# MagMax > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MagMax > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MagMax.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagMax > Source revision: 1336760267 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1985 video game This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "MagMax" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) 1985 video game Magmax Arcade flyer Developer Nichibutsu[a] Publishers Nichibutsu NES JP: Nichibutsu NA: FCI C64, CPC, ZX Spectrum Imagine Software Platforms Arcade, NES, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Release Arcade JP: March 1985[1] NA: May 1985[1] NES JP: March 19, 1986[3] NA: October 1988[2] C64, CPC, ZX Spectrum EU: 1987 Genre Scrolling shooter Mode Single-player ***MagMax***[b] is a 1985 horizontally [scrolling shooter](/source/Scrolling_shooter) [video game](/source/Video_game) developed and published by [Nichibutsu](/source/Nichibutsu) for arcades.[4] It was ported to the [Nintendo Entertainment System](/source/Nintendo_Entertainment_System), released in Japan on March 19, 1986,[3] and by [FCI](/source/Fujisankei_Communications_International) in North America in October 1988. The game was also ported to the [Commodore 64](/source/Commodore_64), [ZX Spectrum](/source/ZX_Spectrum), and [Amstrad CPC](/source/Amstrad_CPC) by [Ocean Software](/source/Ocean_Software) and released on their [Imagine](/source/Imagine_Software) label in 1987. The three-headed mechanical dragon found as a boss character in the game, known as Babylon, strongly resembles [Mecha-King Ghidorah](/source/King_Ghidorah) from the [Godzilla](/source/Godzilla) franchise. [Hamster Corporation](/source/Hamster_Corporation) acquired the rights to the game alongside Nichibutsu's intellectual property, and released the game as part of their *[Arcade Archives](/source/Arcade_Archives)* series for the [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) in 2015 and the [Nintendo Switch](/source/Nintendo_Switch) in 2020.[5][6] Hamster scheduled the NES version of *MagMax* to be re-released as part of *[Console Archives](/source/Console_Archives)* for the [Nintendo Switch 2](/source/Nintendo_Switch_2) and [PlayStation 5](/source/PlayStation_5).[7] ## Gameplay Players control the titular spaceship in an attempt to completely construct the ship into a giant robot and to destroy any enemies attempting to stop it. The ship must avoid various obstacles while shooting enemies on a 3D field. After a successful transformation into the robot, the ship gains increased mobility, while the gameplay becomes that of a typical horizontal scrolling shooter. ## Reception This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (August 2025) Reception Award Publication Award Amstrad Action Mastergame[8] In Japan, *Game Machine* listed *MagMax* as the second most successful table arcade unit of April 1985.[9] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum versions developed by [Ocean Software](/source/Ocean_Software). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): マグマックス, [Hepburn](/source/Hepburn_romanization): *Magumakkusu* ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Akagi_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Akagi_1-1) Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). [*アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005)*](https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n57/mode/2up) [*Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)*]. Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 56, 127. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4990251215](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4990251215). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-NintendoList_2-0)** ["NES Games"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf) (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from [the original](https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf) (PDF) on June 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2015. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_3-1) ["マグマックス (FC)の関連情報 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com"](https://www.famitsu.com/game/title/20239/page/1). *ファミ通.com*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["MagMax"](http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8490). *Killer List of Videogames*. Retrieved May 13, 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Doolan, Liam (May 8, 2020). ["Hamster's Latest Retro Offering For Switch Is The Horizontal Shooter Magmax"](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/05/hamsters_latest_retro_offering_for_switch_is_the_horizontal_shooter_magmax). *Nintendo Life*. Gamer Network. Retrieved May 8, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["MagMax"](http://www.hamster.co.jp/american_hamster/arcadearchives/magmax.htm). *Hamster Corporation*. Retrieved May 13, 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["ファミコン『ドラえもん』も！ コンソールアーカイブス始動。第1弾としてFC『忍者龍剣伝2』とPS『クールボーダーズ』が2月6日より順次発売【Nintendo Direct】"](https://www.famitsu.com/article/202602/65196). *Famitsu* (in Japanese). February 5, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Game review, Amstrad Action magazine, [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing), issue 23, August 1987 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". *[Game Machine](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B2%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3)* (in Japanese). No. 258. [Amusement Press, Inc.](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88%E9%80%9A%E4%BF%A1%E7%A4%BE) April 15, 1985. p. 19. ## External links - [*MagMax*](https://www.mobygames.com/game//15094/) at [MobyGames](/source/MobyGames) - [*MagMax*](https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8490) at the [Killer List of Videogames](/source/Killer_List_of_Videogames) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MagMax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagMax) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagMax?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.