Backlog Blowout #2 - Metal Max Returns (Part 2)

     I have to say, I'm really digging this game, even though I feel there's way too much emphasis on grinding away in the same areas just to level up.  I really should go on more about the game iteself before I get to what I did now.

     The Metal Max games started on the NES back in 1991, and are developed by Crea-Tech.   (This one that I have been playing, Metal Max Returns, is actually a remake of the original.)  They also released Metal Max 2 for the SNES in Japan in 1993, and Metal Max 3 (as well as a remake of Metal Max 2) for the Nintendo DS in 2010.

Metal Max 3

      The game is related to the Metal Saga games, and was renamed due to licensing issues.  (I'll probably get to Metal Saga in the future, and will expand more on that then.)

     The game series has switched several hands for publication, mainly due to Data East running into problems that resulted in them going bankrupt in 2003.  (The latest publishers being Kadokawa and Enterbrain.)

     The game really has not seen much in the way of US releases.  The only "love" it seems to get here is from translation groups.  Aeon Genesis ( http://agtp.romhack.net/ ) also translated the original for the NES, and had been working on a translation for Metal Max 2, but it's unclear as to when the latter will be completed.


     Ok,...  where was I?  Oh yeah,

     I left off in MMR aimlessly wandering in order to level up more so that I could face Dr. Rafflesia.  While in Pobre Obre I had given in and actually rented a tank, despite that doing so would take half the gold I looted while driving it.  This actually helped a lot, and maybe too much, as wandering too far on a bridge to the left I actually ran into the 3rd "bounty monster", Dos Piranhas.

Easier than it looked..

     I was actually able to beat him pretty easily.  I guess the trick was to take out the 2 frog guy with him first.  It also helped that I had upgraded my tank with the best cannon that was available to me in town.

     After taking him out and continuing on the bridge I came to a warehouse full of conveyor belts that seemed to have no use whatsoever,  Searching the place yielded me with nothing but rotten fruit (that someone in town gladly bought), and rudeness from these 2 guys that were guarding a buggy "for the CEO".  I'll point out here that translation projects for older games like this are NOT rated by the ESRB....

He makes a valid point.

      These guys were all about floriculture for some reason.  I'm not quite sure what was up with that, but it didn't stop there, as when I finally found the CEO to ask him if I could take the buggy, this was his reply:

Fair enough.

     At first the flowers were not having any of my request, but after asking the same question a few more times they finally caved in and I got my second vehicle, the buggy.

     Once I was done with that I made my way back to town using something called a "Dog System" that you can buy for the tank.  This actually helps a ton, as it will transport you back to any town you have previously been to.  Once there I turned in the rental tank and collected the bounty for killing Dos Piranhas, which enabled me to load out both the tank and buggy with the best stuff available to me.

     Tomorrow I'll actually get around to killing Dr. Rafflesia.

HuckleCat