Bullet Time Strategies

This section provides general strategies for Max Payne 2, including bullet time tactics.

• If you're trying to limit the number of times you die or how much damage you suffer, it's a wise choice to enter bullet time before you open doors or round corners. New rooms often contain enemies and you will often be surprised by a foe after rounding a corner. Activate bullet time before entering a room or rounding a corner and you can get a jump on any of the enemies in the next area.
• Having just cleared an area, disable bullet time and wait for it to replenish before continuing onward. Bullet time is your biggest ally in the game. Gunfights are extremely difficult if you aren't using bullet time. Enemies can fire their weapons very quickly; additionally, the enemies are quite accurate. Combine the two and you'll be lucky to survive most firefights without bullet time. So don't enter heavily populated areas with minimal bullet time. Be patient and wait for your bullet time to replenish either significantly or completely.
• Bullet time slows down enemy actions so much that you can even see the enemies' firearm projectiles and dodge them as necessary. When an enemy shoots (when you see their muzzle flash), move to the right or left (you could even shoot-dodge) to avoid the projectiles. Don't stand in one place or you will be an extremely easy target even under the influence of bullet time.
• Careful weapon selection can help you survive tough encounters. Shotguns are best used in close-quarters, such as when you surprise an enemy around a corner or lure them into a doorway; desert eagles are excellent at long-range because of their accuracy; and the MP5's zoom makes it an all-purpose weapon with good close and long-range power. Monitor your ammunition as you traverse a level and be prepared to switch to weapons as your ammo supply dictates.
• You can only carry eight painkillers at a time, so if you are currently holding eight, have suffered some damage, and discover a medical crate with a few more bottles of pain killers, don't pass them up. Instead, use some of your painkillers in your inventory to make room for the bottles you just found.
• Headshots inflict more damage. Aim for the head in every battle to dispatch enemies quickly. Obviously this is much easier with the help of bullet time so use the technique in combination. Precision weapons are much easier to use when aiming for the head. The assault rifles (MP5, M4 Carbine), sniper rifle, and the desert eagle are excellent in this regard.
• A good strategy when encountering a new group of enemies is to try and lure them through a doorway or around a corner giving you the opportunity to ambush them with bullet time and a huge dose of weaponry. Enemies often respond to noise so try and alert them with weapon fire or an explosion. They'll also react on sight. Let the enemies see you and they'll move toward your position. Hide around a corner or just beyond a doorway and wait for them to approach. You can even adjust the camera angle so you can see them approach but remain out of their line of sight.
• Enemies won't necessary perish in a single shot. Watch their hands for a sign on whether or not the enemy has been eliminated. If the enemy drops their weapon, you can shift your target crosshair to another foe.