Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne Review

By Kristan Reed Published 20 October, 2003

Max is back.

Version tested: PC

Some people insist that you make your own luck in this life. If that's the case then poor Max Payne is a supreme architect of ill fortune; a man so down that you wonder why he even bothers getting up in the morning. Welcome back, Mr grim, we've missed your constipated grimace.

Established

'Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne' Screenshot 1

A couple of years back the original was a massive commercial success on the back of an extremely polished graphics engine and its pioneering use of the now ubiquitous Bullet Time system of enabling the gamer to slow down time and continue shooting at a real time rate. The effect elevated an otherwise standard third person action game into something genuinely new and thrilling, with the novelty of diving sideways, backwards or headlong all guns blazing at posses of enemies never wearing thin.

What did grate on some, however, were its deliberately hammy film noir attempts, over the top voice acting and regular use of graphic novel frames to illustrate the action. In the context of videogaming, though, I personally applauded this refreshing approach, and found its trash depiction of New York, and Max's increasingly desperate attempts to clear his name one of the most memorable and exciting told in 25 years of the medium.

Many of you obviously liked it too, despite a few highbrow critical bashings, and the game went on to become a huge hit on the PC and Xbox, and an even bigger one on the PS2 - despite being a vastly less satisfying game to control on a joypad. With well over half a million of you in the UK alone buying the game, it's fair to say expectation from the surprisingly swift sequel is very high, after some spectacular recent promo footage.

Lax Payne

'Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne' Screenshot 2

Having only been announced a few months back, it's refreshing to see that Finnish developer Remedy has not fallen prey to the slippage demons that seem to have engulfed the majority of top developers lately. In fact, after the fairly torturous wait for the original, we had to double take when we first saw the October release date. But here it is, in our hands, and we're all the happier for it. Max is back, and he's finally been to the toilet.

In a game with so much twisting and overlapping narrative, it would be more than little ungracious to give away more than the bare bones. Suffice to say, Max has left the DEA, joined the NYPD, and a fairly routine investigation turns his world upside down with Max falling for a Femme Fatale and inevitably going beyond the call of duty to bring down those responsible for his torment.

Once again the game punctuates the action with frame after frame of graphic novel-style narrative, and first play through you'll probably be slightly confused unless you play it in one sitting and make a few notes to remind yourself of what the jiggins is going on. Unlike the original's stylised photographs (featuring members of the development team, the cheapskates!), the sequel uses a far more pleasing hand drawn approach, although the same script writer and voiceovers are present throughout - so we get the same slightly over the top dramatisation of events, but when you're involved in the most over-the-top action game ever, it all seems to make perfect sense.

New York Minutiae

'Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne' Screenshot 3

In a game that took us just seven hours to complete (including watching all the narrative and some tricky later sections), it's fair to say that not a lot has changed - it's just this time we were a bit handier at stabbing the quick-save key and were already familiar with the controls. Outside of the obviously gorgeous graphics engine you'll be playing a game of spot the difference, which amounts to no more than a few tweaks rather than any major additions.

The first change you'll notice is the addition of Havok physics, and although it has been used in other games, MP2 is the perfect title to show it off in. From the word go you'll notice that even seemingly insignificant objects can be moved around and knocked over, with fairly comedic implications at times. Use the drinks machine and a can drops out, which Max can kick around to kill some time. At times though it's rather odd and inconsistent, with certain objects feeling like they have no weight, with limp sound effects and the inability to destroy them compounding this.

But once the novelty value wears off of being a bull in a china shop, the effect during the numerous firefights lends the game an often astounding level of dynamic cinematic detail that varies every time depending on where the bullets hit. Of course, you'll have seen rag doll physics before, but you can't fail to be impressed when a goon gets blasted off the side of a building, crashing into scaffolding and creating a huge chain reaction of flying objects, shattered glass, broken step ladders and flailing limbs in slow motion. For graphics whores wanting to show off their top spec PC, then this is it, although it's worth mentioning that our now relatively humble P4 2.2GHz/512MB/GF4 Ti4600 never once stuttered even with everything turned up to full detail.

