Today I finished the first Max Payne game. It was a good ride, overall. I can definitely see where the people that fell in love the series came from. It has great writing, amazing atmosphere, good dialogue, some unforgettable characters and a plot that is easy to follow, but that doesn't disappoint. Gameplay hasn't really aged gracefully, at least in some aspects regarding enemy AI and a penchant for cheap deaths around corners that can make the game a bit frustrating. The slow motion gimmick is cool, but tiresome after a while.

Still, I can easily understand why this game has become a true classic and am excited to see what the second game brought to the table. I am slowly becoming a fan of the franchise. I hope that doesn't mean I'll start to whine anytime soon about Rockstar's third game and its bald lead character.