The Sega Dreamcast, a console that many retro gamers feel left the console war too soon.  Isn’t that how it goes though? They either leave the battle too soon or stay beyond their welcome. The Dreamcast in particular had so much untapped potential. 3D action adventure gams saw a major jump from the 32-Bit era when they hit the Dreamcast. Take Max Steel: Covert Missions for example. Sure, today gamers are enjoying their Uncharted and the like but back earlier this century, things were slightly different. Sure, Max Steel is not in the same light as Uncharted but neither is the original Tomb Raider. Yet that does not change its offerings to the genre.

Marketing, cartoon, and action figures

As with most cartoons of the 80’s, which Max Steel seems to be a homage to in some manner. There was a toy line to accompany the animated series. Mattel was quite happy to push an animated series to peddle their toys to children. With their digital arm, Mattel Interactive, a game or two based on the toys was obvious. This is how we got Max Steel: Covert Missions for the Sega Dreamcast. Covert Missions on the Sega Dreamcast is the only console offering available for this toy/cartoon line. There were some newer mobile and online offerings over the years though.

Max Steel bucked the trend

What gamers that were brave enough to soldier on when faced with a licensed game was a 3D action adventure. The action is from over the shoulder, similar to the Tomb Raider series. Stealth and action with in engine cut scenes tell an overall story. People have torn Max Steel: Covert Missions apart over the years. For those of us interested in just playing a 3D action adventure, you could probably do worse.

Don’t look for this to be released digitally on modern platforms. It seems Mattel Interactive has left the gaming world. Mattel keeps the cartoon, comics and toy line arm of Max Steel alive and kicking. His gaming activities, though, seem to be over. Head over to eBay if you are interested in seeing just how much Max Steel stuff is out there. Check these articles out for more Sega Dreamcast fun.

Carl Williams

It is time gaming journalism takes its rightful place as proper sources and not fanboys giving free advertising. If you wish to support writers like Carl please use the links below. https://www.paypal.me/WCW https://www.patreon.com/CarlWilliams