Time Is Running Out

'Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne' Screenshot 4

Adding colour to all this action-packed mania are some of the finest backdrops and scenery ever to grace a videogame, with a consistently breathtaking array of nigh on photo realistic texture detail across numerous varied and well-designed environments. MP2 also plays host to some excellent use of lighting, particle effects and a far better collection of character models than were featured in the original, although Remedy still has a way to go before it finally gets its character models up to the standard of the rest of the game. Outside of the game's half dozen main characters, the endless cannon fodder that pads out the game seems a little too generic much of the time, but they're still superb in comparison to most games out there; it's just that Remedy has set such high standards elsewhere, the lesser elements stand out that much more.

A few tweaks have been made to the marvellous Bullet Time system. Notably the colour scheme switches to a sepia tone while you're 'in the zone', and the effect of killing while you're in Bullet Time now slows down time even more, changing the egg timer to yellow, while the sound audibly lowers in tone, Max's heart beat slows and your killing spree can get even more intense. It doubtlessly makes things a little easier, but the enjoyment of diving into a room to pick off everyone in it has been enhanced considerably.

Another smart addition is the ability to stay on the ground after a dive - so long as there's ammo left in your gun - allowing you to evade enemy fire that fraction longer. You'll also find Max is generally easier to control during bullet time, allowing the player to pull off any combination of shoot dodges, as well as simply run around in the slow motion. We found diving around still the best way to deal with crowds of enemies; especially given the 360-degree fluidity that mouse control offers you - something we fear for when the console versions are released come December.

Take The Payne Killer

'Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne' Screenshot 5

The weapons system has come in for a pleasing minor tweak, allowing Max a secondary fire which enables him to arm himself a Molotov cocktail at the same time as firing, which makes for a useful addition while you're frantically diving around. Alternatively you're given a rather useless close quarters melee ability, enabling Max to rifle butt an enemy in the face. Useless, because you rarely, if ever, need to get that close, and ammo is hardly in short supply. In terms of the weapons line up, it's almost exactly the same as before, with only the MP5 SMG, an AK47 and a Dragunov sniper rifle new additions - not that you'd really even notice this unless you're particularly familiar with the previous game.

The health system is also exactly the same, with numerous pain killers dotted all over the place, and even falling out of downed enemies. Supposedly there's a self adjusting skill level, with more pain killers becoming available if you're struggling, and if you're taking your time over a task, Max will pipe up with explicit hints to hurry you through. It's as if Remedy never wants the player to be frustrated at any stage - but those seeking a challenge will have to complete the game at least once to be given one, as the harder skill levels remain strangely unavailable until you do.

As a final new addition, Remedy has also injected some rudimentary co-op elements, where Max is occasionally backed up by allies, although it's fair to say this buddy mechanic hasn't been exploited as fully as it might have. If these expendables get killed it makes no difference, apart from the fact that it's often a little harder to fight off the masses without their help. You might miss out on a few snippets of speech appear if you don't keep certain people alive, but the whole package is completely linear in all other respects. Despite this, it won't spoil your enjoyment; you'll be too busy messing around with the physics to care one way or the other.

Finishing the main game also unlock the old mainstay of Max Payne, New York Minute, which basically tasks you with finishing any of the game's levels as quickly as possible, recording your time once you do. Elsewhere, the excellent Dead Man Walking mode also unlocks, which places Max in a choice of five enclosed environments from the game and tasks you with surviving for as long as possible against endlessly respawning enemies. But as far as multiplayer goes, there's once again no means of duking it out with some pals, although the mod community will presumably be kept busy, extending the life of what is an often insanely entertaining single player game.

A Fall To Grace

In almost every sense, Max Payne 2 feels like a complete action game, a Die Hard gaming equivalent, keeping the pace intense throughout, supplementing it with some excellent over-the-top melodrama, and never taking itself too seriously - what other game blatantly rips the piss out of itself the way Max Payne 2 does with its Dick Justice and Lord And Ladies TV interludes? It's likely to be deemed too similar to the original to attract too many converts, but it's short, it's sweet, and it's been put together with so much style it frankly embarrasses the ham-fisted efforts of most other developers.

