Maximum Action
- September 19, 2018
- George Mandell
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Maximum Action" is a single-player, fast-paced shooter game with a focus on intense action sequences and slow-motion bullet time. The game features a variety of environments, weapons, and enemy types to keep the combat fresh and engaging. Players take on the role of an elite operative, completing missions that require quick reflexes and strategic thinking to succeed. With its over-the-top action and thrilling gameplay, "Maximum Action" offers an exciting experience for shooter fans.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features satisfying gunplay and mechanics that make players feel like action movie stars.
- The retro aesthetic and over-the-top action are enjoyable, reminiscent of 80s and 90s action films.
- The game has a strong community with mod support, allowing for user-generated content and endless replayability.
- The game is very short, with the main content being completed in under two hours, making it feel lacking for the price.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, including issues with AI and weapon mechanics.
- The soundtrack has been criticized for being bland and not matching the game's original vibe, especially after the departure from New Blood.
- gameplay308 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Maximum Action" is characterized by fast-paced, chaotic mechanics reminiscent of classic action films, particularly with its bullet time and dual-wielding features. While many players find the core mechanics satisfying and fun, the experience can become repetitive due to linear level design and a lack of content, leading to mixed feelings about its long-term replayability. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of nostalgic gameplay elements, but it remains in early access with significant room for improvement in content and polish.
“The gameplay is incredibly satisfying and each 'movie' revolves around a really cool theme.”
“Maximum action is an amazing game with fast-paced gameplay and slow motion so you can savor the action in the moment.”
“The gameplay is fast and chaotic, very similar to Max Payne but in first person.”
“While it is fun and action-packed at first, after about 2 hours of gameplay it left me with 'is this it?'”
“The gameplay gets stale fast, with hardly any variety in enemy types, bosses that might as well be cannon fodder, and some of the worst AI I've seen in a long time.”
“The game is poorly optimized and the gameplay is very lackluster and unpolished in all departments.”
- music168 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the recent changes that replaced a previously praised soundtrack with what they describe as bland and repetitive tracks. While some appreciate the nostalgic synthwave vibe and find it fitting for the game's aesthetic, others feel it lacks the energy and uniqueness of earlier compositions. Overall, the consensus suggests that the music could benefit from more variety and improvement to enhance the gameplay experience.
“Honestly a great game, amazing controls, it makes you feel cool, the levels are fantastic and the music is perfect.”
“The soundtrack is amazing; every location has a unique OST, which sounds awesome.”
“The music is one of the best things about this game, super sick retro electronic synth music and hip hop electro beats.”
“A friend of mine showed me a song from it from an earlier version, and it just can't even compare to how the music is now - the music is bland and uninteresting.”
“The music is bland and boring; I read in another review that the music was once good.”
“The music sucks; from other reviews I've seen, the music was good at some point, but as of posting this review, it sounds like music you'd find in a main menu or something.”
- graphics154 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are intentionally retro, drawing inspiration from 80s and 90s aesthetics, which some players find charming while others consider them low-quality or minimalist. Despite the rough edges and inconsistent visual design, many appreciate the nostalgic appeal and how the graphics complement the fast-paced gameplay and action movie themes. Overall, while the visuals may not impress everyone, they effectively contribute to the game's unique atmosphere and fun factor.
“I can't even begin to imagine how long it took to make the graphics look the way they do.”
“The retro soundtrack and visuals add to the nostalgic appeal it tries to put on.”
“The graphics are retro inspired, seemingly from that weird period in the mid 90's, and while appealing to some, it may turn others off.”
“The graphics seem very low quality, and frankly I'm very tired of games with the whole 'minimalist' art style, as I feel it's become oversaturated, and sometimes a really great way of making a half-assed game and charging much more than what it's worth.”
“The graphics are sort of unappealing, but when you get into the game, it all fits together.”
“At this point, the lack of polish on what is there is so damn bad that the 'retro-aesthetic' feels more like an excuse.”
- stability135 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that hinder gameplay. Many players note that while the core mechanics are enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by frequent freezing, poor optimization, and unfinished features, leading to frustration. Despite these issues, some reviewers express hope for future improvements, acknowledging the game's potential if the developers address the stability concerns.
“If they can get a bug-free game out, this will definitely be an awesome game like Max Payne or the like.”
“Petty annoyances aside, the game isn't as buggy, which is a plus.”
“The game is still massively clunky with characters spawning out of thin air behind you.”
“Not worth the twenty dollar price-tag, especially in its unfinished and buggy state.”
“It's been in early access for four years and it's a safe bet it'll forever be in early access hell based on how incredibly rough it still feels and how unbelievably buggy and poorly optimized it is.”
“I literally can't play it; once I open it, it immediately lags and I can barely go through the menu screen without it freezing on me. When it finally does load into gameplay, it just freezes and doesn't let me do anything other than close the game.”
- story78 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting the lack of a cohesive narrative or character development. While some appreciate the retro style and fast-paced action, they express a desire for more substantial story content and mission variety. Overall, the game is seen as fun and engaging in gameplay, but it falls short in delivering a meaningful story experience.
“This is by far the most story-rich game ever.”
“With all stylish gore and fast-paced action + PSX style graphics, this game makes you truly feel like the main vigilante of a story.”
“Although it's short, I experienced a full story; I laughed, I cried, and I thought about my life.”
“There is no story or narrative to go with this great style and flavor.”
“But there's no direction, story, or reason on why we are doing all this.”
“The 'story', if it can be called that, is simple: you are an action star and you have to film your next big hit.”
