing, issue 23, August 1987
- ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 258. Amusement Press, Inc. April 15, 1985. p. 19.
External links
edit- MagMax at MobyGames
- MagMax at the Killer List of Videogames
