Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Review (no fat)

Game Description

Max Payne is beyond a game, it's a dark, gloomy saga that transcends the boundaries of gaming and reality. Such is the intensity of the plot that you forget you are playing a game and end up walking, talking and breathing Max Payne.

The first episode depicted the tale of an officer whose wife and child are murdered by gangsters. On a quest to nail the culprits, Max walks the streets, killing every gangster that stands in his way and, in turn, battling the memories that torment his soul. Max successfully cleans the city of all the crud and is reinstated as a police officer.

While its multi-award winning predecessor focused on Max Payne's individual experiences, Max Payne 2 focuses on the romantic inclinations of the police officer and a femme fatale - Mona Sax - who incidentally, does a cameo in Max Payne's first edition. In the first game, Max presumes that Mona is dead and that he had lost someone who he had an unknown bond with. Assigned the job of handling a homicide, Max is reunited with Mona. What develops between the two is a secret that unfolds as the game progresses. Could there be room for love amidst all the violence and trauma that seem to follow Max Payne?

So how can one describe Max Payne 2? A graphic crime novel, a dark gangster movie or a sinister computer game packed with lots of hooks and tricks? Its all this and much more.

Max Payne 2 Gameplay

You step into the boots of Max Payne, a police officer who's on a mission to clear the streets of evils. Alternatively, you also get a chance to control Mona Sax when the situation demands it. This added element means that you get to play the game with a different perspective each time you switch between the two central characters. A valuable enhancement that significantly boosts gameplay.

The developers use an innovative technique to move the plot forward. Comic book style cut scenes unravel the story and act as the glue that holds the plot together. They also set the pace for the sequence or mission to follow…along with providing a breather in between frantic bullet exchanges with gangsters.

Max Payne 2 Controls

Getting used to the controls takes a bit of time as the central character is capable of performing a wide range of actions. Actions like Bullet Time are complex yet vital for survival and should be part of a gamer’s repertoire. The default settings are a bit tricky but the controls are customizable and can be reassigned to suit your preferences.

Max Payne 2 AI

Action scenes in Max Payne 2 are quite hard and the enemies are powered by significantly improved AI, making them harder to kill. You'll find yourself in a crossfire often and Max Payne happens to be pretty vulnerable. Thankfully, he packs a decent arsenal of weapons (including an AK-47 and some new guns) that look and act realistic and can unleash some serious carnage.

Smart use of Bullet Time, ducking and dodging, using props as covers and well aimed shots are essential during exchanges. If you are hit, you can revive yourself with painkillers that are conveniently placed all over the map.

Max Payne 2 - Graphics

Rockstar has won many awards and they owe it mostly to the incredible graphics engine that the game has under its hood. The Havoc Physics engine ensures that moving objects (and people), falling, exploding etc. look as realistic as they can be.

Similarly, the slow motion gunplay of Bullet Time adds a great element to gameplay and is beautiful to watch. The scenery and all its elements are beautifully rendered with great attention to detail. The Havok Engine is a great innovation and it helps build up a great advantage for the game over its prequel.

The third person approach and the effective use of camera angles enable gamers to have a great view of the action. What catches your eye is the brilliant graphical detailing. A major enhancement is in the behavior of props. Shattering glass, tripping over objects, bullets leaving marks on inanimate objects all look like they just popped out of a Hollywood flick.

Max Payne 2 - Sound

This game has plenty of dialogues all done by professionals in voice acting…making it more movie-like. Weapons sound the way they should and special effects like explosions are very realistic. The background scores add to the dark nature of the game and provide a great experienced during those late night gangster killing sprees.

Max Payne 2 - Summing Up

When so much thought and effort goes into the development of a game, you can only expect a truly memorable experience. Max Payne 2 and its predecessor are both once in a lifetime releases that ooze brilliance from every pore. A gripping plot, breathtaking graphics and visuals, superior sound, incredible game physics and fast paced action makes Max Payne 2 a title that Xbox owners should own and cherish.

Max Payne 2 - Cost

Max Payne 2, for Xbox, currently retails at $19.99US at the time of writing.