Maximum Force

Maximum Force is a light gun shooter arcade game developed by Mesa Logic for Atari Games in 1997. In 1998, Atari Games re-released the game as part of one machine called Area 51/Maximum Force Duo that also included Area 51, and later ported the game to both the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn game consoles.

Like its predecessor Area 51, Maximum Force uses digitized video stored on an on-board hard disk, and bizarrely contrasting unrealistic gibs into which every enemy blows apart when shot, in exactly the same way. While enemies, innocents, and explosions are 2D digitized video sprites, the levels and vehicles are pre-rendered in 3D.

Gameplay
The player(s) play the role of an unnamed counter-terrorist agent who engages in three major combat zones. These areas are under siege by terrorists and the player must kill the terrorists before they take aim and fire at the player character. Shooting hostages or getting shot by terrorists causes the player to lose lives. After four hits are taken, the player must refill their credits or the game is over. Players can have a maximum of seven lives in the home versions.

There are several power-ups in the game, such as rapid-fire mode(which is indicated by a spinning assault rifle bullet)for the player's gun or a powerful single-shot mode(which is indicated by a spinning shotgun shell). Shooting windows, barrels, cars, and other objects increases the player's score.

Development
The game made its world debut on January 21, 1997 at the Amusement Trades Exhibition International show in London.