Max is Back (Max Payne 2 - The Fall of Max Payne (PC))

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	Max Payne 2 - The Fall of Max Payne (PC)
Date:	13/08/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great stor and voice acting, stunning visuals, exciting gameplay, improved physics

Disadvantages: Bullet time is too freely available, is a little on the short side

Max Payne 2 is largely the same as its predecessor, albeit with a new storyline and lots of little embellishments and improvements throughout. Having now been cleared of the murder of his wife and child, Max starts out again as a detective within the NYPD, teaming up with Mona Sax from the first game as they both become embroiled in a conspiracy of murder and betrayal. The game relies on the same third-person shooter gameplay and cinematic story devices as before, and the plot is along similar lines to that of the first game, with beautifully designed comic-strip cutscenes helping the story along once more. One innovation the new game offers is allowing you to play as Mona as well as Max at certain parts of the story, even providing cover for each other as the two character's separate narratives overlap.

The graphics look a little more polished this time around, but the main difference is in the improved physics engine, with barrels tumbling over and rolling about realistically when fired at and bad guys flying backwards and knocking over shelves and piles of cardboard boxes satisfyingly when riddled with bullets. The game introduces a few new weapons, such as dual desert eagles and several new assault and sniper rifles, and the game does of course make heavy use of bull et-time once more, whereby everything slows down allowing you to take down your enemies in impressive-looking slow motion as you dive around dodging bullets and returning fire whist hiding behind any available cover. One difference the sequel makes is that your bullet-time meter now replenishes slowly of its own accord, as well as when you kill bad guys (as in the first game). This makes for more stunning looking slo-mo shootout moments that in the original but also makes the game a little less tense, as it is no longer the precious commodity it was in the first game.

The game is also a little on the short side, but is so fun and well executed that it can be played through again and again, with new difficulty settings becoming available upon its initial completion. Despite its few small flaws Max payne 2 remains a hugely exciting shooter with a great storyline, realistic physics, highly professional voice acting and music, intuitive and responsive controls and endless white-knuckle gunfights from start to finish.

Summary: A tremendous noir-style shooter