Max Payne delivers some of the best storytelling & action on the PS2 to date.
You play as Max Payne, a New York City cop whose wife and baby daughter were horrifically murdered by crazed junkies, high on a new drug called Valkyr. You set out to catch the people responsible, but are framed for the murder of the only man that knows you are working undercover for the DEA. Which in turn sets you off on a blood filled vendetta to find the truth.
Gameplay is excellent, you are able to use the controls with the upmost simlpicity and are able to shoot your way through countless levels with no problem to how this game handles. There are two new main features that really help bring this game to life; the ability to shootdodge, allowing you to perform various acrobatic moves in order to shoot and dodge bullets at the same time. And of course, Bullet-time. Those of you who are familiar with Bullet-time, know that it is somewhat more famous for its appearance in the 1999 cult hit The Matrix. Bullet-time allows you to drastically slow down time, while everything around you blurs in slow-motion, you are able to aim freely and normally, enabling you to get out of some sticky situations with some quickfire skills.
Graphics for the PS2, while not quite on par with the PC version, are still great. Guns have a good amount of detail to them and the bullets even look good. There is a lot of graphical detail on the world around Max, whether it be magazines, pictures on the walls or general textures. There is a huge amount of interactivity, which is shown with TV broadcasts, TV shows and radio shows, this really makes you feel a part of the action.
Although the game has major cinematic influence from the Hong Kong action movie genre, particularly the work of director John Woo, Max Payne is presented in the form of a graphic novel. This makes the cutscenes a joy to watch, from the whizz of a bullet flying by, to the bang of the gunshot, it really feels like a graphic novel and adds a great depth to the fantastic story. The sound is to rival a Hollywood production, the voice acting superb and music dark and fitting to the storyline.
Max Payne rarely ever faulters with any aspect of its entirity, in any way. There is the occasional slowdown or glitch, but that it to be expected for any game. Although not as polished as the PC version, Max Payne for the PS2 still offers the same great gameplay, compelling story and tense sound that made the PC version so damn great. An excellent game that no action/ adventure fan should miss.