Payne? you will be if you have a low spec machine (Max Payne (PC))

Member Name: Martintana

Product:	Max Payne (PC)
Date:	07/09/01 (17 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: New style of gaming, Matrix Style combat, Great story

Disadvantages: The pc hardware needed to get it to run well

Max payne, well this title has done very well, especilly as it was released before any magazines could do a review. It was hyped up so much, people just went for it the instant it was out. Now thats not a bad thing as it went straight to number one.

The game itself is excellent, short, but excellent. You are Max Payne, a cop on the run, your life destroyed when your family is killed by crazed looneys (couldn't think of a better word-sorry) You have your past changed so you can infiltrate a crime family. But the only person who knows the truth is killed, so you are stuck as Max Payne, the criminal. The game revolves around max's lose of his family and his fight to get his past back.

The way the story is told, is unique. It is like a graphic novel, with voice overs. I think it works so well and with the cutscenes, makes the story very easy to get into.

The game also adjusts to how YOU play. So say you aren't doing to well, you will find more health packs and ammo around. This is such a great thing in a game and developers elsewhere should take note and incorperate this into future titles.

The biggest seller for this game is the matrix style combat. You can go into "slowtime" where everyting is slow (its in the name!) but you can aim in realtime. This makes every fight, like a film scene. You can dive, while firing your twin uzi's at the group of thugs, who would like you six feet under. It is a sight to see. The one good thing is that you can't abuse this feature. You can only have a limited amount of slow time and this is represented by a small hour glass.

Included in the game is an editor and from what i have seen on the internet, people are busy working away making MODS for the game. One i have read about and can't wait to get my hands on is a MOD based on the matrix! That will be GREAT!

Like all things great there is always someting that lets it down. With Max Payne, its the am
ount of harware it needs to run. You will need at least a processor of 750+ 32mb graphics card and 128mb+ ram just to get it to play and look good. You can use a lower spec machine, but you will lose either the graphics or the gameplay.

To sum up, a great game that has breathed new life into PC shooters. Its just a shame about the hardware side of things.

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