Max

This article contains spoilers for Doom Blade!

Max's key art for Shining Force. Illustration by Yoshitaka Tamaki.

Max (マックス, Makkusu) is an Ancient of Rune who first appears in Shining Force, in which he leads a company against Dark Sol and the invading Runefaust army. In Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict, Max joins forces with Ian to oppose the return of Mishaela and Dark Sol. A version of the same character also appears in Shining Force Neo, which reimagines the story told in the original game. Max makes a cameo in Doom Blade: Shining and the Darkness Gaiden, set a thousand years after Shining Force, in which it is implied that his soul has reincarnated as the son of Mortred.

Max was designed by series artist Yoshitaka Tamaki.

Characterization

Max does not have any dialogue in either the Japanese or English releases of Legacy of the Gods until the end of the game.

In the Japanese version, when the Ancient Castle begins sinking, he cries out the spell Return in order to save his companions. In the post-credits scene, Max and Adam come upon a local farmer in the countryside and says that he's looking to settle somewhere. The farmer suggests he help out in the fields of his village. Max addresses Adam and says that sounds good, and asks Adam if he'd like to stay and help a while. The farmer asks for his name, and Max stops just before giving his name to turn to the camera as the word "Fin" appears on screen.

In the English release, he says, "I can't get free, but you won't die with me!" before the others are teleported out with the Return spell. During the post-credits scene, Max says he's looking to settle somewhere. When asked if he'd like to help out in the fields, Max does not address Adam, instead saying: "That sounds like just what I need right now. I work hard and I'm a fast learner." The game ends the same after the farmer asks for Max's name, with Max turning toward the camera.

History

Max's Ancient armor as it appears following his promotion. Illustration by Yoshitaka Tamaki. [Full page]

Shining Force: Legacy of the Gods

One thousand years before the events of the game, Max and his brother Cain were put into stasis in Metaphor and scheduled to awake at the time that Dark Dragon had vowed to return. Upon awakening, they were attacked by Dark Sol. Together, along with Adam and Chaos, they fought back but were defeated. Cain managed to save Max by allowing him to retreat, but not without both of them sustaining injuries from Dark Sol's Demon Breath magic. Max would lose his memories and wash up on shore outside of Guardiana, while Cain and Chaos would be taken by Dark Sol and made to serve him.

One year prior to the start of the game, Lowe finds Max on a beach and takes him to Guardiana where he would stay at the church and train to become a knight under Balios.

After the invasion of Guardiana by Runefaust, the king informs Max that King Ramradu of Runefaust is attempting to find the Legacy of the Gods and tells Max to stop them, beginning Max's journey that takes him across Rune.

Dark Sol resurrects Dark Dragon, and following a battle against Dark Dragon, Max uses the Chaos Breaker to seal Dark Dragon once again but he becomes unable to move while the Ancient Castle begins sinking. In a post-credits scene, Max is revealed to be alive with Adam and wishing to settle somewhere.

Shining Force Character Directory

Protagonists and Supporting Characters
Shining Force Members	Max・Rag・Ken・Tao・Hans・Lowe・Gong・Goth・May・Chip・Anri・Arthur・Balbaroy・Amon・Diane・Zappa・Pale・Yogurt・Kokichi・Vangarde・Gantz・Ernest・Domingo・Lyle・Baryū・Musashi・Taurus・Aleph・Adam・Hanzō
Supporting Characters	Balios・Nova・Otranto
Antagonists and Monsters
Primary Antagonists	Cain・Ramuradu・Mishaela・Dark Sol・Elliot・Barbazak
Monsters	Dark Dragon