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Post-apocalyptic, mutant/cannibal-filled wastelands may be a dime a dozen these days, but they've all got Mad Max to thank. The legendary road warrior is set to make a triumphant return on both the big screen and video game platforms, and with the newest debut of actual gameplay footage, fans can get a better sense of what to expect once Max Rockatansky gets rolling.
The newest trailer, titled 'Soul of Man' takes a predictably dark look at the desert wastelands in which Mad Max will be (mostly) set, and introduces the world to developer Avalanche Studios' new take on the noticeably more worn, scruffier - but thanks to fans, still Australian - hero.
After Mad Max was surprisingly announced at E3 2013 with a cinematic trailer that left much of the actual game a mystery, fans were left scrambling as to the exact nature of the adaptation. We got an extensive look at the gameplay behind closed doors, but now the public finally has a taste of what to expect.
By all accounts, the trailer isn't exactly as shocking as the initial unveiling - folk music laid over narration and quick cuts of our hero and action is quickly becoming the norm - but accurately reflects the look and feel of Avalanche's approach. Much of the gameplay shown looks lifted from the encounters and environments shown in the E3 demo, but the apparent emphasis on the story and significance of Max (beyond keeping cannibals and raiders awake at night) is new.
How optimistic or skeptical you happen to be about a Mad Max story being crafted by Avalanche - the minds behind Just Cause 2 - depends largely on what aspect of this game has gotten your attention: the leading man, or the studio behind him. Just Cause 2 has become somewhat of an icon itself in the realm of open world sandboxes, with a size and scope that the developers believe kept it from falling into the hands of used game retailers. Yet the story crafted for the same game was about as forgettable and generic as possible.
It's hard to know exactly what to hope for from Mad Max, then; will it be a sprawling sandbox to explore in a number of customizable vehicles, or a story-driven open world game hampered by the same issues as their last attempt? The good news is that despite the American narration, Avalanche has heard the outcry over the 'Americanization' of the Australian hero. Max will still possess the Aussie accent for purists; how well the rest of the character is realized will need to wait for the next trailer, it seems.
What do you think of the gameplay trailer? Are you optimistic about the story, or simply excited by the chance to delve into yet another massive sandbox inspired by a classic action franchise? Sound off in the comments.
Mad Max is expected to release in 2014 for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and PC.
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Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.