Max, an Autistic Journey
- August 18, 2016
- Professional Imagination
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"Max, an Autistic Journey" is a turn-based RPG that follows the story of Max, a 10-year-old boy with autism. The game aims to provide players with an insight into the everyday challenges faced by those with ASD, using a variety of mini-games and fantastical monsters to represent Max's emotions and frustrations. Through its unique gaming experience, players can learn about autism and gain a better understanding of the condition.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game provides a heartfelt and educational look into the life of a child with autism, making it relatable for many players.
- It features a variety of mini-games and challenges that help illustrate the daily struggles and triumphs of living with autism.
- The developer clearly put a lot of care and effort into the game, making it a unique experience that promotes awareness and understanding of autism.
- The game suffers from technical issues common to RPG Maker titles, including poor graphics and lack of full HD support, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Many players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with some mechanics failing to respond properly, leading to frustration.
- The attempt to address serious social issues through the game was seen as misguided by some, with concerns that it could do more harm than good.
- story30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is a heartfelt and educational exploration of a father's relationship with his son, Max, who has autism, presenting daily challenges as imaginative quests. While some reviewers found the narrative preachy and criticized the portrayal of autism, others appreciated its charm and the unique perspective it offers, highlighting the importance of support and understanding. Overall, the story is described as rich, engaging, and filled with valuable insights about autism, despite some gameplay criticisms.
“Finally, the art, the music, the story, and everything are fantastic.”
“I have to admit I found myself rather charmed as the game went on - through the plot, Max has his ups, his downs, and his moments where he's the same as any child his age.”
“This simple yet unique RPG lets you see the world through Max's eyes: daily obstacles are monster bosses, little challenges are dangerous quests, and small fears become scary nightmarish monsters.”
“Instead, we have a preachy 'educational' autobiographical story about a parent with a child suffering from autism, with a few mediocre minigames punctuating the mediocrity.”
“Second disappointment came at the intro to the story when the parents were reacting to the diagnosis like it was cancer: 'What are we going to do?' How about support your child like you would anyway? There's nothing wrong with being autistic.”
“If I am to be candid, my negative review is derived from the fact that this story relates to a real-life experience between father and son, and said son Max, at ten years old, is being medicated for having attention deficit disorder, a purely mental affliction which doesn't cause physical harm to a child and instead is related to a hyperactive personality.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered standard for RPG Maker titles, featuring simple mechanics and a variety of easy mini-games. While it lacks complexity and can become repetitive, it effectively intertwines educational elements about autism with enjoyable moments, allowing players to experience the world through the perspective of a child with ASD. Overall, the game is appreciated for its fun gameplay and meaningful narrative rather than its graphical quality or mechanical depth.
“The gameplay is pretty fun with a variety of easy mini-games to go through.”
“The game is recommended not just for the educational aspect, but for the fun gameplay that goes along with it.”
“You're not going to find a mechanically complex or challenging game, since it's really more about experiencing Max's inner world and quirks specific to him - this is a good thing, though boss encounters will require you to be a bit more attentive with healing than other fights.”
“Like most RPG Maker shovelware and asset flips, the game features extremely low quality copy-pasted 2D retro pixel art, looks awful, and has even worse gameplay.”
“I completed the game without ever working out how the breathing mechanic worked.”
“The combat got a bit repetitive, but I think they used the mechanics well; just a couple more fights than I was expecting throughout the game.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its beautiful soundtrack and effective use of sound effects, with particular acclaim for the boss music, which enhances the overall experience. While some users note that certain tunes feel like off-beat remixes of existing songs, the respectful attribution of each track is appreciated. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's artistic and narrative elements.
“Finally, the art, the music, the story, and everything are fantastic.”
“Beautiful soundtrack and such an informative little gem!”
“The music is like an off-beat chart of copied tunes with some remixes.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“I also have much respect for attributing each and every song and sound effect used properly and visibly.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the visuals and find them appealing, others criticize the limitations of the RPG Maker engine, noting poor fullscreen display and lack of HD support. Overall, the game is seen as visually decent for an indie title, but it does not meet the standards expected by modern PC gamers.
“The visuals are great.”
“Nice graphics, easy to learn controls, and my daughter who is on the spectrum enjoys playing it.”
“While this isn't a groundbreaking game in terms of gameplay or graphics, it's a great little indie game that gives a brief look into life with a child with ASD.”
“As with all RPG Maker games, the poor quality engine displays badly in fullscreen and doesn't have full HD support or any graphics tweaking options, making this unacceptable for any dedicated modern PC gamer.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in its portrayal of an autistic child's perspective, which many players found touching and heartwarming. Reviewers highlight its rich storytelling and educational value, making it one of the most emotionally captivating experiences they've encountered.
“The amount of love you put into creating a game about this autistic child and how he sees the world is really heartwarming.”
“This game is probably one of the most emotionally captivating games I've played, and I mean it unironically.”
“Very story rich, educational, and heartwarming.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, particularly regarding the intrusive nature of advertisements, which detracts from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the timing and frequency of these ads, suggesting they disrupt gameplay.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be occasionally buggy, leading to stability issues during gameplay.
“The game is buggy from time to time.”
“The game is buggy from time to time.”