9 / 10

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Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (82) Latest comment 8 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Razz #1 8 years ago

    1st!! :)

    Max is back from nowhere. I didn't even know this was coming out. :o
    Edited by 2 at 20/10/03 @ 14:14

  • striker #2 8 years ago

    How does it compare in terms of linearity with the first one?

  • krudster #3 8 years ago

    Entirely linear.

  • gamesb*tch #4 8 years ago

    hmmm must be playing a different game... however, if you like one you'll certainly like this as it's not... entirely... different... limp rag doll enemies and leather jacket of supreme explosion denial notwithstanding

  • striker #5 8 years ago

    Entirely linear.

    Not a bad thing for those of us with less time to play. These shorter games should be sold at a lower price though.

  • krudster #6 8 years ago

    Not different really, just better. Better story, better graphics, better AI, better controls. Better.

    It's like going to see a dumb action movie. You know what's going to happen, the popcorn tastes the same, the coke's still strangely flat, even the burger tastes the same, but you're still a happy chappy.
    You're right about the leather jacket though! No amount of explosions can mess up the Teflon coat.

  • ssuellid #7 8 years ago

    Anything of interest to those of us who thought the first one was rather average/dull/crap etc?

  • Razz #8 8 years ago

    "Molotov cocktail at the same time as firing, which makes for a useful addition while you're frantically diving around. "

    /Wipes drool from cheek

  • Hicksy #9 8 years ago

    i'll take one please :D

  • binky #10 8 years ago

    nice review.
    will definately get this after loving the last one. have the annoying as hell dream levels been removed?

  • retr0gamer #11 8 years ago

    Didn't like the first game and don't like this one either. It's basically the same game with prettier graphics and a new bullet time system that is meant to be revolutionary but you will have a hard time trying to see whats so different about it. For anyone that found the first game dull and repetitive and found the story annoying and crap then don't bother with it. Anyone looking for more of the same then you won't be disappointed.

    one final point. The story is dire and most of the characters, especially the female characters, could have been replaced with cardboard cut outs and nobody would have noticed.

  • krudster #12 8 years ago

    No. I honestly think if you didn't like the first one, then move along, nothing more to see here.

  • krudster #13 8 years ago

    Like I said, it's a love it or hate it scenario here. Personally I loved the storyline, but there you go. Horses for courses.

  • krudster #14 8 years ago

    The dream sequences are back, but they're more drug sequences. Lovely ripply effect, but more surreal and less annoying.

  • BradlayLaw #15 8 years ago

    I enjoyed it greatly. 6-7hrs through first time round and it's taken me about two hours to get halfway through on the next difficulty. The havoc physics add so much to the game.

  • Fizzy #16 8 years ago

    I want to get it, but damn, its really short and no MP, should make it cheaper.

  • binky #17 8 years ago

    less annoying = good coz i kept falling off the red blood line!

    come one guys, its got to go without saying, if u didnt like the original then ur never really gonna like a game called Maz Payne 2 !! :/

  • krudster #18 8 years ago

    Well, come on, most places will charge only £30 anyway. £24.99 online! How cheap do you want it?!

  • lost_soul #19 8 years ago

    Had a go on a mates imported (probably dodgy) copy at the weekend and really loved it.

    I never really liked the first game, but I had to be dragged away from this. The physics stuff, whilst not having a direct effect on the gameplay is a load of fun to mess about with. I spent ages simply knocking boxes and barrels over/off ledges!

    Oh, there's a way to play as Mona nekkid!

  • striker #20 8 years ago

    OK, it's cheap if you consider console games pricing, but it's same price as most PC games.

  • krudster #21 8 years ago

    Fair point, but do you really think a publisher would be dim enough to discount a guaranteed blockbusting hit to £20 in the run up to Christmas? You all know full well it'll be cheaper in a few months time, so just hang on if you want to save some cash.

  • striker #22 8 years ago

    Oh I know no one would do that! They could even charge a few more based on the comercial success of the first one!!

    I'm just saying it would be fair. Won't happen though.

  • Dirtbox #23 8 years ago

    How odd, I didn't really enjoy it all that much. It was fun and all that, but it just didn't appeal to me after some extended play. Was the same old on the rails graphics card benchmark game I played with the first one. Oh well, maybe I'm wierd or something.

