Max & the Magic Marker

Max & the Magic Marker is a platform game released for WiiWare, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Windows Mobile. It was developed by Press Play. The Wii version was ported to Japan and published by Marvelous Entertainment under the name Rakugaki Hero (らくがき☆ヒーロー, Rakugaki☆Hīrō) on April 13, 2010.^[2]

Max & the Magic Marker
Developer(s)	Press Play
Publisher(s)	The Games Company (Mac OS X, PC) Press Play (WiiWare), Microsoft Studios (Windows Mobile)
Engine	Unity
Platform(s)	Wii (WiiWare), Windows, Mac OS X, Windows Mobile, iOS, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3
Release	January 22, 2010 WiiWare PAL: January 22, 2010 NA: March 8, 2010 JP: April 13, 2010 Windows, Mac OS X NA: February 8, 2010 Windows Mobile October 16, 2010 iOS March 25, 2011[1] Remastered August 30, 2017 Nintendo DS EU: July 30, 2011 NA: November 8, 2011 PlayStation Network EU: September 28, 2011 NA: November 1, 2011
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player

The protagonist is a boy named Max, who draws a monster with a special magic marker that he happened to come across. The monster comes to life, invades Max's drawings and begins wreaking havoc in them. Max must chase and get rid of the monster, with the help of the magic marker.

Gameplay

Max & the Magic Marker is a platform game with gameplay elements similar to Crayon Physics where the magic marker is controlled by the mouse and is used to create physical objects such as platforms and boxes to assist Max in his adventure. The Magic Marker is used by the player to create bridges, platforms and heavy objects to help Max cross caverns, rise up on moving objects, or be propelled in the air via a seesaw.

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	(PC) 77%[3] (iPhone) 76%[4] (iPad, Wii) 75%[5][6] (PS3) 66%[7] (DS) 50%[8]
Metacritic	(Wii, iPad) 76/100[9][10] (iPhone) 75/100[11] (PC) 71/100[12] (PS3) 69/100[13]

Review scores

Publication	Score
Destructoid	6/10[14][15]
Eurogamer	8/10[16][17] (Wii) 7/10[18]
Game Informer	(Wii) 7/10[19]
GamePro	(PC) [20]
IGN	7/10[21][22] (iPhone) 6.5/10[23] (WinM) 5.5/10[24]
MacLife	(Mac) [25]
Macworld	(Mac) [26]
Nintendo Life	(Wii) [27]
Official Nintendo Magazine	(Wii) 84%[28] (DS) 50%[29]
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK	(PS3) 8/10[30]
PC Gamer (UK)	(PC) 81%[31]
Pocket Gamer	[32][33]
Push Square	(PS3) [34]
TouchArcade	(iOS) [35]
411Mania	(PC) 8/10[36]
Teletext GameCentral	(Wii) 8/10[37]

Reception

The Wii and iOS versions received "generally favorable reviews", while the PC version and Gold Edition received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^{[10][11][12][13][9]}

GameZone gave the PC version a score of 7.5 out of 10, saying, "While I enjoyed playing Max & The Magic Marker on the PC, the overall experience felt cheapened by the fact it controlled better on the Wii and was priced higher than it should have been."^[38] Edge gave the Wii version a score of seven out of ten, saying, "Tight ink limitations force creative solutions, but once learnt, certain tricks undermine the action."^[39]

Common Sense Media gave the PC version all five stars, saying, "For less experienced gamers, the jumping feels far more difficult than necessary and adds a frustrating element to an otherwise very enjoyable game. But for those who are platform-puzzle experts, the draw-your-own-solution aspect of the game creates a refreshing change."^[40] 411Mania gave the same PC version eight out of ten, saying, "Max & the Magic Marker feels like 'Crayon Physics Deluxe: Deluxe'. The physics and drawing are spot on and it has a great art style. One of the most enjoyable games with a little boy with a giant orange mohawk as the protagonist that I have ever played!"^[36] Teletext GameCentral gave the Wii version eight out of ten, calling it "A clever mix of World of Goo and Drawn to Life that makes good use of the Wii and your own imagination."^[37]

Sequel

A sequel, entitled Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, was released for download for Xbox One on December 20, 2013. Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows versions were also announced, and released on May 21, 2014.

References

1. "Worldwide on iOS". Max & the Magic Marker. Press Play. March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
2. "らくがき☆ヒーロー (Wii)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
3. "Max & the Magic Marker for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
4. "Max & the Magic Marker for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
5. "Max & the Magic Marker for iPad for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
6. "Max & the Magic Marker for Wii". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
7. "Max & the Magic Marker: Gold Edition for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
8. "Max & the Magic Marker for DS". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
9. "Max & the Magic Marker for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
10. "Max and the Magic Marker for iPad for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
11. "Max and the Magic Marker for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
12. "Max & the Magic Marker for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
13. "Max & the Magic Marker: Gold Edition for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
14. Razak, Matthew (April 2, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker (Wii)". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
15. Hansen, Steven (October 12, 2011). "Review: Max and the Magic Marker: Gold Edition". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
16. Reed, Kristan (November 22, 2010). "Games for Windows Phone 7". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
17. Reed, Kristan (April 11, 2011). "Mobile Games Roundup (Page 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
18. Gibson, Ellie (February 11, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker (Wii)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
19. Kollar, Phil (March 10, 2010). "Max & the Magic Marker Review (Wii)". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
20. Watt, Meghan (April 14, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker (PC)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
21. Butts, Steve (February 12, 2010). "Max & the Magic Marker Review (PC, Wii)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
22. Moriarty, Colin (November 9, 2011). "Max & the Magic Marker Review (PS3)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
23. Johnson, Neilie (March 31, 2011). "Max & the Magic Marker iPhone Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
24. Buchanan, Levi (November 5, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker Windows Phone 7 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
25. "Max & the Magic Marker reviews". MobyGames. Atari SA. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
26. La, Lynn (March 18, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker (Mac)". Macworld. IDG Communications. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
27. van Duyn, Marcel (January 26, 2010). "Max & the Magic Marker Review (WiiWare)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
28. Scullion, Chris (February 15, 2010). "Max And The Magic Marker Review (Wii)". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
29. "Max And The Magic Marker Review (DS)". Official Nintendo Magazine. Future plc. July 2011.
30. "Max & the Magic Marker: Gold Edition". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK. Future plc. December 2011. p. 108.
31. Penny, Rachel (September 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker review". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. p. 87. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
32. Andrew, Keith (November 10, 2010). "Max and the Magic Marker (WinM)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
33. Andrew, Keith (March 30, 2011). "Max and the Magic Marker (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
34. Mason, Mike (October 2, 2011). "Max and the Magic Marker: Gold Edition Review". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
35. Nicholson, Brad (March 25, 2011). "'Max And The Magic Marker' Review – My[,] What a Magical Marker You Have". TouchArcade. TouchArcade.com, LLC. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
36. Palmer, Kevin (March 3, 2010). "Max & the Magic Marker (PC) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
37. Jenkins, David (January 2010). "Max & The Magic Marker (Wii)". Teletext GameCentral. Teletext Ltd. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
38. Brown, Michael (June 24, 2010). "Max & The Magic Marker Review (PC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
39. Edge staff (February 2010). "Max & the Magic Marker (Wii)". Edge. No. 211. Future plc. p. 94.
40. Healy, Christopher (2011). "Max and the Magic Marker (PC)". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2023.

External links

• Official site Archived 2014-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
• Max & the Magic Marker at MobyGames
• Max & the Magic Marker: Gold Edition at MobyGames