The actual wagering in Max Attack seems a little counterintuitive at first, but stick with us here. Destroying an enemy ship *costs* 20 coins – one supposes this is the equivalent of a losing spin in an online slot – but most reveal a number representing a certain number of coins won. Quite a few hits clock in at 20 or more, so a proper player can last quite some time at dead-even or even in the bankroll before the big wins come in. The ship may be augmented by collecting symbols marked with words like “life,” “health” and “shield.”
Said big wins in Max Damage come into play a couple of ways: Collecting one of the special symbols (or “freebies”) wins up to 40,000 coins. Motherships (the game refers to them as “Bosses” but arcade-game freaks know better) appearing after levels 3, 6 and 9 can be worth up to a massive 110,000 coins.
As far as strategy, some good ol’ tenets of coin-up games still apply in Max Damage: The golden rule is to avoid getting trapped in one corner; stay away! Second, reconsider the use of auto-fire: While the auto-fire is pretty damn fast in this game and works well in early rounds, you’ll want more control as the game proceeds. Thirdly, take your time with the multiple-hit baddies – this game isn’t timed!
Good luck and may you never see the words “Game over.”