An old Data East RPG series is about to making a comeback. Metal Max 3 is due on the Nintendo DS this summer.
Where were Metal Max and Metal Max 2, you say? They were released on the Famicom and Super Famicom, respectively, but only in Japan. The Metal Max games take place in a world where humans and robotic monsters co-exist. Metal Max 3 has a similar setting and surprisingly many of the original staff. Hiroshi Miyaoka (game designer), Atsuji Yamamoto (art lead), and Satoshi Kadoura (sound) are reprising their roles for Metal Max 3.
The Nintendo DS game starts with the protagonist being revived by Dr. Minche (or is it Dr. Mince?) who has a Frankenstein’s monster-like assistant called Igor. He doesn’t have any of his memories and finds himself in a wasteland. That’s not a problem because he is, according to Famitsu, “the strongest level one character in video game history.” Character classes including hunters, soldiers, and mechanics are your allies. Why mechanics? Because you can drive tanks in combat. As a first for the series, Metal Max 3 has bikes and the popular R-Wolf tank. Players can also hunt wanted monsters designed by Yamamoto for bounties. A bulldozer crane hybrid called Yumuhoma was shown as an example.
Kadokawa Games is publishing Metal Max 3, which suggests they licensed the property from G-Mode, the company that owns the rights to many Data East properties.
