History VideoGame / MetalMax

* ''Metal Max Returns (SNES 1995):'' A remake of the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] game with enhanced graphics and references to ''Metal Max 2.'' Translated by Aeon Genesis in 2007.

* ExcusePlot: The "story" of the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 PS2]] installment is literally: "You want to be the world's greatest hunter. Do this by traveling from the Eastern side of the planet to the Western side. Good luck." That being said, there ''are'' several plots you can follow to their respective endings, though the main quest and ending involves [[spoiler: journeying to an ancient missile silo and stopping a mysterious organization from causing ''another'' apocalypse.]]

* MenInBlack: Alex and his henchmen Bonnie and Clive in ''Seijin no Kusari.'' While it is never established whether the Bonnie and Clive are human, Alex himself turns out to be a robot tasked by Noah to finish the job it started.

* BonusBoss: The Bounties you can hunt down, often allowing for some quick cash.

The backstory of the series focuses around an apocalyptic event called the "[[ApocalypseHow Great Destruction.]]" [[NoodleIncident Details are unclear,]] but what is known is that the Great Destruction was started by a massive supercomputer named Noah who was originally built by humanity to save the world from environmental catastrophes. Noah, after running countless simulations and attaining sentience, decided that the best way to save the planet was to destroy the ones responsible for causing said environmental catastrophes...which happened to be humanity so one can guess [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt where it went from there.]] A century later, after Noah's defeat, civilization has rebuilt itself in the ruins of the world, which, in the wake of the apocalypse, has changed into a new, and dangerous, frontier with threats such as murderous robots, homicidal military equipment left over from before the Great Destruction, psychopathic bandits, and...giant knife-wielding fruit. Yeah, it's [[WidgetSeries that]] kind of game. At the forefront of humanity's survival efforts are bounty hunters (simply called "Hunters") who confront these threats head-on in hopes of collecting the lofty bounties posted on the more powerful and dangerous threats. Thankfully, there's plenty of tanks and [[MoreDakka other forms of heavy firepower]] left over from the Old World to make use of.

* CoolHelmet : Several protagonists sport a tanker helmet as part of their regular attire, which comes naturally given their [[TankGoodness primary means of transportation]]. Syu, the protagonist of ''Seijin no Kusari'', in particular sports a Soviet-era [[https://equipment.fandom.com/wiki/TSh-4 TSh-4]] helmet with white headphone covers and reflective anti-glare goggles...[[GogglesDoNothing which he never actually puts on]] despite there being ''multiple'' deserts that the goggles were specifically designed for.

* EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs: Tankasaurus in ''Metal Max 2 (Reloaded.)'' Also the T-Rex Tank in ''Metal Max 4.''

* ''Metal Max Xeno: Reborn'' ([=PS4=], Switch, and Steam): A revised version of ''Metal Max Xeno'' that updates the game's systems, removes the original game's cel-shading, and adds beloved mascot Pochi. It released in September 2020 in Japan for the [=PS4=] and Switch, and will be localized internationally by [=PQube=] in June 2022 with an additional release on Steam.

* ''[[VideoGame/MetalMax3 Metal Max 3]] (DS):'' You play an amnesiac Hunter who is revived by Dr. Minch, journeying to regain your memory (and your belongings). The first game in the series to let you freely choose what characters make up your party. In addition to the main character, you can choose up to two human characters (male, female, or [[{{Crossdresser}} "okama"]]), from six different classes: [[JackOfAllStats Hunters,]] [[CombatPragmatist Sold]][[MoreDakka iers,]] [[TheEngineer Mechanics,]] [[BareFistedMonk Wrestlers,]] [[TheMedic Nurses,]] and [[ThePowerOfRock Artists,]] with the fourth party slot reserved for everyone's favorite gun wielding dog [[TeamPet Po]][[SeriesMascot chi.]] It also introduces armored motorcycles, cars, and the strange but powerful "bio-tank." Translated by Metal Dreamers in 2020.

