Max and the Magic Marker Demo

Sidescrolling platformers may not be very popular nowadays, but they did represent the entire video games industry at one point, which means that the mechanics are about as refined as they can be. However, new technology can always improve on old concepts, which is why the genre has risen in popularity lately and the developers are able to implement many new and original ideas.

Max and the Magic Marker is a fun little platformer that uses a powerful physics engine in order to introduce some interesting gameplay mechanics, based on objects drawn by you. Hence, by using a marker, you can basically create everything you need in order to pass the levels, whether it's bridges, stairs, or boulders to knock out the enemies that block your way.

The game also has a cute back story to explain the evens unfolding on screen, which talks about Max and the magic marker he one days receives in the mail. After drawing a monster with it, the creature comes alive and jumps into another picture, terrorizing the folks that just mind their own business. In an attempt to stop him, Max puts himself into the drawings and he do must everything in his power to catch and destroy his own creation.

Although the game starts off slowly and only asks you to draw a few bridges to navigate the terrain, or stairs to climb higher, the puzzles get increasingly more difficult as you advance through the levels. After a while, you will have to use the marker in much more creative ways, such as to draw a swing and use it to reach much higher places, or even make use of heavy boulders to destroy enemies blocking your way.

Visually, the game looks about how you would expect, considering it is a platformer about a boy who likes to draw. Hence, everything is very colorful and sketchy, especially since your marker doodles always come out wavy and irregular, which makes for some amusing moments. Even the monsters are wacky and funny, although the fact that they can quickly send you to the last checkpoint by simply touching you is certainly not.

In the end, Max and the Magic Marker is definitely worth a try, especially if you want to see a good physics engine in action and have some fun with your own creations. However, the game can also get quite frustrating, due to the fact that the distances between checkpoints are rather long and you might get bored having to re-do certain parts of the level.