As if one run wasn't deadly enough, Max Payne is back for more, and once again, he's bringing his A-Game to the PC
Truth be told, the game, to me, shines more in purposes of story telling than a sheer action game, but it is certainly saying something when I also find this to be one of the more enjoyable action games I have played, despite the game's "last generation" graphics engine. The heart pounding thrill of firing a hail of bullets from the nozzles of two Ingram Uzi's while diving side ways in slow motion, barely evading demise yourself is quite an expirience. What's more, as said, the story is tremendously engrossing in the way that it is depicted, in a dark, graphic novel, smoking gun, game-noir style. Granted, the story, -as well as the gameplay- holds a few quirks, and questionable relevances and developments, but it is none the less, incredibly enjoyable.
As far as the gameplay quirks, there are, admittedly, several, that are entirely minor and are hardly ditracting. What does ditract from the fun to be had, is a real sense of (despite the unravelling story) repitition. Sure, shooters are defined by the shooting of enemies, but, the user begins the game the same way they ended it, in a blaze of gunfiring, slow motion diving, and painkiller popping glory... For what its worth, the game is an absolute blast, though slightly derivative, repeditive, and almost too easy at the default setting, (which the user is forced to play the first run through).
I can safely recommend this game to fans of the franchise, though, to new comers, I suggest a play through of the original Max Payne, which, to be honest is the superior preformer. Also, please note that this game was reviewed specifically on the PC, as the other platforms seemed to provide a far less enchanting expirience.
Overall, its a great title, with my last and only gripe being the length. You may not get much bang for your buck if you purchased it at full price, but with age, and the lowering of cost, not only do you get a hell of a lot of bang, but you also save a few bucks in the end. Good things come to those who wait, and those who waited a few years back, anxiously for this title, should come away pleased.
Overall Score: 8.5 Defining Features: Exhilirating Gunplay & Great Story-Telling Expirience
Notable Slip-Ups: Fairly Short, AI Leaves something to be Desired (on the default, mandatory setting