31.10.2003

... well, that's how quickly the game's over. Just like its forebear, Max Payne 2, despite moderate coverage, seemed to arrive with very little hype behind it, to invade computers everywhere; but also like its forebear, it's a gaming experience that ends way too soon...Max Payne 2 kicks off after a brief (and insufficient) recap of what went on in the previous game and, just like first game, dumps the player in towards the end of the game, leading to much confusion until the oblicatory flashback sequence, where play resumes from the very beginning. Max answers a distress call from a warehouse building on the outskirts of town and before you can say 'Shoot-Dodgin',all hell breaks loose.The second installation of Max Payne feels a lot more polished than the original, with new animation, new weapons and new sound effects; some things remain the same, such as the voice actors and music style, but the overall gaming experience feels more fluid. The inclusion, and debut, of the new Havok 2.0 physics system gives the game a much needed boost in the gameplay department, as each object in the game now has a physical weight, allowing the player to knock objects over and hurl them across the environments with combinations of guns and explosives, adding a whole new dynamic to the shootouts.Similarly, characters now employ a Ragdoll physics system, whereby they will fall backwards and plummet in a more realistic fashion, after being shot; although they do seem a bit weightless at times. Bullet Time has also been altered to allow the player to move in real-time whilst everything else slows down, but I feel this to be a step too far, as the original Bullet Time was only ever meant to act as a visual modifier, with the bonus being that you could still aim in real time, but now it seems that Max has developed superhuman powers...Anyway, in combing the above elements, Remedy have created a sublime gaming experience and a real treat for action fans; the only problem is that it doesn't last long, at all. I had read in the reviews that it was short before buying it, but having played and completed it in about 10-12 hours, I was quite disappointed. Included in that 10-12 hours of gameplay are all the times that I died and had to reload the level, as well as all of the time I spent watching the graphic novel sequences, so effectively, Max Payne 2 is even shorter than the original.But this is almost irrelevant, as from playing the game, it is still amazing that Remedy have managed to achieve such a feat in the space of just two years, as it is not just about the action scenes, but also the small details such as the conversations between enemies and the multitude of TV programmes and adverts, such as 'Address Unknown', 'Lord and Ladies' and 'Dick Justice', an hilarious 70's-set parody of the original Max Payne, featuring classic dialogues such as 'I felt like I had a permanent constipated grin on my face' and 'It was raining down like all of the angels in heaven had decided to take a piss at the same time'.So overall, despite its brevity, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is still a work of art and one of the most visually and stylistically breathtaking games around, putting imitators like 'Dead to Rights' and 'Enter the Matrix' to shame.

11.11.2003

Funny that as games look more and more like films, films look more and more like games... This is a film: a cross between the Matrix and any number of Woo classic shoot-fests.Unlike Max Payne 1, the story is not as corny, and you really want to play to see what happens next. The back story is filled in via incidental objects that you have to find - a tv that is left on or some such... which, although the game is actually fairly linear, gives you the impression that you are finding things out off your own back. nice touch.The 'hand drawn' graphic novel (probably not hand-drawn: it actually looks like real photographs reworked digitally in Painter using smearing) is still there, some people hate it,I love it. But then I'm old enough to remember the real graphic novels before...um...video games killed them off.The graphics are excellent, as is the updated physics model. The new bullet time stuff is also great - sometimes you take the hard route just to see it in action as you arc in on a slowdive, peppering all four walls with lead! Can't wait for the game mods to start coming out for this brilliant game engine!It also seems to work suprisingly fast on a mid-system for a current game. I can run it at 1200x1024 on a radeon 9500/AMD XP2000, with all options (except Anit-aliasing) set to high, so lower end systems should work well with the settings down a peg.As a number of other people have said, the game can be completed in around 10 hours, but then, consider the options: spend 100 hours playing a game where the next level looks like the previous one (and which you will most likely *never* finish becaue you basically get bored of it), or one like this, full of cool set-pieces and changing scenery... Payne 2 has a lot of stuff going on in that 10 hours, and thats why the game is short... variety and an eye for detail.For me, games that you never finish are simply bad design - like a book you stop reading or a cinema you walk out of. Everyone will finish this game, not because its easy (it actually sets difficulty levels interactively based on your performance so it should be a reasonable challenge to everyone), but because you are compelled to.The only minor criticism is the AI: some enemy have obviously been told to stay put and lurk, waiting for you from strategic vantage points, but there are a fair few that will simply run at you. You can often wait at a closed door until they come through, and clear rooms that way... but its a minor gripe - most times its far more fun just to open the door, chuck a grenade through, then dive in as soon as it explodes in slo-mo with your dual machine guns blazing through the smoke... just like in the films - so the 5th star stays intact!Oh, the other thing is that I would say it is unsuitable for young kids (its actually teenage-adult orientated)... which is a shame because I can see it keeping them occupied and out of your way as you booze it up on Christmas day, having opended it up and played it whilst they were out!S

