Review: Max Payne 1+2By Locke on January 21st, 2009
Most of today’s shooters are known for their use of powerful protagonists. Rarely can we see in a shooter that the person isn’t a cyborg, or in a high-tech suit of armor, or a master of psychokinetic powers. Max Payne is one of those shooters that’s simple in it’s execution, but leaves most of the epic moments up to you. The story of Max Payne is told mostly through comic panels with voice-overs, in the old Noir style of film. You play as Max, a detective deep undercover within the Mob, haunted by the murder of his family years ago. Your journey takes you through the city on a killing spree against the Mob who have framed you for robbery, having found out of your true identity. Max Payne is a very different shooter. While most shooters ask you to rely on powerful weapons and group tactics, you are alone against many thugs and obstacles. Much of the time you have to improvise many of the gunfights. Unlike most shooters, weapons can do quite a bit of damage, and it only takes a few rounds to put Max out of the fight. Luckily, you can use bullet time to make precise shots and dispatch the more challenging foes more quickly. Bullet time slows down the game’s overall movement, making a few frantic seconds of shooting into a minute of deadly gun-play. Max Payne 2 differs in this factor; whereas in the first game, everyone moves the same speed in bullet time, you actually can move freely using bullet time in the sequel. Reloading quickly is also a new feature in the sequel while using bullet time. Some objects in Max Payne can be used to dispatch enemies without a lot of ammunition; finding these objects can make the difference between making out of the level in one piece, or dragging your leg behind you as you finish. Conserving the life restoring Pain Killers are a must, and knowing when it is better to save them takes some of the difficulty out of the later levels. Overall I think Max Payne is a great game for it’s time. The graphics were pretty good around the time it came out, having been released in 2003. The series leaves with an open, but pretty good ending by Max Payne 2. Rumors have come in that Max Payne 3 is supposed to be in production, but that is only whispers in the night. ———————————- Bottom Line Max Payne gets a 8/10 for it’s interesting take on the shooter, the great story, and the introduction of time slowing effects into the world of gaming. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne gets a 9/10 for it’s cinematic quality sequences, fearless story, and awesome graphics. If the Noir storytelling won’t win you over, the gunfights will. See ya next week, Locke |
What?!? Max Payne 1 shouldn’t have gotten anything less than an 8.26 out of 10!! (I’ve never actually played it…)
I suggest you use stars, so then you can say “three and three quarters of a star.”
Locke i miss our weekly game reviews in the cafeteria before russian class, but i think i miss you more! we need to hang out sometime when the bane that is homework doesn’t have me swamped. i’m a text addict, so feel free to call or text whenever! -Mrs Leonard
ps: still getting used to his least name, it feels really weird! 😛
Mrs. Leonard, what a pleasant surprise! I heard about your wedding, congratulations! I hope to hear from you more, we has a forum for you to explore, and I’ll be sure to send a txt your way when I can fix my useless phone.
Hi everyone,
My name is Freddy and I’ve wasted nearly a month of my life on this place 😉 I found it after being recommended by a few friends who have been hanging out here for quite some time.
I am a writer, graphics artist, photographer and just about anything else that comes up around the office. Aside from the above interests i’m really into scifi as I know that is so much more out there to be discovered, and a feeling that the universe is just teaming with life.
Well, I hope that I get to know more people here, share some experience and start learning. Have a greay day!
Are you a spambot?! I think he’s a spambot everyone.