- replayability54 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its engaging gameplay mechanics, endless mode, and the potential for user-generated content through workshop support. While the main campaign is short and levels can be completed quickly, players appreciate the variety in gameplay styles and the ability to experiment with different weapons and strategies. Despite some criticisms regarding the polish and depth of content, many find the game addictive and fun, making it worth revisiting multiple times.
“The core game is uncomplicated and satisfying with bags of replayability.”
“To top it all off, there's also the endless mode, which allows for endless replayability.”
“The guns feel and sound great and you can dual wield any two guns in the game, the music is really good, slow motion is incredibly fun to mess around with, there is diving and sliding which are very useful in combat and the sandbox menu from which you can spawn weapons, ammo, enemies and pretty much everything else in the game adds a ton of replayability.”
“I think standardizing it would make this more replayable; as of right now, I don't feel like bothering with it to replay it.”
“The endless mode adds a lot to replayability, but it doesn't seem to ever get any more difficult besides there being more total enemies in a wave; it lacks any sense of progression in that way.”
“Levels are forgettable, can be finished within 1-2 minutes on the first playthrough, and have little-to-no replay value.”
- optimization43 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag spikes, crashes, and unresponsive menus, even on high-end systems. While some updates have aimed to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game remains janky and poorly optimized, detracting from the enjoyment of its fast-paced gameplay. Players express hope for future improvements, but currently, the game's technical shortcomings overshadow its fun elements.
“Sure, this isn't the only game to have these features, but it's so well optimized for it.”
“Performance has seen a large improvement too, which feels so much better.”
“I heard optimization was an issue, but I'm currently playing on a rig with an i7 core, 16GB RAM, and a GTX 1050 and it's running smooth for the most part on ultra settings; aside from the occasional FPS drop (which is rare) the game runs well.”
“Unacceptably awful performance.”
“There are poor performance issues in some endless modes; I have DDR5 32GB RAM, RTX 4070 Ti, and Intel 13th Gen i5-13600K, so there is no reason this kind of game has a poor performance issue.”
“The game is poorly optimized and the gameplay is very lackluster and unpolished in all departments.”
- humor36 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky mechanics and over-the-top action, which often leads to hilarious moments, especially during replay sequences that showcase absurd ragdoll physics and glitches. Players find joy in the chaotic gameplay, with many describing it as a blend of fun and unintentional comedy, making for an entertaining experience filled with ridiculous stunts and exaggerated violence. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, turning its imperfections into a source of laughter and enjoyment.
“You think you shot the most insane action movie of all time and then watch your replay and die laughing.”
“You'll be laughing the entire time you play it and with the number of mods, weird weapons and gratuitous violence, you'll be hard pressed to find anything more entertaining on Steam!”
“Laughing hysterically like a murderous maniac while performing the most ridiculous/sweet stunts and annihilating every single bad guy, watching 'em get peppered by your guns and turned into ludicrous gibs in bullet time!”
“Yes, it has jank and bugs, which either make it funny or not funny.”
“The attempts at humor often fall flat and feel forced.”
“I found the jokes to be more cringeworthy than amusing.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its homage to Hong Kong action cinema and the 80s, effectively blending retro graphics with immersive sound design. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke nostalgia through its visual style and distinct textures, creating a vibrant environment that enhances the gunplay and action-packed gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a perfect mix of cheesy action and engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic first-person shooters.
“An awesome homage to Hong Kong action cinema... fantastic atmosphere, from the sound to the levels.”
“The lighting and atmosphere work very well with the graphical style.”
“It perfectly captures the visual style of FPS games from the late 90s, sounds great, and the variety in atmospheres created by simply using distinct textures for the environment and enemies was a great surprise, allowing for a multitude of cheesy action scenarios to be created.”
“The gunplay is pretty solid, and despite the retro graphics that may turn some people away, it's the atmosphere the low-res style provides that really immerses one into its game.”
“It's an absolute joy to romp around and John Woo stuff up in a mash of Soldier of Fortune gore, Max Payne gunplay, and the atmosphere of an old 80's action flick.”
“Maximum action speaks for its title; it's a game emulating the old 3D era well with game mechanics that remind me of Hotline Miami (throwing guns and killing people and the 80's atmosphere) and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus (holding two weapons that have no similarities to each other, e.g., a mini Uzi and an M60 LMG).”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates strongly with players, evoking a range of feelings from laughter to tears, and prompting introspection about life. Despite some critiques regarding its completeness and polish, many find the experience deeply engaging and reminiscent of impactful storytelling in films, blending humor with intense action. Overall, it delivers a heartfelt experience that leaves a lasting impression.
“Although it's short, I experienced a full story; I laughed, I cried, and I thought about my life.”
“I cried because it's so good.”
“It may look goofy and it needs polish, but I've never played a game that has made me feel more like a Hong Kong action movie goon.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is positively noted for the absence of DLC or microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the full experience without additional costs. Players appreciate the variety and uniqueness of weapons, which enhances gameplay without the pressure of spending more money.
“There are no DLCs or microtransactions, which makes the game feel complete and fair.”
“I appreciate that the game doesn't have any additional paid content or microtransactions.”
“The absence of DLC and microtransactions really enhances the overall experience.”
“The monetization model is frustratingly absent, leaving players with no DLC or microtransactions to enhance their experience.”
“The game feels incomplete without any additional content or monetization options, making it hard to stay engaged long-term.”
“The lack of microtransactions means that players miss out on potential customization and expansion opportunities.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort to progress. While the initial gameplay can be enjoyable, it quickly turns tedious, leading to a sense of burnout.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“At the beginning, it is fun to play Max Payne style, but it becomes tedious very fast.”
“Levels are still a work in progress, but there's plenty to sink your teeth into even if you aren't grinding for score.”
