Maximum Action

About

Maximum Action is a single player shooter game. It was developed by George Mandell and was released on September 19, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+16

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,952 reviews

gameplay157 positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

The game offers a thrilling experience for fans of 80's and 90's action films, with satisfying gunplay and chaotic combat.
The movement mechanics, including slow motion and dual-wielding, provide a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.
The Steam Workshop support allows for extensive modding, adding replayability and community-created content.

The game is currently very short, with a campaign that can be completed in under two hours, leading to a lack of content.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, including issues with AI behavior and weapon mechanics.
The soundtrack has been criticized for being bland and not matching the game's action-packed aesthetic, especially after the departure from New Blood.

gameplay
335 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, satisfying mechanics reminiscent of classic shooters like Max Payne and Hotline Miami. However, players have noted that the game is still in early access, leading to clunky controls, a lack of content, and repetitive gameplay that can become stale quickly. While the core mechanics are fun and engaging, the overall experience is hindered by bugs and a need for further polish and content expansion.
- “The gameplay is incredibly satisfying and each 'movie' revolves around a really cool theme.”
- “The gameplay of Maximum Action is top notch; you really do feel like you're the star in a Hong Kong action movie.”
- “The gameplay is fast and chaotic, very similar to Max Payne but in first person.”
- “Still early access after 7 years... still clunky... only buy when released in other 7 years or at least fixed the gameplay and patched out the clunkiness maybe...”
- “Gameplay has potential, but after all this time it still doesn't feel very polished or fully realized.”
- “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.”
music
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic 80s and synthwave vibes that complement the fast-paced gameplay and retro aesthetics. However, a significant number of players express disappointment over recent changes to the soundtrack, claiming it has become bland and repetitive compared to earlier versions. Overall, while some players find the current music enjoyable and fitting, others feel it detracts from the game's overall experience.
- “It's an incredibly fun, bombastic shooter with addictive, chaotic combat and a kickass soundtrack.”
- “The music is fantastic, the levels are very well made, and the guns are probably some of the best I've used in a shooter.”
- “Amazing 80s themed power fantasy with tons of replay value, and an amazing soundtrack.”
- “I also love the soundtrack as it hits with notes of commando and raw deal.”
- “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.”
graphics
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of 80s and 90s action films, drawing comparisons to classic titles like GoldenEye and Max Payne. While some players appreciate the retro style and its charm, others find the visuals lacking in polish and detail, leading to mixed opinions on their overall appeal. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many agree that the unique art style complements the fast-paced gameplay and enhances the game's nostalgic atmosphere.
- “Lastly, I really like the polygonal art style combined with the 80's action-themed soundtrack; it gives it a nostalgic vibe while playing like a modern FPS with Max Payne-like gunplay and maneuvers combined.”
- “The graphics are great, and I have yet to encounter any bugs or lags.”
- “The overall 80's retro theme of this game is amazing, and the graphics really give it charm.”
- “Hardcore Henry and Max Payne with PS1 graphics.”
- “I understand that it's supposed to match an aesthetic... but it's executed horribly.”
- “As I stated above, 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.”
stability
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
99%
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact stability and overall gameplay experience. While many players find the core mechanics enjoyable and the retro aesthetic appealing, the frequent technical issues, including freezing, lag, and AI problems, detract from the fun. As it is still in early access, there is hope for improvements, but the current state is considered unpolished and frustrating by many reviewers.
- “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!”
- “The game is still buggy and only 7-ish levels.”
- “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, and when it finally does load onto the gameplay, it won't actually let me play, it just freezes and doesn't even let me do anything other than close the game.”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
72%
17%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and content, with many users noting that there is essentially no narrative or character development to engage with. The campaign is described as very short, typically around two hours, and while some players appreciate the action and gameplay mechanics, they express a strong desire for a more substantial story and additional missions. Overall, the game is seen as fun and entertaining, but it currently lacks a meaningful storyline to enhance the 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.”
- “The 'story', if it can be called that, is simple: you are an action star and you have to film your next big hit.”
- “The campaign is super short, taking just under three hours to beat; there's basically no plot to get invested in and no characters to latch onto.”
- “There’s no story or narrative to go along with this great style and flavor.”
- “But there's no direction, story, or reason on why we are doing all this.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The game offers high replayability through various modes, including endless mode, custom maps, and a scoring system that encourages players to improve their performance. While the main campaign is short, the community support and level editor enhance the replay value significantly, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Despite some criticisms regarding content depth and polish, many players find the gameplay mechanics and sandbox elements to be addictive and enjoyable, contributing to its overall replayability.
- “It's a really fun bite-sized game that gets its replay value from the most ridiculous ways you tackle any given situation.”
- “The workshop support lets it have an infinite amount of levels and weapons for a lot of replay value.”
- “The game currently has very little content, but it is incredibly replayable and endless mode never really gets old.”
- “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 first playthrough, and have little-to-no replay value.”
optimization
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
46%
43%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and lag, even on capable hardware. While some updates have aimed to improve performance, the overall experience remains janky and unpolished, detracting from the enjoyment of its otherwise engaging gameplay. Users express a strong desire for further optimization to enhance stability and reduce bugs.
- “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.”
- “I could understand it on custom player-made maps, but even the official levels suffer from poor optimization.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and the gameplay is very lackluster and unpolished in all departments.”
humor
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
8%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky mechanics and absurd ragdoll physics, which lead to hilarious moments during gameplay and in the replay function. Players find joy in the chaotic action, often laughing at the over-the-top violence and glitches, while the game's quirky features and mod support add to its comedic charm. Overall, the blend of intentional humor and unintentional hilarity creates a uniquely entertaining experience that keeps players engaged and amused.
- “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!”
- “The game is currently in early access and only has a handful of levels available, alongside some endless mode content, a hilariously broken replay mode, map creator and mod support for new weapons.”
- “Yes, it has jank and bugs, which either make it funny or not funny.”
- “The attempts at humor often fall flat, leaving more cringes than laughs.”
- “While the game tries to be funny, most of the jokes miss the mark completely.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to 80s and 90s action cinema, with well-crafted stages, excellent sound design, and retro graphics that enhance immersion. Players appreciate the infectious energy and distinct textures that create a variety of engaging environments, making it a joy to experience the game's blend of gunplay and cinematic flair. However, some feel that certain elements detract from the overall atmosphere, though this sentiment is less common.
- “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.”
- “It completely ruins the atmosphere of the game.”
- “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.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and excitement reminiscent of action movies. While some note its rough edges, the overall experience is described as both fun and impactful, with moments that can elicit genuine emotional responses, including tears of joy. The blend of humor, violence, and engaging gameplay contributes to a unique emotional journey for players.
- “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.”
- “This is a great Max Payne-like shooter with a Party Hard style level of fun to the murder, mixed with a bit of over-the-top violence that made me feel like Tarantino was off-screen holding a scoreboard.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a "second life." While there are enjoyable elements and content to explore, the initial fun quickly turns into tedium as the grind becomes repetitive.
- “Levels are still a work in progress, but there's plenty to sink your teeth into even if you aren't grinding for score.”
- “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.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed in the reviews, but players appreciate the variety and functionality of weapons, including features like aiming down sights (ADS) and unique reload animations. The focus remains on gameplay mechanics rather than any potential monetization strategies, suggesting that players are more engaged with the game's core experience than its financial model.
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and intrusive, making it hard to enjoy the experience without being constantly bombarded by offers.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and not worth the value they provide, which really detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
- “It's frustrating that you can't progress without spending money, as it feels like the game is designed to push you towards microtransactions.”