The third instalment in the Max Payne series is more style over substance, but is still a very good game.
The third instalment sees a location shift to Sao Paulo, Brazil as Max becomes a embittered, drug and alcohol addicted private security contractor for a rich family, instead of the embittered, drug and alcohol addicted cop he used to be in the first games. That is not to say that New Jersey is left completely behind, as several flashback sequences fill in back story and return to his home town, giving context for why Max ended up in southern america. The story is the reason to play this game, make no mistake. It is a gritty and stylish crime thriller with a truly compelling character that despite his nature and the mistakes he has made, is still a good man, its just life has thrown him the worlds worst curve ball. It makes for addictive viewing, making you want to get past the shooting sequences to see where the story will go next and rivalling the best crime fiction any other medium can offer.
It is sad then, that the actual gameplay gets in the way of seeing the story. Sure it drives the game forward and provides something to do, but the shooting just doesn't feel particularly good, with a soft lock on that really doesn't help that much and seemingly over powered enemies that can take you out much quicker then is really fair.
The series' trademark bullet time is in full effect, and a tap of R1 and a push of the stick in a direction will throw you into 'shootdodge' slowing time and making hitting enemies much easier. The lock on can fail to find the closest threat however, and even when enemies are standing right next to you can the shootdodge be of little use. When enemies start busting out grenades but you are never given them, it gets a little tedious. Admittedly they are not over used, but since the enemies are quite good at flanking and using cover, and using said explosives to flush you out of cover, why are you not able to do the same? its a confusing design decision.
To be fair, once I switched from normal to easy the game became a lot more enjoyable, and the great story really started to shine through the frustration that kept arising from the shooting. The only problem from there was the extremely linear nature of the game, which depending on your point of view is both a good and bad thing. Exploration is encouraged by parts for golden guns, which are enhanced versions of all the firearms in the game. They don't add much, but you can get fair amount just by having a quick scan of a particular section of a level, so you might as well.
So Max Payne 3 is style over substance, and style it has in spades. The screen effects to show Max is constantly off his head on something, or in the throws of the mother of all hangovers looks cool and really adds to the atmosphere, along with Max's abject hatred of the people he is supposed to be protecting. Max Payne is one of gaming's truly great characters, not 'cool' in the same way Master Chief or Solid Snake is, but a compelling and complex character set in a world that feels real.
Is Max Payne 3 a classic? to be honest no, but it is a great game worth playing if only for the story. It doesn't compete with the best shooters available, but it looks and sounds cool and oozes more style in any given minute than a lot of games produce over 12 hours. Recommended, but only for the story.