Max Payne

"Two words...Bullet Time."

Max Payne is one of those games that has made a name for itself on three systems now and it seems as though it won’t go any further. Where it all started is here on the PC, but eventually branched out into the home systems such as Play Station 2 and the Microsoft X-Box. Considering that this game is produced to run on a Microsoft product, you would figure that the game isn’t any different than it’s console system counterpart and you would be one hundred percent correct! Giving you control of Max Payne and running you through the story, you’ll only need to have a control pad to work with in order to enjoy this wonderful and rather involved game.

As with most computer games, the results that I got with my game play was different than it may be with yours. For the most part, the game is nothing more than a carbon copy of the arcade machine and it is worth playing if you’ve got some bucks to spend. However, if your computer isn’t set up to handle the speed and the different visuals that you find here, you may find that some of the fatalities cause the program to shut down or cause illegal operations. Beware, as always because the files on this game take up a small portion of your drive, and if you try to delete it, it could screw everything up!

What is featured in Max Payne is something that the Matrix did years ago with the focus of Bullet Time. You’ll find that through the use of the commands, you can slow down the gunfights to a point of which you can dodge bullets, but aim and fire at enemies in real time. The ability to do this makes up for some extremely impressive if not awe-inspiring battles that have to be seen to be believed. However, what will really draw you in is the story, in which it can be compared to a crime drama the in the likes of Law and Order. Once you’ve gotten into the game, you’ll also find that it really is a game of skill and worth having if you like action and suspense.

The story takes place in New York City and you are in the role of Max Payne, a man without a family and framed for a murder that you didn’t commit. Through several portions of his experience, you’ll play out the scenes that will take you into the middle of a gang war in which you are no longer an ally to anyone and it’s you against both the cops and the crooks! The story line takes so many twists and turns and incorporates many of the different things that you would have found with Grand Theft Auto 3, but places such a “real-World” reference on things that you may be sitting there fairly immersed in the story line alone.

The game play is typical of other action games such as Syphon Filter in which you take control of Max and lead him through several different locations in an attempt to gain your revenge and clear your name. What you’ll find is that through successful gun fights with enemies and the collection of weapons, you will have the ability to pretty much take out whatever gets in your way and your sole purpose is to kill everything in sight. Portions of the game also feature some puzzle games that you must figure out in order to get into the next section of the game, but they are all relatively easy to complete.

Most of the action that takes place is done with an onscreen dot that allows you to aim and fire on whatever comes your way. Through these battles, you’ll be able to use Bullet Time in order to slow down the action and dodge bullets, which makes for some pretty impressive gunfights. While you’re in Bullet Time, you can aim your weapon at real time speed and fire off on whatever comes your way and get yourself out of various situations. However, you’re limited on Bullet Time by a little bar and once you deplete that, you need to wait for it to fill up again!

Through the game play, you’ll find that healing your character is done with pain pills and that the boss fights you go up against are nothing all that difficult. There are some portions of the game that force you to chase down enemies, or escort other characters through the different situations. If you’re not careful with Max, he’ll end up dead simply because he can only take so much damage and long falls will outright kill him. Now, if you’re thinking that this is a one time through game, it isn’t, because once you’ve completed the game, other modes of play with increased difficulty become available for you to play through and test your skills with.

Control is something that you have to learn to work with, because in order to get Max to move correctly, you have to use both of the analog sticks. One will move him forward and strafe, while the other will give him the ability to aim and turn in other directions. Now, if you’re still having problems, you can go through the training portion of the game and learn how to use all of the functions which is a plus and in all versions of the game, you shouldn’t have a problem learning what to do and how to do it. Beginners to games such as this may do well to use this function, because moving in Bullet Time takes plenty of practice and timing to complete.

Visually, the game is a dark and gritty trip through the world of Max Payne. In most situations, you’ll find that the detail featured here as well as the different locations all fit for something that is as violent themed and gritty as this title. The bullet time effects are pretty cool in which everything slows down, and although you really don’t see the waves of the bullets as they fly past, you get interesting cut scenes of enemies flying when you blow them away! One of the most interesting portions of the visuals is the way that it is set up in a movie fashion, and when you use the sniper rifle, you’ll find that it might as well be an action movie that you’re playing through and not a game.

The audio that you find here fits the mark, and the different sound effects that are featured really put you into the world of Max Payne. With most of the game being set in a dark, moody fashion, the only thing that you’ll hear with the music is when something important is about to happen or is when something does happen. Accentuation on important events is key and Max Payne does this with little or no problem. The sound effects come with gunfire; enemies talking to each other and the crisp, clean and bass filled explosions help carry the action along at a steady pace. Voice overs are all done to help the story along and it is something of a good feature with the overall story to have Max himself telling it to you!

Max Payne is one hell of a game that you really shouldn’t miss unless you’ve played it before on the PC. For all system owners who have an X-Box, a Play Station 2 and a PC, if you don’t have this game or haven’t played it, then you really should look into at least experiencing it once. There are several instances of real life, and the story of how a man goes from law abiding cop to vengeful murderer is something that will draw some adult gamers in. Visually pleasing and with a complex control that really accentuates the way the game is played for you, you’ll find that this is a solid buy at any rate!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/27/02, Updated 01/27/02