Maximum Force

Maximum Force is a light gun shooter arcade game developed by Mesa Logic for Atari Games in 1997. In 1998, Atari Games re-released the game as part of one machine called Area 51/Maximum Force Duo that also included Area 51, and later ported the game to both the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn game consoles.

Released: 30 September 1997
Platforms: Arcade PlayStation Sega Saturn Windows
Genres: Arcade Light gun shooter Shoot 'em up Shooter
Developers: —
Publishers: Midway Games
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: First person
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB M

About

Like its predecessor Area 51, Maximum Force uses digitized video stored on an on-board hard disk, and red gibs into which every enemy blows apart when shot, in exactly the same way. While enemies, innocents, and explosions are 2D digitized video sprites, the levels and vehicles are pre-rendered in 3D.

Keywords

rail shooter

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player(s) play the role of an unnamed counter-terrorist agent who engages in three major combat zones: a cargo ship at a dock, a large bank, and a jungle. The first two zones can be played in any order. These areas are under siege by terrorists and the player must kill the terrorists before they take aim and fire at the player character. Shooting hostages or getting shot by terrorists causes the player to lose lives.

After four hits are taken, the player must refill their credits or the game is over. Players can have a maximum of seven lives in the home versions.

Development

The game made its world debut on January 21, 1997 at the Amusement Trades Exhibition International show in London.

Reception

Maximum Force was a moderate success in arcades.

Reviewing the arcade version, Next Generation said that the game "puts a new face on the same old game, and while it's tempting to say that it gets away with it, in the end, it really just doesn't."

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

Platform	Released	Regions
Sega Saturn	30 September 1997	North America · Europe 31 December 1998
PlayStation	30 September 1997	North America · Europe 31 December 1997
Arcade	31 December 1997	North America