Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

What to say about Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne? Let's break it down: GAMEPLAY - Extremely Entertaining. I haven't had this much fun in a 3rd person shooter since the original Tomb Raider. The levels are fresh and challenging without being at all frustrating. You have different objectives other than just staying alive and finding the exit. The cooperation levels actually feel like your AI partner is out there watching your back (and vice versa when its your turn to provide a key game character some protection). And what can I say: bullet time still rocks! GRAPHICS - Stunning. The textures are rich and realistic...right down to the skin blemishes. The facial modeling could be a little better as eye movement doesn't follow focus like in Unreal 2. Game physics, however, is extraordinary. When characters hit the ground their limbs bounce about and give the appearances of actual weight. And the motion capture sequences for the cinematic segments are simply amazing! VOICE ACTING - Superb. If Mona Sax sounds familiar, that's Wendy Hoopes who does the voice of Jane Lane from MTV's cartoon series Daria...good to see she's expanding her voice over work into the gaming industry. But by far the most amusing voice over work here is by Fred Berman who plays the memorable role of Vinnie Gognitti--the foul-mouthed, anime loving, mobster punk who adds much needed comical relief to the story ala Joe Pesci-style. MUSIC - Wonderful. Max's theme is performed superbly on cello by Perttu Kivilaakso. The recurring variations of the song "Late Goodbye" by Poets of the Fall throughout the game adds a nice touch. SOUND FX - Awesome. Everything from simple riccochet sounds to the loudest explosions--feels like you're right in the middle of a good John Woo movie. OVERALL IMPRESSION - Best Game of 2003. For those who claim the game plays out too fast, wake up and smell the gun powder. I've finished it three different times and have noticed subtle things I've missed in each instance. Watch the different shows on the in-game television sets. Pick up that ringing phone in the second to the last dream sequence. Use that computer surveylence terminal in the hospital. Complete the game three times at the three different difficulty levels for an alternate story ending. A game like this is like watching the first Matrix movie...you simply have to play it again to fully appreciate its genius.

It may deserves 10 points but I'm sorry for this. But the first game was better for this one it is clear. It continues with its own style but style of the first game was better than this. Real good story continues with better graphics, sounds and playability. I didn't gave a 10 points but I know this is a golden game. Just perfect.

The continuation to Max Payne is similar in gameplay to its predecessor except for the newly added Bullet-time reload which actually very effective in instances, but that's O.K. because the gameplay was good to begin with. secondly, the story proves that Max Payne is easily one of the most ruthlessly mature video games out today.

9.5/10

I am blown away. I knew they had attempted to make this as theatrical and true to the roots of film noir as possible, but the depth and emotion in this is simply amazing. Some people have complained that it is too short (I personally beat it in perhaps five or six hours), but this only enriches the experience because it moves along at a rapid pace and manages to come across more as a movie than a video game.

They used real actors for the game and the cut scenes are more realistic than in the first game (which looked more like a comic). One thing that took a while to get used to were all the differences in the characters, as well as Max Payne's new physical features in this game (noticeably, his face). The previous game's model was based on "Max Payne" creator Sam Lake, whereas in this game they actually hired an actor to model Max on. I do miss the original face of Max because I had grown so accustomed to it, however -- I think overall this one looks more beaten-down and destroyed, emotionally and physically. He also looks a lot more like the typical cop character from a police movie, which I think works to the game's advantage.

The first game followed Payne after his wife and child were murdered -- another aspect I preferred in the first since Max's revenge motives were more hard-boiled and raw. In the sequel, he's basically got a price over his head because he knows about a secret organization that is splitting in two over a mob war -- and he teams up with a femme fatale from the previous story (whom he thought was dead) to take them on.

What's so great about "Max Payne 2" is how involving and engaging it is while still managing to be perhaps the smartest and deepest video game ever made. The characters all seem real, the action is never really THAT far-fetched (at least not in comparison to the original) and, believe it or not, the love story between Max and Mona Sax is entirely convincing.

The finale, just like in the original, is breathtaking and climactic.

Is "Max Payne 2" better than the original? Well, that's hard to say. I think, technically speaking, yes, it is -- however, there are certain aspects of the original that I cling on to, as well as the novelty of the first game and how utterly blown away I was when I first played it. The first "Payne" did also seem slightly more gritty, but it lacked a lot of the depth that is present in the sequel.

I'm big on revenge themes so the concept of the first game appealed to me more -- Max isn't really avenging anyone in this game until the last few minutes, which is a bit disappointing. He's more of a wanted man on the run. However, these are things necessary for the development of the game, story and character himself.

Gamewise, I preferred the first game's weapons and they didn't sound as fake as the ones in "MP2" (which pop rather unrealistically when you fire them).

On the other hand, I prefer the bullet-time in "Max Payne 2" FAR more than in the original -- it looks awesome in this one. You can also do cooler spins and slow-motion moves while you're in bullet time as compared to the first game.

I have to be perfectly honest when I say I also didn't like being forced to play as Mona Sax on two levels, nor did I find the levels themselves as fun or intricate as the first game. The first few levels of "Max Payne" (the original) when you're in those drug-infested apartment buildings doesn't compare to any level in the new game. I found, despite the sequel's excessive language and sexual content, that the original was darker and more intense.

Nevertheless, despite a few little "quibbles," this is -- overall -- probably a superior game to the first "Max Payne." It's the most theatrical game experience I've ever had -- and they even have end credits with a music theme that play afterwards! I can't wait to see an adaptation of these hit the big screen next year. If they do it right it could be one of the best films ever made.

The saga continues.Even you're a hard person to find things good in later comers,you'll find all the things you loved in first one.Dark atmosphere,action with 'bullet-time' quality,high-level graphics...And in this one our guy is not alone;if you're looking for a femme-fatale keeping secrets,mysteries,it's Mona Sax what you need.A story with lies,deceptions.A man trying to find the ground from his eternal fall.That's what we call Max Payne genre.

The newest thing about the game is the change in the face of Max Payne.Deadsure this new look is better.The new holds all the sorrow,and fatigue which the years gifted to him.And besides Max Payne,Mona Sax's join gives game a new level.We can into the thoughts of her by the dialogs,the oil-printed screens between chapters.And in some chapters we are playing Mona Sax character besides Max Payne.That's another reason that when everything comes up to a conclusion in the end,we feel the loss,the pain in our hearts better.We exactly live the feelings these two characters live.

The screenplay is more complicated.The bad men,the conspiracies,the things tricky.We don't kill the men just because game wants,we don't go with the flow;we are aware all the going on.This is the success of the screenplay and the videos between the chapters to keep us in the same direction as the game is on the wheel.Also in some chapters we play in the events which happened during the chapter we played before.These are some of the developments about the cinematic and storytelling side of the second game.

There are two things I'd like to tell.First one;this one is not just a game to continue the series.It is connected with the first game both in story and character side.And it feels like it will go on.The second thing is the song playing in the end:Late Goodbye by Poets Of The Fall.Only the ones who play this game can understand how it makes you feel.

So play this game and see how it plays with the ides about 'falling' in your mind.Ask yourself:Is there anything he didn't lose as he lives in his eternal fall? and will ever be ground for him to reach?