Heavy Armor Trooper

Metal Max, released by Data East in 1991, is an open-world RPG for the NES set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland following a global nuclear war. Players take the role of a bounty hunter, roaming the desolate landscape in a fully customizable tank to hunt down wanted criminals. Breaking from the linear storytelling of traditional JRPGs, the game allows free exploration and lets players choose their own mission order. Tanks can be outfitted with different weapons, engines, and armor plates, each configuration meaningfully reshaping combat tactics. Its open-ended structure and deep vehicle customization made it one of the most innovative RPGs of the Famicom era.