31.3.2005

Max Payne was an original game, a 3rd person shooter with slow motion bullet time, setting the trend for many action games. Although the bullet time was unique, in my opinion, its the story and characters that makes Max Payne so good. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a bigger and better version than its predecessor. Although it's much of the same - run round shooting bad guys - this is not just an action game. It's based around characters, raw emotions, love, loss and its thrilling storyline, which, as the front cover describes is "Film Noir" and this is not an overstatement. Action and shooting proves to be merely the backdrop and setting for this deep and intense game.The first game revolving around Max avenging the murder of his wife and child,the second one, though linked, ties the story of the first up. The end of the first game left the storyline open. I do suggest though, even though it is not essential, you play the first Max Payne to get a gist of the storyline. Basically, Max is accepted back into the police force and meets with an old friend he believed to be dead and together, in two nights, they go to investigate a mysterious group of contract killers. However, not everything is as it seems.The way that Max Payne is presented is by telling the story through a dark, gritty graphic novel voiced over by the melancholy voice of Max. The missions, though of the same structure, are beautiful and range from restaurant shootouts, to police stations, to exploding buildings, to medieval manors, to mob war torn neighbourhoods . . . there's even an L.A Confidential stlye shootout - the list goes on. The environments are beautiful and totally realistic, as you can actitivate TVs, coffee machines and knock almost anything over. You'll play as Max Payne himself, but also his femme fatale lover, Mona Sax, seeing things from her point of view which is a nice variation to the game.The action in Max Payne, though it gets slightly tedious after a while, is extrmely satisfying and entertaining - also very realistic, though you would not believe it. Your characters take mutal damage to die as the NPCs themselves so you really have to rely on your wits and yup, you guessed it, Bullet time 2.0. It's been upgraded and is more essential to gameplay - Max Payne could be played almost without bullet time, only not at extremely difficult parts. The game doesn't take that long to complete, about 2 days if you're dedicated, but is highly replayable in different modes and does not get boring as the first one does once you've completed it.This game, in many ways, is like a Christopher Nolan (not John Woo despite slow-mo) film and is quite simply a work of art. Though it's very similar to the original, it gets away with it because it builds on it to make a brilliant game.Gaming at its best.

28.12.2003

If like many of the gamers reading these pages, you played Max Payne (the original) then you too would have marvelled at how close to reality they the programmers achieved in the game play and admired the portability of a B-movie-esque storyline into the gaming world. Max Payne broke the mould and was worthy of its extremely high ratings.In this edition, the quality of the reproduction has undoubtedly improved, smooth graphics, glitch-free movement, audio-visual synchronicity and a cracking story-line. Add to that being able to play the characters of both Max and Mona (I guess your name has to start with an 'M' too) you have what most people would describe as a 9.9er, a best-of-class,a sure-fire winner.I'm really going to nail my colours to the wall here and say that although the packaging was faultless, there simply wasn't sufficient differences between MP1 and MP2 to leave myself gasping at the extremely low price for such perfection in gaming. I was left with a distinct feeling of been-there, done-that at almost every turn. The sequence was apparently such a well-trodden path of "enter room, take cover, aim, shoot, fire, three baddies dead (or four or five)". And if you did it badly, load up the last save-game until you do it better.So to the other features that make this game more of a film-noir than a shoot-em-up. The video footage and storyline were excellent, I think most reviews state that. Incredibly the publishers had managed to generate an ambience in the game that I have rarely seen before, and I've seen a few. sure the game is fairly short, 10 hours first time around, but the game offers a lot more than a just a blast-around shoot-em-up. And even if it was only 10hs worth of game play - that's still only £3/h - cheaper than most movies.And another thing. I find the weapon choice and possibilities pretty mono-dimensional. You always seem to find yourself using your best weapon and when the ammo runs out, you use your second string weapon. There is surely a case in combat for a more selective choice of firearm? Maybe a stealthy approach to bump off one lookout with a silencer in order to avoid detection and prevent a slough of enemies arriving on your doorstep. Or a room full of enemies where you need rapid-firing in-yer-face armoury. Like I say, a touch mono-dimensional. The lack of control with grenades and Molotovs was also an incessant source of frustration.So to cap it all, Rockstar games were well justified in creating MP2. They have produced as they claim a great film-noir B-movie where you play a very active roll. I suspect, however, that if anybody ever wants to create MP3 (ho-hum), then I'll want to see many reviews about how "different" the game play is!If I had only ever played Max Payne 2 - it would have got 5 stars.

