《重裝機兵》（日文原名《メタルマックス》，英文名《Metal Max》）是以近未來末世廢土為舞台的角色扮演遊戲。故事背景設定在地球因人類無節制的開發而導致環境急劇惡化的時代。為尋求拯救地球的辦法，人類集合所有的科技與智慧，創造出超級電腦「諾亞」（Noah）。然而，經過數以億萬計的運算，諾亞得出的結論卻是「唯有消滅人類，才能徹底凈化環境」。於是它控制全球網絡與終端，指揮機械生命對人類展開毀滅性的戰爭。世界因此陷入浩劫，文明土崩瓦解，人類幾近滅亡，這段歷史被稱為「大破壞」。

在這場大破壞之後，荒廢的大地上不僅散佈著廢墟與殘骸，還出現大量異變怪物。倖存的人類為生存，不得不依靠少數勇敢者的力量。有些人發掘出戰前遺留下來的戰車，將其改裝、修復，並駕駛它們去對抗橫行的怪物，藉此賺取傭金來維持生活，甚至成為守護村莊和城鎮的英雄。這些駕駛戰車、以討伐怪物或通緝首領為職業的人，便被稱為「賞金獵人」。遊戲的男主角正是一名渴望成為賞金獵人的少年，他因為不願服從平凡的生活而被父親逐出家門，從此展開屬於自己的冒險旅程。

在操作與玩法上，最大特色就是「戰車系統」。與一般傳統劍與魔法的RPG不同，除可以徒步戰鬥外，更能駕駛多達八輛以上的戰車，並進行搜集與改裝。戰車能夠換裝不同的主炮、副炮、機槍、引擎與裝甲片，帶來極高的自由度。玩家需要在戰鬥與探索中不斷維修、升級、甚至打造專屬的戰車，幾乎就像在遊戲中經營一支由「鋼鐵巨獸」組成的小隊。除此之外，在結構上打破當時RPG的線性限制，除少數主線必須挑戰的頭目外，大部分地圖與任務都可以自由跳過，甚至能直接駛往後期地區，獲取高階裝備再回過頭橫掃前期敵人。這種高度自由的探索體驗，在當時的遊戲市場堪稱劃時代的創舉。

至於劇情方面，並未設計嚴格的線性推進，而是給予玩家極大的自由探索空間。可以選擇隨心所欲地旅行，體驗與各地NPC、怪物的互動，以及透過討伐賞金首領來推動個人冒險的成長。雖然沒有明確的「最終結局」，最終BOSS「諾亞主機」即使被打倒仍會不斷復活，唯一的真正結束方式就是主動選擇停止冒險、結束遊戲，這種開放式的結尾設計在當時極為罕見，也為玩家留下深深的懸念與想像空間。

在市場評價上，自初代於FC上推出以來，就憑藉「戰車×末世×自由探索」的獨特組合，迅速脫穎而出，成為當年玩家心目中的經典之作。與同時代多數劍與魔法題材的RPG相比，它的題材新穎、系統複雜卻不失樂趣，尤其是戰車自由改裝和非線性冒險的設計，讓無數玩家沉迷其中。多年來，《重裝機兵》系列在玩家社群中依然享有極高聲望，被視為日本RPG史上極具特色的作品之一，不僅滿足少年玩家對冒險與機械的幻想，也奠定末世戰車題材RPG的經典地位。

與當時大多數線性PRG不同，徹底打破「村莊A—山洞A—BOSS A→村莊B—山洞B—BOSS B」的固定套路。除三個必須挑戰的關鍵BOSS（波布巨型炮、無歌村瓦魯、地獄門）之外，幾乎整個遊戲的村莊、迷宮與賞金首戰鬥都可以跳過。甚至能在開局後直接衝往後期城鎮，探索高難度迷宮，取得後期的強力裝備，然後再回頭去前期地圖輕鬆碾壓敵人。這些看似「漏洞」的玩法，其實是設計師有意留下的自由度設計，讓玩家能以完全不同的節奏和方式享受遊戲。

另一個令人印象深刻的特色是「出租戰車系統」。這幾乎等同於免費租借當下階段最強或較強的戰車裝備，可無限期使用。相比傳統RPG需要在新城鎮花大量時間刷錢與練級，直接省略這些繁瑣流程，讓玩家能專注於探索與冒險，提升遊戲體驗的流暢性與自由度。

整體來說，《重裝機兵》不僅在玩法上大幅創新，賦予玩家前所未有的自由度，也在劇情和結局設計上展現獨特的開放理念。正因如此，它成為許多玩家心中難以忘懷的經典之作，在JRPG的歷史中留下獨特的一筆。

