Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

COMMENT TO THE PC-VERSION:

"Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne" is the sequel the brilliant "Max Payne", and is one of the best titles available. The gameplay remains largely the same, but more refined and the graphics have been vastly improved. The look of the main character Max Payne has also been changed, and he has been given a more mature look this time around. In the game you will play Max Payne for most of the time, but sometimes you will need to take control of a female character named Mona Sax. The brilliant bullet-time mode is also improved in this game, and Max Payne has a new set of stylish movements that he is only able to perform in bullet-time mode. These new moves have little to no effect on the gameplay, but they look extremely cool. In the game you will play through a film-noir story, told using the in-game graphics engine and the graphic novel like in the previous game, that I think is brilliant. Playing this game is like having the lead-role in one of John Woo`s movies, as you take on hundreds of mobsters using a great variety of weapons. Playing this game on PC using a keyboard + a mouse for moving and aiming works incredibly well. The only possibly drawback in this game is that you need a very powerful computer for the game to play like it was meant to be played. All in all, this is one of the finest action-titles available now, that all fans of "Max Payne" should welcome with open arms.

10/10

What to say about Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne? Let's break it down: GAMEPLAY - Extremely Entertaining. I haven't had this much fun in a 3rd person shooter since the original Tomb Raider. The levels are fresh and challenging without being at all frustrating. You have different objectives other than just staying alive and finding the exit. The cooperation levels actually feel like your AI partner is out there watching your back (and vice versa when its your turn to provide a key game character some protection). And what can I say: bullet time still rocks! GRAPHICS - Stunning. The textures are rich and realistic...right down to the skin blemishes. The facial modeling could be a little better as eye movement doesn't follow focus like in Unreal 2. Game physics, however, is extraordinary. When characters hit the ground their limbs bounce about and give the appearances of actual weight. And the motion capture sequences for the cinematic segments are simply amazing! VOICE ACTING - Superb. If Mona Sax sounds familiar, that's Wendy Hoopes who does the voice of Jane Lane from MTV's cartoon series Daria...good to see she's expanding her voice over work into the gaming industry. But by far the most amusing voice over work here is by Fred Berman who plays the memorable role of Vinnie Gognitti--the foul-mouthed, anime loving, mobster punk who adds much needed comical relief to the story ala Joe Pesci-style. MUSIC - Wonderful. Max's theme is performed superbly on cello by Perttu Kivilaakso. The recurring variations of the song "Late Goodbye" by Poets of the Fall throughout the game adds a nice touch. SOUND FX - Awesome. Everything from simple riccochet sounds to the loudest explosions--feels like you're right in the middle of a good John Woo movie. OVERALL IMPRESSION - Best Game of 2003. For those who claim the game plays out too fast, wake up and smell the gun powder. I've finished it three different times and have noticed subtle things I've missed in each instance. Watch the different shows on the in-game television sets. Pick up that ringing phone in the second to the last dream sequence. Use that computer surveylence terminal in the hospital. Complete the game three times at the three different difficulty levels for an alternate story ending. A game like this is like watching the first Matrix movie...you simply have to play it again to fully appreciate its genius.

As a sequel, it surpasses its predecessor in every way. As a video game, it surpasses the very boundaries people thought allowable, and possible. The photorealistic effects, ingenious use of lighting and incredible colour palette mixed with a thumping and brooding soundtrack (Poets of the Fall) create the world of Max Payne. It is slick but incredibly violent and woven extremely taught; the love affair between Mona and Max if anything is simply beautifully told; and the storyline itself is conceptually impressive. Max Payne 2 is a game for mature players: and it will take multiple replays to fully understand the achievement set down by Rockstar and Take 2.

The continuation to Max Payne is similar in gameplay to its predecessor except for the newly added Bullet-time reload which actually very effective in instances, but that's O.K. because the gameplay was good to begin with. secondly, the story proves that Max Payne is easily one of the most ruthlessly mature video games out today.

9.5/10

Rated M for Strong Violence,Blood,Language and Sexual Content.

Max Payne 2 The Fall Of Max Payne is the 2003 sequel to the 2001 hit game Max Payne.In my opinion Max Payne 2 is just as good as the first.I actually played this game before the original.There isn't much of an improvement in the sequel.The graphics are a tiny bit better but other than that its the same as the first.But the first one was good and so was this one.Don't be fooled by the romantic looking cover just like the first Max Payne this one has plenty of blood and violence(and the ability to kill in slow motion) but unlike the first one this one contains more profanity including some f-words.The PC version of the game is amazing.The PS2 version on the other hand is not that amazing.When I got a PS2,I got Max Payne 2.I remembered it being awesome on the PC.The PS2 version is not a very good port.The graphics are worse and the bullettime is for some reason in black and white.However, if you never played the PC version, you will like the PS2 version.I heard Max Payne 1 is good on the PS2 and I will get that one as well.Max Payne 2 is an excellent sequel despite little improvement over the first one.I recommend both!

10/10