  • Rahul #24 8 years ago

    Great, now I've got that Muse song in my head...

    Good review! Refreshing insight compared to the likes of IGN or Gamespot...

  • gamesb*tch #25 8 years ago

    If I can't buy it for less than 20 quid within two weeks* then I owe you a pint...





    * don't forget that Gamestation do trade in on PC games =P

  • gamesb*tch #26 8 years ago

    by the way krud, it was a well written review - keep up the quality work!

  • striker #27 8 years ago

    Dirtbox, I also hated the concept of the first one due to its linearity. There's only one way and one choice of things to do. It's not original nor groudbraking. Limited replay value due to the linearity.... and I could go on.


    But in the end I finished the game and it didn't feel like an obligation to do so, it was fun.

    That I can't say of many games

  • lost_soul #28 8 years ago

    How to get naked Mona (copied from arstechnica forum post)

    1) Make a shortcut to the game's exe file.
    2) Change the Target field to this:
    "C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Max Payne 2\MaxPayne2.exe" -developerkeys -screenshot
    3) Start a new game or load one you have saved.
    4) Use PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN to scroll through models. You will get Nude Mona
    quicker if you use PAGE UP.
    5) Pressing F3 will allow you to move the camera around freely. Press F3 again
    to set the camera and regain control of your character.
    6) Pressing F10 will make a screen shot in your Max Payne 2 directory.


    Sad I know, but look, SHE HAS NO CLOTHES ON!!!
    (no genitals either)

  • Shivoa #29 8 years ago

    On Friday this will be mine, after reading that review I'm more eager than ever.

    >GF4 Ti4600 never once stuttered even with everything turned up to full detail.

    I remember we had control of things like Anisotropic Filtering level in the original, was it smooth even with that turned to the max (at 1024x768) or will 4600 owners have to scale back just a bit to get it silky smooth?

  • krudster #30 8 years ago

    For our gay readers, is there a nude Max?
    Thought not.

  • krudster #31 8 years ago

    Silky silky smooooooth. I played it on a widescreen 50" plasma screen at 1360x768 and it was simply immense. Easily the best looking game out there at the moment with every single turned up to max (boom boom).

  • krudster #32 8 years ago

    Thank you Mr G-Bitch. Your cheque is in the post.

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #33 8 years ago

    Not all our readers are gay! :)

  • Shivoa #34 8 years ago

    Sweet. Now all I have to do is keep away from the BT ISOs until Friday even when I know I'll have a new 9800 Pro to play with arriving sometime this week (tomorrow if Crucial do their normal next day delivery).

  • UncleLou #35 8 years ago

    it's worth mentioning that our now relatively humble P4 2.2GHz/512MB/GF4 Ti4600 never once stuttered even with everything turned up to full detail

    Humble? Damn, be careful what you say in your reviews, you might hurt someone. ;-)

    Anyway, nice review, and I'll be geting this without a doubt. People complaining about the story in MP have somehow misunderstood the concept of the game imo. *shrugs*

    edit: typo
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 15:48

  • striker #36 8 years ago

    I agree with Unclelou.
    Just look at him: he's the one preaching about Gothic and still has fun playing Max Payne!

  • krudster #37 8 years ago

    Yeah, shrug, you can't like everything can you? Most games don't even bother with a story. And you can skip it after all.

  • lost_soul #38 8 years ago

    I'd love to see MP3 with an improved version of the physics system and dynamic lighting like Splinter Cell or Doom3. Imagine knocking a light down a stairwell and seeing realtime shadows generated as it tumbles.

  • krudster #39 8 years ago

    Maybe the next step is to fuse the action of Max Payne with the stealth of Splinter Cell, with insane physics and lighting that has a distinct effect on the gameplay.

  • lost_soul #40 8 years ago

    Krudster, from what you've seen, how does the physics engine in Max Payne 2 compare with Doom3s?

  • Errol #41 8 years ago

    I'll be getting this one then !

  • mrharvest #42 8 years ago

    Is there any chance there won't be a Max Payne 3 really?

    I didn't think so.

  • krudster #43 8 years ago

    Max Payne's is off the shelf Havok physics, but Remedy has done a really good job of making them look cool - and after all, that's what Max Payne's always been about.