Metal Max (Japanese title: メタルマックス, Chinese title: 重裝機兵) is a role-playing game set in a near-future post-apocalyptic wasteland. The story unfolds in an era when Earth’s environment has deteriorated drastically due to reckless human exploitation. In search of a way to save the planet, humanity pooled together all its technology and wisdom to create the supercomputer “Noah.” However, after running billions upon billions of calculations, Noah reached a chilling conclusion: “The only way to purify the Earth is to eradicate humanity.” It then seized control of global networks and terminals, commanding mechanical lifeforms to wage a devastating war against mankind. The world plunged into catastrophe, civilizations collapsed, and humanity teetered on the brink of extinction. This dark chapter of history came to be known as the “Great Destruction.”

In the aftermath, the devastated land became littered with ruins and crawling with mutated monsters. For the scattered survivors, staying alive meant relying on the courage of a select few. Some unearthed tanks left over from before the cataclysm, repairing and customizing them into formidable weapons. They used these war machines to battle rampaging monsters, earning bounties and even serving as defenders of towns and villages. These fearless tank drivers, who hunted monsters and notorious outlaws alike, were known as “bounty hunters.” The game’s protagonist is a young boy who dreams of becoming a bounty hunter. After refusing to settle for an ordinary life, he is expelled from his home by his father and embarks on a perilous journey of adventure.

In terms of gameplay, Metal Max’s most distinctive feature is its tank system. Unlike conventional sword-and-sorcery RPGs, players can not only fight on foot but also command more than eight tanks, which can be collected and extensively modified. Tanks can be equipped with different main cannons, sub-guns, machine guns, engines, and armor plates, offering tremendous freedom in customization. Players must constantly repair, upgrade, and optimize their armored beasts throughout exploration and combat, essentially managing a squadron of mechanical titans. Moreover, the game shattered the linear constraints of RPGs at the time. Aside from a handful of required bosses, most maps and quests can be freely skipped. Players can even charge straight into late-game areas at the start, acquire powerful end-game equipment, and then return to earlier regions to dominate enemies with overwhelming strength. This unprecedented level of nonlinearity was revolutionary in the RPG landscape.

As for narrative design, the game does not force players down a rigid storyline but instead offers vast freedom of exploration. Players can wander at will, interact with NPCs and monsters, and pursue bounty targets to further their personal journey. The game lacks a definitive “ending” in the conventional sense: even the final boss, Noah’s central core, resurrects endlessly after defeat. The only true conclusion comes when the player voluntarily chooses to end their journey, resulting in a “Game Over.” This open-ended narrative design was rare for its era and left players with a lasting sense of mystery and imagination.

From a market perspective, since its debut on the Famicom, Metal Max quickly stood out thanks to its unique blend of tanks, post-apocalyptic setting, and open exploration. Compared with the sword-and-magic-dominated RPGs of its generation, its fresh premise, intricate systems, and non-linear design captivated countless players. The freedom to customize tanks and forge one’s own adventure created a deep and addictive experience. Over the years, the Metal Max series has continued to enjoy a strong reputation among fans, regarded as one of the most distinctive RPG franchises in Japan. It not only fulfilled young players’ fantasies of adventure and mechanized warfare but also secured a lasting place in RPG history as a pioneering classic.

Unlike most linear RPGs of the time, Metal Max deliberately broke away from the formulaic structure of “Village A → Cave A → Boss A → Village B → Cave B → Boss B.” Aside from three mandatory key bosses (the Giant Cannon in Poibos, Walu in Nonoka Village, and Hell’s Gate), nearly every village, dungeon, and bounty battle in the game could be bypassed. Players could even dash directly to late-game towns right after the opening, challenge high-level dungeons, acquire top-tier gear, and then return to early areas to effortlessly overwhelm foes. What might seem like “exploits” were in fact intentional design choices, granting players unparalleled freedom in pacing and progression.

Another standout feature was the Tank Rental System, which effectively allowed players to borrow the strongest or near-strongest tanks available at each stage for unlimited use. Unlike traditional RPGs, where players had to endure tedious grinding for money and levels in every new town, Metal Max eliminated these obstacles, streamlining the adventure and letting players focus on exploration and discovery.

Overall, Metal Max was a groundbreaking title that pushed the boundaries of RPG design. Its innovative mechanics, freedom of choice, and open-ended storytelling made it unforgettable for an entire generation of players. By reimagining what a JRPG could be, it carved out a unique legacy and remains a beloved classic in gaming history.