10.11.2003

!!!Crrrraaaaaaaack!!! (lightning strikes).The dark ambience of NY city. That pit in your stomach... the feeling that something will go wrong. This game, like its predecesssor attack your mind as well as challenge your moves.Unlike many other games, higher difficulty does not mean more enemies... but much smarter enemies. Enemies that taunt you when they dodge your bullets... laugh in your face. The music just gets to you. I mean, I just can't stop humming it. My wife hates the game. I am just at the PC hacking away at it. I keep humming the MP2 tune. My moods were governed by the game... somehow you feel what Maxie ol boy is going through. That really got on her nerves.The ingame music is just too good though (even she had to admit... he he he).Dream sequences (which I found to be most disturbing in MP1) are not as disturbing this time round. Alas!The game too is not as short as I have read in reviews. Maybe that's because I look inside every single filing cabinet or drawer in the room. Or maybe my gameplay just plain sucks.The cut scenes are amazing, not just in graphics... but in content as well. They actually carry on from the action. Like the same guy could slump in the cut sequence or fall off a legde, depending upon how you kill him. I have also tried detonating a grenade just before a scene, and sure enough it was there. The graphics and the environment are just too good.The attention to detail is mind boggling. Even locations which you won't actually be able to access in normal gameplay, but will only view from a distance (unless you know cheat codes he he he) are complete inside and outside!!!Mona is an absolutely fabulous super chick. Her voice is so cool and when she walks, she could just burn my monitor.People, let me tell you, its worth playing the hard boiled level .. all the way. Believe me, things are different. (Don't be mislead by the word easiest, its only relative).Although it was said people won't go through walls, I did have a couple of instances when the head went through. But the movement of the bodies as they fall (rag-doll effect) after being shot is almost too real. The game is also "linear triggered". Meaning that you have to do a certain action in order to enable the next sequence, so there is no free path to achieve the final objective. But who's complaining!!! Just gives me more baddies to kill !!!!Also, with the Max Payne Editor Tools, now you can create your own levels.... but this may be too much of a daunting task if you do not have some real games programming and design experience. Its a bit overwhelming.You have to go get this game. Buy it ... rent it ... borrow it... whatever.... for crisp action, for brilliant script and dialogues, and ... if not for anything else, for the love of MONA SAX !!!!!!

21.2.2006

Oh, Max. What have you got yourself into this time?In a sense, the action is the least interesting thing about this game. I don't care how many goons Max kills or how spectacularly the physics throws boxes around after an explosion. Most modern games use Havok 2.0 now. Big deal.But in an industry where involved and careful plotting is a rarity and "You are a government agent - the best of the best of the best" cardboard characters are the norm, it was refreshing to control a character whose fate I actually cared about. I wasn't playing this game to kill goons. I was playing it to see what more bad things could possibly happen to my protagonist, to find if it really was his fault and (rather unworthily)

29.10.2003

After reading many of the previous reviews it occured to me that not many of them had actually played max payne 2.If you liked max payne 1 then you SHOULD buy this...no excuses If you havent played max payne 1 then look at the screen shots to see for yourself what your buying...but in a nut shell it has astounding graphics, animation is almost film-like and contains 100% non-cheesy dialogue, a lot more guns, and the IE is very clever...it will shoot through cardboard boxes and thin material to get you...which means you take a lot more care when observing your suroundings.The AI is a lot more patient...no more showing your face and then running off to a convenient position to ambush them...they

7.11.2003

Anyhow, without describing what several other reviewers have gone over in detail, I wanted to encourage any of you who may doubt the worthiness of this game to cast aside those doubts forthwith. For this game surely is a thing of beauty, it is a game that is more than the sum of its sub-routines. After finishing the game you are left with a real ache inside to have more, to be Max, to share his payne!Normally I buy first person shooters, Medal of Honour, Half-Life and obviously HL2 (eventually!), and the Tomb Raider style third person game has never appealed to me personally. How wrong I was! This masterpiece draws you into its story as inexorably as a black hole draws in everything too close.