    ID has shown a few bits and bobs, but we're not really in a position to pass on an accurate comment yet. I suspect Doom III's will be excellent once ID's happy with it.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 16:23

  • krudster #44 8 years ago

    Funnily enough we should be seeing DX2 later this week with any luck. I doubt it will be quite as action mentalist as MP2 somehow though!

  • krudster #45 8 years ago

    Not sure, should be almost finished one way or the other.

    On the physics front, it does occasionally make its way into the game, with a few scripted events to negotiate that involve things busting up. In firefights, I doubt it makes any difference at all, apart from just looking ridiculously cool.

  • Shadrach #46 8 years ago

    I think if anything would make me buy this game it would be the physics implementation, I'd imagine it does add a lot more randomness to the gun battles. Its a possible for me. Any news on a demo?

  • Shivoa #47 8 years ago

    >Funnily enough we should be seeing DX2 later this week with any luck.

    Gold or in development shot? I know it is meant to be out early next month but after the slippage of the Summer I keep expecting everything else to slip as well. Also any word on UT2004 or when you'll get a look at that?

    Edit: and the EG clock is still about 10-15mins fast.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 17:04

  • krudster #48 8 years ago

    Ha! See Jak II review for 'emphasising the positive too much'...

    You guys.

    You kill me!

  • krudster #49 8 years ago

    "Cheap Rockstar shine"

    I'd love to see a game with the expensive version then...

    You guys.

  • Soul_quake #50 8 years ago

    krudster: Can you guys ever get it right?!?! ;-)

    Jak II - Too positive
    MP2 - Too positive
    Halo - Too positive
    PES 3 - Too positve

    Just make the next review - irrespective of what it is - completely negative - balance out the energies :)

  • krudster #51 8 years ago

    I think our learned readers know that we're very very rarely "too positive"!

    Oh the irony.

    If we're positive, there's usually a very good reason why.

    That's not to day we don't point out the negatives in among our glowing commendations, if they're warranted, it's just this time I really don't believe the story is shit, or that it is too repetitive or 'too short' or any number of criticisms that are trawled out whenever someone mentions MP. They're valid criticisms, but I shouldn't have to point them out in advance just to cover my arse. You lot will happily spout all that for me!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 18:10

  • krudster #52 8 years ago

    Ian, if you register, they will only appear a few times a day. I've been here all day, and they've popped up three times - and the close button is pretty clear.

  • AOFanboi #53 8 years ago

    I will probably agree with these guys on the matter.

  • krudster #54 8 years ago

    He's on the money. If you don't like the first, the second one won't change your mind.

  • inpHilltr8r #55 8 years ago

    Looks like cool mindless fun, will be buying after the inevitable PC upgrade. Looking forward to Deus Ex 2, if it is indeed dumbed down. First one was overcomplicated IMHO (making it the anti-Max of FPSs). Spesh that damn inventory system. One wrong weapon choice, which didn't become clear until it was way too late, ended up either having to cheat through a level, (which always ruins the fun), or revert to save about 8 hours earlier. Has to be a ferkin amazing game to make me throw away 8 hours of play...

  • Shivoa #56 8 years ago

    >Deus Ex 2, if it is indeed dumbed down

    Please God, don't let them kill DX:IW. The inventory system was a crucial addition to the RPG level of DX for me. I can see how a mainly FPSer would rather not have it but if you are into the whole RPG feel then it was a great move and made you think about what you might need in the future (along with the upgrades so you picked what you were good at using and made it work).

  • Smugglarn #57 8 years ago

    9/10? Toss my salad you bitches!

    A sane opinion: http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-10-17 &res=l
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 19:47

  • TennesseeStiff #58 8 years ago

    Me Like this game.

    Funnily enough, people bringing up Deus Ex vs Max Payne is really interesting. Yes Max Payne had cheesy story and yes it was completely linier but it was a game that never took itself seriously. Deus Ex on the other hand feed the player a silly story with silly dialogue and took itself entirely seriously.

    I played through 3/4 of Dues Ex and just thought to myself "I don?t care!" and stopped. There was a great game in there somewhere but it needed story, art design, and script work from scratch.

