Easily the most underrated game of 2015 by a considerable margin, releasing alongside Metal Gear Solid V did Mad Max zero favours. Instead, it was overlooked completely, with only the handful of reviewers that did play it, dismissing it as some formulaic release churned out for the sake of tying into Fury Road's home release. Thing is; it's fantastic. For one, the graphics engine is absolutely gorgeous, like genuinely jaw-dropping, especially when the random storms kick in and the sky is blanketed by clouds, dust and smog, forcing you to fend for your life and attempt to find shelter. There are some great survival mechanics embedded within the experience that really give MM a cool identity, too. Scrap is the order of the day that powers Max and his custom car's upgrade paths, but you'll also need to watch your fuel, make sure your canteen is topped up with scarcely available water, and savour every shotgun shell for only the most threatening enemies. It ends up changing the way you approach both the world and the genre itself. Every punch and expended bullet matters, every brawl that kicks up dust and debris feels like a fight to the death, and when you're left standing, guzzling life-restoring water after just surviving an ambush, it's a sense of relief and a trigger of your own natural survival instinct that no other game has given in years.
