Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Our price:	$46.99
Manufacturer:	Rockstar Games
Release date:	02 December, 2003

Average user rating: Average user rating: 2.5

Severely disappointing port to the PS2

The PC version of Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne managed to improve on the first game in some areas and was vastly enjoyable overall, however this Playstation 2 port of the game is severely disappointing. A noticibly terrible frame rate, blurry textures, missing sound effects, an even worse save system, and ridiculously long loading times plague what could have been a stellar game. The storyline, plot twists, and even the once mediocre graphic novel-esque cut scenes are the game's few saving graces, along with the run 'n gun bullet time action that was so enjoyable in the first game, but in the end Max Payne 2's flaws outweigh it's strengths. It's a shame more time wasn't taken to make Max Payne 2 something as memorable as the first game; I really wanted to like this game despite it's flaws, but they're just too much. All in all, Max Payne 2 is still worth a rental for fans who dug the original, but don't expect anything at all great from it.

An interesting idea, but not good enough

As much fun as running in slow mo, and diving while firing with cinematic flourish, can be, Max Payne 2 is, quite frankly, an exercise in frustration. The game has numerous good points, but in the end, those good points are weighed down by what can be a rather plodding, frustrating and monotonous game.

To give Max Payne 2 its due, there are positives that need to be mentioned. The environments are amazingly detailed, and Max is able to interact with most of it (though after a few times, turning on and off a water faucet loses its charm). Additionally, the game makes use of audio cues, providing another level of realism. The enemies are difficult, with good aim and a penchant for dodging and surprising Max. And, the game features a number of slow motion action options, including so called "Bullet Time" which not only gives Max an edge but can provide for some visually interesting sequences. Visual effects are without a doubt this game's forte.

Visual effects though, can only go so far before a player asks for more, and it is at this point at which Max Payne's defeciencies become obvious. While the environments are beautiful, they are in the end repititive. There is none of the free movement available in Grand Theft Auto. If Max is placed in a building, then you're stuck in that building. In the end, the environments seem to blend together. Additionally, the levels themselves are often the same. Max is asked to do the same type of activity repeatedly.

The second major problem is actually two problems interlinked. It is at time very difficult to figure out exactly what Max is suppoused to do. At times, cues as to the correct course of action are unavailable, and players can find themselves trapped in certain levels, with no way to advance. While some players may enjoy the challenge, the agravation of having to reload one's game repeatedly is accentuated by exceptionally long load times, often upwards of 15-25 seconds. When you're having trouble getting through a paticular level, having to wait that long repeatedly is annoying. Additionally, the game has no ability to reload to the beginning of a level. Indeed, if you die without having saved your game for several levels, you are doomed to go back to the last point at which you saved, regardless if that maybe one, two, or several levels before your current location.

Finally, at least for me, the tone of Max Payne was a problem. This game is listed as a film noire experience, but even film noire had a certain degree of levity. While there are certain elements of humour, on the whole I found the tone of Max Payne to be so dark as to be depressing. It strongly effected my enjoyment of the game.

Overall, visually interesting, but once you get past the looks, there is little there.

Good Game; Depending on how you look at it.

Like most people have said in previous reviews, this is not much of an improvement or change from the original Max Payne. Perhaps the most dissapointing element was that the guns were basically the same exact ones from the original. But once your standards aren't set so high and you don't judge everything in this game based upon improvement from the first one (also, this time there is no autosave, so you have to save your game every 10 seconds), this can be a quite enjoyable experience. The enemies are tougher in this game, making it all the more satisfying to dispose of them, though it gets a bit tired after a while.
Something else that struck me as I was killing about the 2 trillionth "cleaner" of the game was that there was basically no big name bad guys you had to knock off like their was in the first Max Payne. This one has Vladimir and that's basically it. But overall this is a very entertaining game most of the time. And this one deserves the M rating a lot more, due to the raunchy language and sexuality. And oh yeah, try not to get to caught up in the romantic story line which is impossible to follow and very difficult to make any sense of.