* ''Metal Max Xeno'' ([=PS4=] and Vita): Following the defeat of the supercomputer NOA, humanity in the former Tokyo Bay area (now called Distokio) still struggles to survive as NOA's murderous creations, the [=SoNs=], methodically seek out and destroy human settlements one by one. One of the last surviving settlements, known as the Iron Base, receives a mysterious visitor: A young man sporting a metal arm and a blood-red tank, and a serious beef with the [=SoNs.=] With his help, Iron Base can work towards bringing humanity back from the brink of extinction, but the [=SoNs=] are not going to make it easy for them. Released in April 2018, with a Western localization of the [=PS4=] version only by [[Creator/NipponIchi NIS America]] released on September 25th. The English version will be removed from [=PSN=] as of August 6, 2022 due to the series' rights changing hands in Japan.

A console RPG series developed by ''Crea-tech'' and published by Creator/DataEast, taking place in a ''Film/MadMax'' style post-apocalyptic world, with a healthy dose of CattlePunk thrown in for good measure. The player takes on the role of a young bounty hunter, cleaning up criminals and monsters and learning about the world.

As of right now, the only games that have left Japan are ''Metal Saga'' in 2005 and ''Metal Max Xeno'' in 2018, with every other title being a case of NoExportForYou.

And in August 2021, a spin-off game ''Metal Dogs'' has been announced for Steam. It's a top-down shooter where your gundog - either Pochi, Bell or Bonanza will romping through the wastelands and taking bounties.

* ''Metal Max Xeno'' ([=PS4=] and Vita): Following the defeat of the supercomputer NOA, humanity in the former Tokyo Bay area (now called Distokio) still struggles to survive as NOA's murderous creations, the [=SoNs=], methodically seek out and destroy human settlements one by one. One of the last surviving settlements, known as the Iron Base, receives a mysterious visitor: A young man sporting a metal arm and a blood-red tank, and a serious beef with the [=SoNs.=] With his help, Iron Base can work towards bringing humanity back from the brink of extinction, but the [=SoNs=] are not going to make it easy for them. Released in April 2018, with a Western localization of the [=PS4=] version only by [[Creator/NipponIchi NIS America]] released on September 25th.

* RecycledSoundtrack: The series has a lot of recurring songs between installments (understandable, since every game in the series is pretty much a remake of the first, often scene for scene). Most noticeable is the bounty boss theme ''Battle With the Wanted'', which has been exactly the same in every installment. Compare: ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKqw9OO26Fg Metal Max,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcQviKe8yZ8 Metal Max 2,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI1XqEyVowo Returns,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTRqzJnK_z8 Metal Saga,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjy6PY4NzL0 Metal Max 3,]]'' ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHpLdCqNCFY Reloaded,]]'', ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NHw3WDDWRE Metal Max 4,]]'' and ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdynHrPJ_Vg Metal Max Xeno.]]''

* ''Metal Max Wild West'' ([=PS4=] and Switch): First announced as "Metal Max Xeno: Reborn 2", it is a sequel to ''Metal Max Xeno''. It is slated to release in Japan in 2022.

*** Mika/Misha, a {{Meganekko}} WrenchWench.

* ''Metal Max Xeno: Reborn'' ([=PS4=], Switch, and Steam): A revised version of ''Metal Max Xeno'' that updates the game's systems, removes the original game's cel-shading, and adds beloved mascot Pochi. It released in September 2020 in Japan for the [=PS4=] and Switch, and will be localized internationally by [=PQube=] in 2022 with an additional release on Steam.

* ''Metal Dogs'' (Steam): A isometric {{Roguelike}} spinoff starring Pochi. Currently slated for a Summer 2021 Early Access release; while the Early Access version will only be playable in Japanese, the final version will include an English translation.

* ''[[VideoGame/MetalMax2 Metal Max 2]]: Reloaded (DS):'' An UpdatedRerelease of ''Metal Max 2'' which uses the same classes from ''Metal Max 3'' and includes different vehicles. Translated by Metal Dreamers in 2021.

* ''[[VideoGame/MetalMax2 Metal Max 2: Reloaded]] (DS):'' An UpdatedRerelease of ''Metal Max 2'' which uses the same classes from ''Metal Max 3'' and includes different vehicles. Translated by Metal Dreamers in 2021.