Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

"Bad port? I don't think so"

"You'd have to be a first degree fool to fall for a woman who returns from the dead only to put a gun to your face,"
Max Payne

That Qoute alone gives you the sense of depression this game displays.

Well Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne is a really brilliant video game. Some say it is a bad port of the other versions but I still think it is worth your 20 bucks (10 used).

Graphics:
I have to note that the game skipped so much in a certain section that it was almost unplayable, it may have just been my disc though. Anyway, otherwise the graphics really are great the textures can get muddy but the facial expressions and character models are great the graphics are fine even on the Playstation 2 version.
10/10

Story:
The story is so full of twists and turns it is almost overwhelming. I am not going to reveal anything about the story because I don't want to ruin it for you. I will tell you that the story is very dark. A lot of sadness and depression it is not for the faint of heart, but it is very well done. I will note that the story is told through realistic looking comic strips or as the company calls them graphic novels.
10/10

Gameplay:
The concept and highlight of both Max Payne games is that you can use bullet time to slow your enemies down but you still move at normal speed. There is also a very helpful dive feature that lets you dive sideways and such, I personally found this feature more helpful than the bullet time (if you played the first one you know that originally the dive took away from your bullet time meter, that is no longer the case). It is really a fun game that makes you feel that you are the ruler of the universe and you can and have the power to do anything you want. A great variety of weapons too.
10/10

Replay Value:
You start off with an easy mode and when you beat it you unlock all other modes including and even harder one called hardboiled which is what I am working on. It is fun to go back to certain levels and just play them over and over.
10/10

Length:
Divided into three parts each with a variety of levels it is about medium in length but the difficulty makes it a fair amount longer. I am not saying that it is extremely hard but it also can not be beaten in a rental for most people.
10/10

Overall:
It is really a great video game in almost all departments, the graphics are really one of the high points though rarely does a game come along that is this good graphically. It is really a fast paced adventure and is rated M for Mature the contents include Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood, and Mature Sexual Themes

Rent or Buy:
I say buy considering at my Blockbuster it is only 9.99 and it is one of my favorite games. The dive feature makes up for anything else wrong with the title.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/12/04, Updated 11/17/04