Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

"Dead Man Walking... Talking... and SHOOTING!"

Intro
Since the ending of Max Payne 1, Max is back working for the NYPD. Soon enough he runs into some familiar faces, including Vladimir Lem, Vinnie Gognitti, Alfred Woden, and Mona Sax. This compelling game is filled with twists and turns sparked by betrayal, greed, and vengeance.

Graphics: 8
Could've been better, could've been worse. Not as textured as a lot of games, a little boxier than I prefer, and just not as realistic as I hoped. Pictures I've seen look better than what the game actually is. Not to say that the graphics are bad though. They're decent, just they could have been better. Could've taken the time to make the people look more realistic and could've taken the time to texture things. I'd give the game an overall more realistic feel. But hey, I'm not really a ''Graphic Buff'' anyways. The graphics are decent, and that's all I need.

Presentation: 9.5
As before, we have the unique use of the graphic novel which, I think, is a great way to help tell the story. The shots are done very well and they're quite provacative, if I say so myself. Max Payne's narration is great, not to mention flawless. His voice really seems to suit the character, sounding true and sincere to what the game leads you to believe about Max Payne. The pain, struggle, and the determination shows in his voice in a very melodramatic way. I also like the way characters are introduced in the game. Not really something that has a major affect on the game, I just like the ''upgrade'' I suppose you could call it. I'd give this a 10/10, but I feel the Max Payne 1 deserves the 10/10, not this one. This one lacks SOMETHING that Max Payne 1 had. I can't really put my finger on it, but there's something that the first one had, that this one lacks. It may be that in the first one, Max was more of a wiseguy, but I feel that there is more to it than just that. I think in the first one, the graphic novel was just done better. Don't ask me how, I just like something about the first one better.

Gameplay: 10/10
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. This game seems to have a little, wait no, a LOT more shooting and killing than in the first one. Which, in my opinion, is a good thing. Sometimes I like to just take my dual ingrams, bust through the door and just shoot up the place. This game has that and more. You'll find your self trying to balance your self on planks, jumping off and to ledges, avoiding explosions, dodging bullets, acting as a sniper, and MUCH MUCH MUCH more. I'd tell you what, but I don't want to give away everything! It's not as repetitive as many ''Shoot 'em up'' games. There are a lot of different things to do, if you're like me, you'll be addicted to this game, because it just does NOT get boring.

Controls: 9/10
Similar to the first game, except now you have a button (R2 by default) that allows you to use your secondary weapon which consists of either a grenade, molotov cocktail, or just a good ol' fashion pistol whip. I wish he was able to punch and/or kick when disarmed, but he can't. That's definitely a bummer sometimes when you have been stripped of your weapons. One thing I wish were different is how fast Max can turn. Which IS NOT FAST AT ALL!!!! It has gotten me killed about 1, no 2, no 1,000 TIMES! I'll walk through a doorway and I'll turn left, but there are enemies on my right side, by the time I get turned around... wait, I don't get turned around, I die. That can be pretty frustrating. Another thing is, don't ask me what ''Auto-aim'' is supposed to do, because I've not been able to get it to work. But, overall, the controls are set up very well. I can shoot, dodge, jump, throw a cocktail, use bullet time, and all that good stuff, and it's done with ease.

Story: 9
I don't want to spoil anything for those who have not had the pleasure of playing this, but I will say that the story is told in a unique way. It... well... it jumps around, I'll leave it at that. As mentioned before, this game is just FILLED with betrayal, greed, and vengeance. At the beginning of the game you'll say to yourself ''... Wha????'' but by the end of the game, all the loose ends will be tied together. But, just as in the first game, the story has so many twists and turns that you may not entirely understand. Lord knows that I'll be playing this again for the simple fact that there are still something that I don't understand. I'd give the story a 10 if it weren't so confusing. I mean, confusing is okay if everything is explained by the end of the game, but I was left sorta with a blank stare on my face. But the story IS what drives the game. It will leave you wanting more and you'll find it increasingly difficult, the further you get into the game, to put down your controller. The story just builds and builds until the last chapter of the last part, when you beat the game.

Replay Value: (discussed)
Love shooting people? 10
Want to fully understand and get the full effect of the story? 10
Want to go back through the game and watch every TV show? Talk to every person? Search every room? 10
Do you want to beat it on harder modes? 10
Do you want to see the supposed special ending that Dead On Arrival has? 10
Do you want to play Dead Man Walking and NY Minute? 10
Do you like the beat a game and throw it in a box for the rest of eternity? 0

Overall (also some diffs between 1 & 2): 9
I wish the game had autosave, I wish the story good as the first one, I wish it were longer, and I wish Max's turning capabilities were a little less sluggish. But that's about it for the cons. Max Payne 2 has some REALLY cool levels. I mean, there are just some great atmospheres. The dream sequences are GREAT and less frustrating. Bullet Time is cool because when you kill someone your Bullet Time goes up and time gets slower, but I also liked the old Bullet Time where even Max was going slow. In the first one, on many occassions you'd shoot someone and then in slow motion, it'd show them get shot and then show them fall to the floor. In this game, that doesn't really happen. I mean, sometimes you'll shoot someone and then in somewhat slow motion it shows them fall off a Scaffold but it's not the same. I wish it were more like the first one in that respect.

But as a whole, this game has a story that makes you think and makes you want more. Its hard to put down the controller, even to use the toilet. If you love stepping into a place and causing complete mayhem with your arsenal of firearms, just as I do, you'll love this game. The trade off with this game is more action, for a little less quality on the story part. Is Max Payne 2 a good action game? No, its a great action game. Is the GAMEPLAY better in 2 than it is in 1? Oh yes it is! Is the story better in 2 than it is in 1? Unfortunately not, but every Max Payne fan will appreciate it and everyone new to the Max Payne series (if two games can be called a series) will definitely find the story very intriguing.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/03