29.12.2003

Being a huge fan of the original "Max Payne", I had looked forward to the sequal ever since the closing scenes of the first. The grim, grusome story, the black, noir mood, the dark humor, the elegant shooting sequences had me hooked. I needed more. I needed another fix. After a year of replaying the original at least seven times, it finally happened. "Max Payne 2 - the fall of Max Payne" hit gaming stores everywhere, and my very thoughtful spouse got it for me for Christmas. Now it is not even New Years Eve and I am on my second play-through. With a smile on my face.MP2 makes good of all the promises given by Rockstar Games. So what's the good news? The news is more guns, better graphics,

10.11.2003

Having played the original game earlier this year, I waited with baited breath (through the postal strikes!) for this sequel. The only real awaited FPS with a release date that didn't run away from you. Resultantly, this is one of the hottest PC titles as I write.Firstly, the good news: Max Payne is back, exactly as you knew him but progressed on from the original. The graphics are better (undoubtedly - 2 years is a long time!), the playability remains untampered and the story, in a more lively seedy underworld, is as gripping as the first.For all the hubbub, it's fair to say though that Max 2 isn't a giant leap.

25.3.2009

and a shame it can only be given 5 stars. Despite what other reviews state - this is not an FPS but a third person as in Tomb Raider. Max is a different actor from the first but if you watch the Lords and Ladies program on the televisions dotted around the old Max is in them. And yes, it is short, but what you get is premium.If you haven't played the first Max Payne then you should before playing this, they are more like interactive films and need to be seen in order to enjoy the developing story the most. Don't expect happy endings, MP doesn't do them. And the Matrix style bullet time slomo makes the games a blast to play.If you have then it is more of the same, just better.

9.6.2004

Superb fun. Its not deep and its very linear but I don't care. It fulfills all my John Woo fantasies, looks cool, sounds cool and plays, er, cool.I enjoyed the first game immensely and even though its pretty much the same style of gameplay, it has visibly improved in terms of graphics, movements and environment. The small details are amazing (falling/movable boxes/chairs/etc, rag-doll effects, shrapnel and the like).The plot is pretty good as far as computer games go. Its still full of cheesy noirish lines, but I enjoy chuckling at these and I suspect that its meant to be that way anyway. Note to one reviewer: I'm up to chapter three so far so thanks for the ending spoiler Mr. Harry "ending spoiler" Hall ...

1.11.2003

It has been a while, but Max Payne is finally back and making our draws drop again in amazement.The graphics sure have improved, they are extremely smooth and detailed - and you won't need a supercomputer to run the game smoothly either. It looks great on both my AthlonXP2000 and my Pentium4 2.6. Like many games, there are loads of graphics options that you can adjust depending on your computer's performance. But even on minimum graphics settings it looks outstanding. The sound and music are also impressive, the theme tune really fits into the intense cinametic sections of the game, but don't worry if you find these sequences boring, they are very brief and "cool" to watch.Gameplay is similar to the origional,

26.10.2003

From the off I would like to have it known that I didn't think much of the first Max Payne game so this sequel had a lot to do to get me to change my mind. And the good news is that it managed to change my mind very easily.The most noticable change are the graphics, they truly are the best I think I have ever seen in a PC Game and probably won't be bettered until Half Life 2/Doom 3. Secondly the way you interact with the environment around you is amazing, if you lightly brush a pile of boxes they will slowly topple. You can have hours of fun in warehouses finding new ways to make piles of boxes fall. This is mostly down to the impressive physics engine everything moves exactly how you would expect and when people die they never die in the same way twice,

29.10.2003

Alright I have just completed the game and as the screen went black and the white writing read 'THE END' as at the end of the prequel I was left breathless with thoughts running through my head and wanting more. What gets me about the max pain games is that they show max looking back over time and what he has done, yet the game gets you doing it as well, looking back on every gunshot starting from the first and ending mere seconds ago. The graphics are amazing and I haven't seen better, the realism caused by the havoc engine is immence....check this...you shoot down an enemy.....but they are laying on the floor still moving as if having a fit....you walk over to them and shoot them again and with one last jerk they become still.

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC) - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail