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Action Max

The Action Max game system, released in the late 1980s, is a unique and somewhat obscure entry into the world of home video gaming. Designed and produced by Worlds of Wonder, this system attempted to offer an interactive and cinematic gaming experience. However, its limitations and the lack of a substantial game library have left it with a mixed reputation among gamers.

Design and Hardware:
The Action Max was visually distinctive with its futuristic design. It featured a sleek black and red color scheme, which made it stand out among its contemporaries. The key component of the system was a light gun, shaped like a futuristic blaster, which players used to interact with the games. It also included a sensor that attached to the television screen to track the player's shots.

Game Library:
One of the primary drawbacks of the Action Max was its extremely limited game library. The system only had a handful of games, including "Blue Thunder," "The Rescue of Pops Ghostly," and "Sonic Fury." These games were essentially interactive movies, where players shot at targets on the screen. While this concept was innovative at the time, it ultimately lacked the depth and variety found in other gaming systems.

Gameplay and Interaction:
The gameplay experience on the Action Max was somewhat unique for its time. Players would watch a VHS tape containing the game's footage, and the light gun was used to aim and fire at specific targets or enemies on the screen. The system would score players based on their accuracy.

Technical Limitations:
The Action Max had several technical limitations that hindered its appeal. The gameplay was quite simplistic, and the graphics were standard for the era but not groundbreaking. Additionally, the system required a compatible VHS player, which added an extra layer of complexity for users.

Legacy and Reception:
The Action Max is not widely remembered as a successful gaming system. Its limited game library and the somewhat cumbersome setup made it a niche product. While it had potential as an interactive movie experience, it failed to gain a substantial following and was quickly overshadowed by more advanced and versatile gaming consoles.

Collector's Item:
Today, the Action Max is considered a collector's item, primarily due to its rarity and unique concept. Collectors and gaming enthusiasts may seek it out for its historical significance and as a curiosity of the early days of interactive gaming.

In summary, the Action Max game system was an innovative but ultimately limited gaming experience. Its unique concept and design set it apart from other systems of its time, but its shortcomings, including a small game library and technical limitations, prevented it from achieving widespread success. While it remains an intriguing artifact of gaming history, it's not a system that is often celebrated for its gameplay or impact on the industry.


Action Max Review: The Forgotten Laserdisc Console

Released in 1987, the Action Max by Vital Vision is often remembered as one of the most quirky and short-lived consoles of its era. Despite featuring laserdisc technology, which promised an interactive and cinematic experience, the Action Max was ultimately a niche product with limited appeal. Today, it remains a curiosity in the world of retro gaming, fondly remembered by collectors but often overlooked by the mainstream.

Let's take a closer look at what made the Action Max unique, and why it ultimately failed to gain traction.

Design & Build

The Action Max's design is a bit of a mixed bag. The console itself is a compact and relatively simple unit, with a basic black casing that doesn't stand out much compared to other systems from its era. It has a small laserdisc player integrated into it, which was essential for playing its games, and a simple controller that only had a few buttons to interact with the games.

The controller itself is lightweight and comfortable enough to hold, but it lacks the precision and complexity found in other contemporary systems. It doesn't offer much in terms of ergonomics or customization, which left it feeling somewhat dated compared to the more refined controllers of the time.

Overall, the design of the Action Max was functional but not particularly sleek or innovative. It served its purpose, but it didn't have the polish or appeal of its more successful competitors like the NES or Sega Genesis.

Performance & Hardware

The Action Max used laserdisc technology to display full-motion video (FMV), making it a unique concept for the time. The idea was to deliver a more cinematic experience that combined the visual quality of movie-style scenes with interactive elements that allowed players to influence the outcome of events on screen.

While the system's video quality was impressive for the time, it came with several limitations. The laserdisc format allowed for high-quality visuals, but the interactivity was limited to very simple button presses at specific moments during gameplay. Essentially, the Action Max was more of a passive experience than a fully interactive video game system. The limited scope of gameplay-essentially just selecting when to shoot or take action during video clips-left players with little sense of agency.

The Action Max also had issues with the reliability of its hardware. As a laserdisc-based console, it was prone to technical malfunctions, including issues with loading the discs properly or skipping frames during gameplay. The laserdisc player itself was fairly bulky, adding to the overall footprint of the system, which made it less convenient than other cartridge-based consoles of the time.

Game Library

The game library for the Action Max was extremely limited-in fact, it only had five titles. These games, including "Crime Patrol," "The Rescue of Pops Ghostly," and "Power Challenge," were all FMV-based shooters that offered a very basic gameplay experience. Players were tasked with shooting enemies or interacting with scenes at predetermined points.

While the full-motion video aspect was impressive, the games themselves were incredibly simple, often requiring players to press a button to shoot at targets at the right moment. This limited interactivity made the games feel more like interactive movies rather than true video games. Unfortunately, the lack of variety and depth in the game library made it difficult for the system to hold players' attention for long periods.

Because of the laserdisc format, each game was more of an episodic experience, with scenes that didn't change based on player input, other than the occasional choice of shooting or not. The lack of complex storylines, gameplay mechanics, or replayability made these games feel more like novelty experiences than full-fledged gaming experiences.

Marketing & Market Position

The Action Max was marketed as a cutting-edge interactive entertainment system that could offer cinematic gaming experiences. However, it was priced at a premium, making it difficult for most people to justify purchasing the system, especially when more traditional, cartridge-based consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) were already offering a robust library of games at a much more affordable price.

Additionally, the system didn't have the third-party support that could have bolstered its library and given it the longevity it needed to survive. It was a niche product aimed at a very specific audience that was interested in combining video games with interactive movies, but this combination failed to appeal to the broader gaming market.

The Action Max also suffered from poor timing. While FMV games were becoming somewhat popular in the late 80s, the gameplay style was already being overshadowed by more advanced gaming technology, particularly the rise of 32-bit consoles like the PlayStation that offered much more interactive, immersive experiences.

Limitations & Drawbacks

  • Limited Game Library: The Action Max had only five games, which severely limited its replay value and appeal. Players were quickly left with no new content to explore.

  • Basic Gameplay: The games were very simple, with minimal interactivity beyond timing button presses. This shallow gameplay meant that the system didn't offer the depth needed to keep players engaged for long.

  • Bulky and Unreliable Hardware: The laserdisc player was cumbersome and prone to technical issues, which made the system less reliable than other more traditional consoles.

  • Niche Appeal: The FMV-based gameplay was aimed at a very specific audience, leaving it largely unappealing to the wider gaming market, especially in comparison to more refined and immersive systems.

Final Verdict

The Action Max was a bold attempt to merge interactive cinema with gaming, but it fell short in terms of replayability, game variety, and overall value. While the laserdisc technology was impressive for the time and offered high-quality visuals, the limited gameplay mechanics, lack of diverse titles, and technical issues left the system feeling like a novelty rather than a true gaming console.

It's a curious piece of gaming history that failed to find its audience, and as a result, it remains a rare collector's item for those interested in retro gaming curiosities. If you're looking for something beyond traditional gaming experiences, the Action Max offers an interesting glimpse into the early days of FMV games, but as a gaming platform, it ultimately didn't live up to its potential.

Score: 3/10

? A unique attempt to blend cinema and gaming, but the lack of depth, limited library, and unreliable hardware made it a short-lived experience.