Max is back and more bitter, twisted and amusing than ever.

User Rating: 9 | Max Payne 3 PS3
By GetafixOz | Review Date:
I approached Max Payne 3 with some trepidation as I loved the first 2 games so much that I didnt want my personal vision of Max to be ruined by someone else's failed attempt to represent him. I am delighted to report that 25 years of self pity and self abuse, combined with a razor sharp Rockstar edge have turned Max into a better protagonist than even I could have imagined.

Full credit must be given to Sam and Dan Houser. They have now proven beyond all doubt that they are not only genius developers of their own IP's but also genuine game fans who clearly took the time to immerse themselves in Max's original personality and develop it as only Rockstar can, to the grim but polished phsycopath Max is in 2012.

The game begins with a well paced introduction to the characters and controls then continues at a pace through well detailed and highly immersive environments while introducing progressively tougher opponents. Various easter eggs are dotted throughout the levels and exploration is usually rewarded.

The combat is classic Max Payne, bullet time is well done and cover options are handy but realistic in that turtling down is not a long term option. Enemies will eventually flank or grenade to get you moving and the cover itself is most often full destructible. Think of the scene in Matrix 1 where Neo and Trinity enter the Agent's HQ to rescure Morpheius and you will get the idea. Concrete pillars fly apart under heavy gun fire, glass smashes, objects have realistic physics and things can explode and catch fire if the right ingredients are present.

Graphics and sound are both top notch (PS3 version played), the music is a combination of situational themes and classic Max Payne and is always right for the moment. Rockstar injects its own well polished humour at appropriate moments and most of Max's lines will leave you giggling and looking forward to the next one.

All in all MP3 is a triumph for Rockstar and a joy for True Max fans. Its a game that would stand alone for newcomers because enough of Max's back story is presented throughout the game for even a complete MP novice to become familiar.

With a better base note on some of the high end guns and few less minor sound stutters here and there, I would have given MP3 9.5 or 10. But nothing in the games overall performance detracts from the enjoyment or the experience.

I am extremely glad to see Max again and I hope we can look forward to some downloadable content like side missions etc going forward.

(Note) Only played 5 minutes of Multiplayer so far, seemed like fun though.

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