Max Payne perfectly captures the essence of being an action hero.
User Rating: 9.5 | Max Payne PC
Max Payne is still a thoroughly enjoyable experience that shouldn’t be overlooked because of its age. It’s a wonderful blend of intense action and stylized presentation. The two aspects seem to compliment each other. The graphic novel sequences narrate the game in a way that a cinematic can’t, and the actual gameplay brings action sequences to another level of intensity. If you’re looking for a compelling story in a shooter, or just have an itchy trigger finger, this game is for you. Max is given plenty of reason to start shooting. When his family is killed by junkies on a new “designer” drug, he transfers to the DEA. After three years of undercover work, he finds himself out of options when his only outside contact is killed and Max is framed for the murder. He begins a personal crusade against the criminal underground, wiping out mobsters and looking for answers along the way. As the story progresses, he meets a wide variety of characters (mostly enemies) who are brought to life through the wonderful graphic novel interface. Max’s character is also well developed, as you’ll see his reactions to your current situation. He even addresses his guilt over the loss of his family. Remedy manages to deliver on the revenge motive, resulting in an ultimately satisfying experience that justifies all the action that takes place. The shooting sequences are particularly impressive due to the shootdodge and bullet time features. Shootdodge allows Max to lunge in any direction in bullet time while aiming and shooting in real time. This is useful in many situations, as you’ll often be outnumbered. On top of that, it looks extremely cool. The action is simple enough to for anyone to grasp, and addictive enough to last through the whole game. There are some levels that deviate in part from the shooting formula, but they’re just as fun as the rest of the game. It seems the gameplay was heavily influenced by a lot of action movies, and Max Payne perfectly captures the essence of being an action hero. At times, you’ll hear enemies talk to each other about their favorite movies, or how “cool it would be to go into bullet time.” This is a nice way of paying homage to the influences of Max Payne while adding a little humor to an otherwise serious experience. Although Remedy borrows heavily from some movies and stories, the end result is something very original because of how it’s executed. Another innovation Max Payne makes is the inclusion of a difficulty system that adjusts as you play the game. This is a great way to make the game beatable to people of many skill levels. The difficulty is ramped up towards the end however, which lends your final confrontations a feeling of greater importance. Upon beating the game, you’ll unlock a harder mode that, once finished, unlocks an even harder mode. These modes, along with a timed mission variant give an otherwise short and linear game some replay value. There are a variety of weapons at your disposal, and more powerful weapons gained as the game progresses help to keep the action fresh. Weapons range from dual pistols to a semi-automatic shotgun. Combat is primarily up close, but there are some occasions where you’ll get to whip out a sniper rifle to deal with bad guys from afar. Each weapon is both unique in terms of application and handling, and choosing the right one adds a level of strategy to an otherwise straightforward game. Graphically, Max Payne looks a little below average at worst. The special effects are still cool enough to warrant appreciation, while the animations appear a little awkward and aged compared to new-fangled physics engines. There’s an impressive amount of attention to detail, with nice little touches like metal detectors going off (a nod to the infamous lobby scene in The Matrix) and telephones emitting electrical shocks when shot. There are also a lot of destructible objects featured, from boxes to beer glasses. Seeing the carnage you’ve caused after a fight allows you to appreciate the magnitude of enemy encounters. It’s not as impressive as it was in 2001, but at a budget price, it doesn’t have to be. And despite its age, Max Payne is still a visually entertaining game. The score in Max Payne does its job, with audio cues of a fast paced rock techno beat accompanying large battles and various other melodies after an important revelation or during a time of suspense. The sound effects are top notch; it’s awesome to hear a siren, explosion, or a taunt from an enemy shift to a baritone level in slow motion. It certainly adds another layer of immersion to not only see but hear that you’re in bullet time. Also, it never gets old hearing enemies exclaim “What the!” as you dive into a room, guns blazing. The characters are well acted overall, and the voice of Max Payne does an excellent job not only with both the acting and narration. The excellent sound, presentation, story, and gameplay mechanics all come together to form a coherent and original package. Pick this one up if you’re at all interested; it’s at a very reasonable price. 
