Max is a surreal isometric adventure game where Max, a monster rock musician, decides to fight back against the evil monarch Krond. To defeat Krond, Max enlists in the training course at the Mega Hero Academy. The game was created by the same duo that made the 8-bit classic Head Over Heels , and as expected, it shares similarities with its predecessor in terms of control and design. Players control Max on a bizarre landscape, collecting and using objects (with either the A or B button) to accomplish mission objectives.
The gameplay involves exploring a vast world, each mission having an entrance with a terminal and a door. The player can collect lucky stars by touching terminals, which allow Max to touch dangerous objects without suffering damage. There are also hearts representing the number of lives. The top right side of the screen displays the inventory, showing the two objects assigned to the buttons. Players can access more advanced missions by paying a fee and navigate through detailed locations, exceeding 600 compared to previous isometric adventures like Knight Lore .