    Good review. So when is it out here in Europe?

  • Shivoa #59 8 years ago

    Friday

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #60 8 years ago

    Ian(not Ian)
    20-Oct-03 17:06:55 Would you please get rid of that F-Zero GX AD which is popping up every single time I change pages.

    This is probably because your client is not accepting our cookie... The cookie will mean you won't see it more than once every 2 hours.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/03 @ 22:10

  • krudster #61 8 years ago

    /tosses salad like a bitch

    I think you only have to hang around the Dick Justice episodes to realise that it's a kind of knowing seriousness in the story.
    Who cares anyway? Shoot stuff, skip the scenes...

  • Shivoa #62 8 years ago

    >the sound is a bit messy when you use 5.1 you cant hear the voices to clear

    Is it only MP2? EAX and 5.1 can do very funky things when it wants to in all games and that sometimes screws up (I find) when a game actually uses your surround system.

  • krudster #63 8 years ago

    I might have known you'd be back to deliver your two pennies worth. Still stand by your Judge Dredd comments?

  • krudster #64 8 years ago

    You could also 'finish' an entire 24 box set in a couple of days, but no-one complains that being £34.99...

  • UncleLou #65 8 years ago

    I am more and more less worried by the length or rather shortness of games - at least it gives you the chance to finish a game once in a while - though I certainly don't complain if a really good game is long, provided it keeps its quality throughout.

    I can see though that it absoulutely is an issue when you don't want to/can't spend cash on too many games and therefore prefer one with longer gameplay.

    Anyway, I think it's safe to say that Remedy wasn't sitting around doing nothing all the time, so if it was longer, we'd have to wait quite a bit longer I guess. Which would mean they couldn't yet start programming MP3 or whatever theit next project is. Which would mean we'd have to wait even longer for that. :-)
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/03 @ 12:37

  • krudster #66 8 years ago

    When you can walk into any shop in the country and pick up an armful of games for next to nothing that are relatively new (i.e. less than three years old), I think it's a bloody bonus when you can finish a game in less than 10 hours.

    I think the long-game vs short game argument is valid when games are at full price, but 99% of all games ever released are discounted to death within no time (or can be picked up second hand cheap).

    Ask yourselves, honestly, how many games have you got sitting on your shelves (or on your hard drives) that you've barely managed to play more than 20% through. If my experience of my friends and 20 years of buying games count for anything, the answer is shitloads.

    If games were shorter, we'd not only get more out of them, they'd probably be a lot cheaper to make, could probably be sold for less, and we'd end up buying more of them.

    Less is more.

  • UncleLou #67 8 years ago

    Hm, I doubt they'd get cheaper, tbh, unless you mean really short, like 2 or 3 hours.

    I guess that it's just a consequence of games becoming more and more sophisticated to program, with the advanced graphics and audio (and AI/physics , to a degree) we expect today. So instead of upping the development time even further (which probably isn't really an option), games become shorter.

  • Vex #68 8 years ago

    I totally agree with the points about short games at least giving you a chance to finish them. I can understand some people getting annoyed by it, but with the amount of time I get to play games, and the quality of games coming out around this time, I like the fact I will be able to reach the end of these games.

    I guess at the end of the day that is what the reviews are for. They say short, so if you want long don't buy it, (or wait until it is cheaper).

  • Shivoa #69 8 years ago

    Depends on the genre a lot IMO. A 7 hour RPG you probably wouldn't get that into but, as the movies show, you can blow a hell of a lot up in just a few hours and give the punters what they want from an action title.

  • DarkEula #70 8 years ago

    It is so nice that a reviewer that gets a game free thinks that paying full price for a 5 hour game is worth it. (end sarcasm)

    When will review sites start sticking up for gamers instead of pimping for developers.

  • UncleLou #71 8 years ago

    Eh? When I as a costumer know how long a game is, and I know if it's good or crap, why do I need the reviewer to tell me if it's worth it? I'd like to meet that decision myself, frankly.

  • jaa #72 8 years ago

    I played two thirds of the first one on PS2, then the whole game on Xbox. Liked it a lot (especially the Xbox version). One for December then.

