A lot of people had already determined that the Max Payne franchise was done for prior to the release of this 3rd installment to the series…boy, were they wrong. Max Payne 3 is an explosive joyride of monumental mayhem, as fun as it is deep and engrossing.
The story centers around Max’s fall after the death of his wife and child, his slow descent into substance abuse and self-pity. Max soon takes a new “security” job in Brazil, which saves him from total destruction. However, this new job turns out to be much more trouble than he had initially hoped; ever-escalating violence quickly becomes the order of the day.
Visuals
Max Payne 3 is a really beautiful game with very instinctive looking visuals. This game is very entertaining and engrossing; it is actually good enough to merit multiple playthroughs.
All the environmental and special effects look fantastic as does the visual associated with the carnage you’ll wreak on your enemies (did we mention that this is a very violent game?). Frame-rate drop-offs seem to be a non-issue as well as technical glitches; Max Payne 3 is extremely solid when it comes to delivering an immersive experience. All the characters and environments are extremely life-like possess a great deal of fine detail as well.
Gameplay
Most of the actual gameplay will consist of ludicrously fun shootouts which will literally have you on the edge of your seat in a few places. But the real focus of this title seems to be angled toward the story, which is by all accounts a great thing. Does this mean that there’s a lack of action? Certainly not; Max Payne 3 is one of the most engrossing action games to be released this year, for sure.
While most games which rely on shootouts might tend to become slightly repetitive, Max Payne 3 avoids this trap with its great enemy A.I. The closest thing you could compare the action in this game to would be perhaps an action movie shootout scene (and make that an A-list action movie, not a B-list). Max Payne 3 basically encapsulates an evolution of the style of gameplay which we were introduced to in the first 2 games; intense and decidedly cinematic.
You can also go into “bullet-time”, which slows down the action, but as many other gamers have noted, it can actually act as a hindrance in some cases. One of the more exciting features of MP3 is the addition of a multiplayer. The Addition of timed and arcade modes also add a great deal of enjoyment and replayability to this already great title.
Verdict
The truth is, Max Payne 3 is a most welcome addition to the franchise and is certainly taking the series in a very engaging and enjoyable direction. This game not only stays true to the feel and aims of the original games, it re-energizes the formula that we’ve come to know and love. While action shootouts are a big focus in this title, it certainly merits mentioning that the method in which the story is delivered is also second to none. Definitely pick this one up, you won’t regret it.