Every so often a game comes around that receives critical acclaim, yet can't seem to find the commercial success it was hoping to have. Such games include: Spec Ops: The Line, Vanquish, Valkyria Chronicles, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning just to name a few. Despite being competent games, there isn't much of a legacy that lives on, and despite fan word-of-mouth these games will simply be reduced to cult status. Max Payne 3 is that sort of game.
Out of all the titles listed above, Max Payne 3 is the most high-profile when it comes to recognizable intellectual properties. So why was it overlooked by many? Maybe it was the overlong development, lack of brand awareness, or even the shadow cast by the reveal of Grand Theft Auto V shortly after the games re-reveal? Whatever the reason may be, Max Payne 3 is a solid product that wasn't afraid to take risks when it came to moving away from the familiar. Max Payne 1&2 by Remedy Entertainment had a following of fans who enjoyed the stylish John Woo action and Noire-eske comic book cutscenes.
When Rockstar Games (the publisher of the first two) acquired the rights to the series in 2004, fans of the pill-popping detective were unsure what the next adventure would be like. After all, Rockstar is known for making dark, mature games, all while telling a compelling story. After a quiet couple of years, Rockstar finally started to give some detail's about the game, showing off the new location-which was later revealed as Sao Paulo, and a new look for the troubled protagonist. With a website firmly established touting winter 2009; the release date looked firmly planted.
Like most Rockstar games, the release date slipped, and so began another dry spell of info. Then, in the fall of 2011, Rockstar showed the first trailer for the newly re-designed Max Payne. After another brief delay, Max Payne 3 came out in May of 2012. Upon release it received praise from critics, and I myself fell in love with it. But despite all the love the game never caught on, plagued by less than impressive sales, especially by Rockstar standards. The sales numbers were so low that Rockstar Vancouver (the studio behind the game) shuttered.
There are many reasons why I think this game is a 'masterpiece;' I don't mean its perfect, but it has many qualities that make it stand out from the norm. The story is dark, gripping and surprising throughout. Max is trying to move on from his past troubles in New York, and one way out is a job offer as a bodyguard for a rich businessman in Sao Paulo. Without going into too much detail the story takes some unexpected twists and turns that I didn't even see coming, even as an avid film and game lover that has seen many twists. In short, if I was to sum up the feel of the Max Payne 3 storyline, I would describe it as kin to the film Man on Fire. Besides the stellar story, the performances are spectacular as well, especially James McCaffrey.
James McCaffrey's performance is felt in the game, especially in his voice. As I was playing, I could feel the damage, pain, and sadness with every nuance he emitted. The pain Max was feeling kept me engrossed throughout the story, leaving me hooked moment-to-moment up until the end. I rarely sit through games in one sitting, but this was an exception.
Everything about Max Payne 3 feels like you're in an epic action movie. The refined gun controls make for the most unique, yet tightly responsive third-person shooter I have played since Gears of War. There is something to be said when a game makes you giddy just to shoot enemies is slow-motion. The gameplay isn't the only thing that is spectacular; the setting is just as impressive. The locations in which Max's adventure takes place are so varied, it seems crazy without context. Such locations include a nightclub, favelas, swamps, and an airport just to name a few. Rockstar is known for authenticity, they get the culture and vibe of a certain time and place, such as Red Dead Redemption and the Grand Theft Auto series. The same can be said for Max Payne 3, Sao Paulo feels lived in-albiet in a more linear form.
With the rollercoaster pace of the single-player, a score needs to move along with it, setting a mood for the player. The L.A. noise-rock band HEALTH provided the soundtrack, adding haunting vocals and loud, bombastic instruments to boot. Every moment of the game is accompanied by a score that fits perfectly, one track in particular comes to mind everytime, all I'm gonna say is it involves an airport. Enough with the single-player for now, let me tell you the appeal of multiplayer. The game modes may not be the most riveting, even for the run-of-the-mill types such as capture the flag or team death-match, but the way multiplayer incorporates bullet time is impressive in itself. Imagine being able to shoot-dodge, and use bullet-time to take out enemies that are in the way of you objective. All this, plus the many unlockable's add to a robust experience.
Max Payne 3 is a real treasure, despite the lack of commercial success and record-setting sales Rockstar Games is known for, it is still one of the best gaming experiences I have ever played. Even though the game wraps up nicely as if to conclude Max's story, it doesn't look likely that we will see a sequel, at least in the foreseeable future. With the numerous sales across Steam, as well as the PlayStation and Xbox stores the game is usually discounted ridiculously low. If this game seems like your cup-of-tea then try it out, you owe it to yourself.
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