    As for it being short: I don't mind short games that much as long as they're good. Very long games tend to get boring through repetition (even rpg's, unless they have a really good story to justify the length).

    One other note: in a time when every developer tries to make all-in-one games, Max Payne is just a shooter. I don't mind that too. The tendency to merge genres leaves me cold. I don't really want a shooter/platformer/racer/extreme sports game. I prefer a shooter, a platformer, a racer and I don't like extreme sports games that much so I just don't buy those. That is probably the main reason why I still hesitate about Jak II (I don't want a jak of all trades* but a really good platformer). Finally, I'm glad that fact didn't cause a lower score, as it did a few times in the past (just one example: Panzer Dragoon Orta).

    * I'll be getting me coat in a minute...
    Edited by 2 at 21/10/03 @ 18:30

  • krudster #73 8 years ago

    Wrong. I don't recall your comments, and I apologise if you've already made them in a forum post.
    So. you don't like MP2, CS, Now there's a surprise.

    What about DvD??

    I'm about to review it. I'm dying to know. I want to know about the game that's going to sell 10 million copies...

    Really.

    Gotta get a dubyathink.
    Edited by 2 at 22/10/03 @ 00:25

  • L0cky #74 8 years ago

    Would you pay £50 for 50,000 levels of Manic Miner? I wouldn't discard the playtime vs cost issue but the quality of the entertainment is far more important.

    I didn't really like the original Max Payne but I loved MP2 even though it is more of the same. The difference here is I had no hope of it becoming something it isn't and managed to enjoy it for what it was. So if you disliked the first one due to it's constant linearity then you might like MP2 just because you expect nothing else. It plays like an 8 hour action movie with the added bonus of being a game.

  • krudster #75 8 years ago

    Like I said, when a game is £40 I can sympathise with the long game vs short game argument, but show me a game other than GTA 3 or Vice City that held its full price for more than a few months.
    Most games (in my experience) can be picked up for less than £15 within a year of release (sometimes less). My argument really centres around the bulk of games that use off the shelf middleware, rather than the real boundary breakers (the IDs of this world).
    The fact is 99% of games can't and don't justify their price. Surely a publisher making a shorter game from the outset (maybe splitting it up across mutliple releases like the .hack games) makes it a cheaper game to make (assuming they use middleware first and don't have to build all the tools and tech themselves).

  • #76 8 years ago

    I hope the public version of 'Roo' is ..

    Wait. What am I doing in here again?!

  • Big-Swiss #77 8 years ago

    lets be honest, after the first one (the second dream made me so mad, I allmost broke the TV) but outher then that, once you got used to the controllers, even a gamer that sucks seemed (no clue how to write that word) to just zap trough the game, so boys and girls I will wait a year, buy it for 10$ play it at give it away for next x-mas! lol

  • Roo #78 8 years ago

    Vermin wrote :"I hope the public version of 'Roo' is ..

    Wait. What am I doing in here again?! "

    What u mean?

  • addam12 #79 8 years ago

    I really feel this review http://www.actiontrip.com/reviews/maxpayne2the fallofmaxpayne.phtml
    is right on the money. I know there are Tons of work that goes into making a game as beautiful as MP2 but to be honest, I would rather wait
    longer for a longer game. Especially of this calibur!! Doom III keeps getting pushed back and that doesn't bother me one bit. It tells me there still trying to perfect it and most gamers will probably say it was worth the wait!

    Someone said that since it's early release, Rockstar can get started on MP3. Well most should wait till MP3. Then you can buy MP2 for what it's worth and hopefully (not likely) MP3 will be longer.

  • dynarama #80 8 years ago

    Got it for £20 at Game. Trying to finish it off so I can get money back but having a blast so far.

    That funhouse level is phenomenal. Superb work.
    Edited by 1 at 01/01/04 @ 07:19

  • Errol #81 8 years ago

    I'm in love with Mona Sax.

  • holy paladin X #82 8 years ago

    don't get me wrong but i love max payne, but its not my fave game my fave game is jak 2 on the ps2 it mighnt be old to u but i love it

  • holy paladin X #83 8 years ago

    aw someone can tell me when the game is comin out cause i'm dyin to try it or play it or somethin u know what i mean