Max Payne

"Bang Bang Bang. *smoke rises from opening of gun barrel*"

Max Payne For GBA

Introduction

Max Payne shouldn't need any introduction because of the prominent release of its game play for the PC, which includes Max Payne and Max Payne. Probably the most rememberable feature of this game is the ''bullet time''; in which you have a gun battle in slow motion, kind of like in the matrix and the famous bullet time. It was fun and it was a sleeper hit also causing many fans and game critics to rave about this game ... so that is why they had the recently released Max Payne and Max Payne for the game boy advance.

Of course, you couldn't expect the Game Boy Advance to handle such intense graphics like in the PC version however rest assure that this game is perfectly playable and that the graphics is good too. The same account can be said about the game play for this game. No elements in the game is missing and we shall see more why as I elaborate more into the gaming detail and story and much more.

Game Play

Ah, we <3 Max Payne. So, how was the translation from PC to GBA? Were the essential elements lost? Well, I'm glad to say that well, it isn't exactly fun but nor is it boring either. It howlers between the line of mediocrity.

Basically what you do in the game is to run around the stage and shoot people whilst doing things like opening doors and pulling levers which opens a port that was previously inaccessible.

Of course, bad entities are sprinkled throughout out the game in which they try to cause you bodily harm by means of firearms. Yeah, so you can conclude that there isn't any hand to hand combat in this game but rather firefights. The fighting elements consist of staying a safe distance while returning fire and strafing while possible. That is basically it.

And sometimes it is call for you to explore your environment by walking from locker rooms and such to find subtle clues to advance to the other stages. This means pressing the action button and a text message would pop up to identify the item that you just pressed. When hidden items are uncovered they are automatically added to your inventory, weather its ammo or a health kit.

Graphics

Now, we would never forget the awesome graphics of Max Payne and Max Payne II for the PC console and that it is totally cool ... and like I mentioned earlier the capability of GBA isn't well enough to afford the PC graphic, so the game developers thought of an idea: The paused 3D environment. Basically its 2D like normal side scrolling game but it has a overview with a slated 2/3 like Harvest The Moon: Back To Nature.

Note that the camera view for this game is static throughout out the game and that you do not get to change it. There is no problem here in the camera department because you can clearly see everything in your path and the scene. In fact, I couldn't think of any possible way they can make the camera better then this!

Sound / Music

Sound for the game is okay. What by I mean by around are exterior noises in the game such as the closing of doors or the gun shot or the thud as the opponent is slain? For the most part of the game you'll hear the footsteps as Max Payne runs around and traverse in the stage.

The gun shot in the game sounds realistic and that there is a powerful impact behind the sound, most resembling the sound of the guns in real life. Not only that there is an accurate pretty of the gun sound in the game but also the slashing of knives and crow bar. Note that when you hit you opponent there is a loud thud. Nasty!

The music in the game is instrumental, sometimes it provides an atmosphere that creatures this intense thinking, summering you into this world of Max Payne. Seriously! And when there is an enemy lurking around and you're engaged in a nefarious gun fight for your life then the music changes and then changes again after the environment becomes harmonious (this is when the gun fight eases)

Conclusion

What can we think of conclude throughout my objective lens about this game? Well, this game is something that provides the hand held console fans - game boy advance - with some Max Payne so they can enjoy such wonderful game. Whilst this game cannot afford the ability to support intense graphics like the PC but GBA fans will understand. Sure the game play isn't that fantastic but hey, to be dangerously succinct this game is good as an attempt to develop it for the hand held console. Hopefully there will be a 3D and not paused 3D like in this game.

So should you buy this game because of its Primatene processor or rent it and enjoy the game for a few days? A nihilist gamma/reviewer like knows that your money is of utmost importance and that it shouldn't be squandered on horrible and low quality games. Therefore I suggest you to rent this game because you can beat it in a few days and there is hardly any replay value in this game. One you complete the missions there is hardly any desire to return and defeat the levels again.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/17/04