The Official Thread of Max Payne 3

[Incognito]

Suddenly I'm a bit skeptic about this. I'm picturing Max Payne 3 with GTA IV graphics, which will not be cool. Let's just hope they used a new engine...

I think it's the same engine just heavily improved on.

[FreddyAintDead]

I think it's the same engine just heavily improved on.

Yeah it is the same engine. All Rockstar games use the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE). The difference is, they've been updating the engine and fine tuning it over years not to mention their ability to constantly push more out of it. Look at GTA IV's graphics, then look at Red Dead Redmeption. Red Dead has a lot more detail in the character models and also has a lot better texturing. Then look at LA Noire, same story.

Now consider that Max Payne 3 will not be an open world game, but instead a linear action shooter. They're not spreading their resources over a massive world map, with lots of cars, random NPCs, traffic patterns, animations, etc.

So far, the visuals look a lot better to me. I expect a lot from this game.

[Grendel]

Now consider that Max Payne 3 will not be an open world game, but instead a linear action shooter. They're not spreading their resources over a massive world map, with lots of cars, random NPCs, traffic patterns, animations, etc.
So far, the visuals look a lot better to me. I expect a lot from this game.

OK, if you put it like that, my mind is at ease. Let's just hope they can capture the same grim atmosphere that Remedy had. I've been looking forward to this for 8 years....

[echo]

A slick, violent shooter, made with Rockstar's trademark style and panache. But it's marred by a lack of variety and an overlong story. They gave it an 8.

In the end, it's the polish and production values that will keep you playing. It only does one thing, but it at least does it extremely well, and the action is backed by a spectacular, ethereal score from noise-rock band HEALTH. Fans will miss the oddball, fourth wall-shattering humour, but there are enough references to keep us sweet - the classic theme tune, James McCaffrey's gravelly narration, the ugly tie - and Max Payne 3 remains, in most respects, a quality shooter. Just prepare for the long haul - and don't expect any great depth or variety along the way.

I'm not really bothered by this. Was afraid it was going to be too short. Woohoo!

And then Polygon swoops right in and call it Rockstars best game yet. 9/10 from them.

I won't forget my feelings of ambiguity about how far Max Payne 3 goes with its violence any time soon, but I also can't discount how well-made, how refined Max Payne 3 is. It's a game with so much baggage that I'm stunned that it's come together so well. This is the first time Rockstar has made a game that excels best as just that, supported and expertly augmented by the production values and attention to small details that its games have always been known for. It is uncompromisingly excellent, with a sense of focus that has secured Max Payne's legacy once again.

[Cyberninja]

Review Round-Up:

GamesRadar: 10 - Between its pacing, its presentation, and its excellent gunplay, Max Payne 3 has raised the bar for other action games to follow. Welcome back.

G4: 5/5 - Max Payne 3 is a technological tour de force that will have you screaming "Dear lord!" more times than midnight mass. The performances are top notch, the action plays out with unrivaled fluidity, and the multiplayer is deep and rewarding. Silly distractions aside, Max Payne 3 is an action lover's wet dream that also happens to employ some of the slickest direction and transitional trickery this side of a David Fincher box set. Lock and load. It's bullet time...time.

X360A: 93 - A true cinematic gaming masterpiece, Max Payne 3 is not just another triumph for Rockstar, but it's also testament to what the developer can do when it turns its hand to linear storytelling. Max Payne 3 might be a stylistic shift for the series, but it's also a raw and brutal portrait of a man pushed to the edge that deserves a place alongside Rockstar's superlative open-world efforts. Get ready to enter a world of Payne.

IncGamers: 9/10 - An expert blend of cinematic storytelling and flamboyant action, weaved together by a team with a clear passion for the genre and the content. Payne never felt so good

StrategyInformer: 9.0 - As with Rockstar's other franchises, Max Payne 3 is enveloped in love and a huge amount of dedication. This is a consistently thrilling and explosive tale that states its case as one of 2012's best. I'd be hard pushed to find a game that has made me scream with excitement on such a regular basis, as the compelling narrative and rewarding gunplay conglomerate into a truly spectacular product. Max Payne 3 lets you star in your favourite action movies, minus the Wahlberg.

IGN: 9/10 - There are plenty of games which are celebrated for their gameplay but lack anything in way of story or character. Max Payne 3 is a different type of proposition. The gameplay is simple yet satisfying, but it's entirely in the service of a strongly-authored narrative. Players aren't at the liberty to roam, to explore, or to shake things up. Some might find this too controlling, but in return for your freedom, you're rewarded with a mature genre piece which is also a finely-realised character study. Action games continue to inch the dial towards 11, sometimes at the expense of their narrative integrity. Max Payne 3, however, has the conviction to reign in the action, imbue it with purpose - the spectacle still sparkles but it also makes sense.

1UP: A- - Although the gunplay may still have its roots planted firmly in the past, the way Max Payne 3 showcases its world is undeniably forward thinking. It's a bit strange to gain so much pleasure from Max's suffering, but I guess that's the true essence behind Rockstar's magic.

GameReactor: 9/10 - Max Payne 3 is an accomplishment any way you look at it. The story may perhaps get a bit murky towards the end, but other than that it fires on all cylinders from beginning to end. The action will make your nose bleed, it's well directed, and refreshingly free of the conventions that often plague this genre. This is, simply put, the best shooter I've played in a long time. Don't let Payne's beer belly fool you, he's in the best shape of his career.

VideoGamer: 8/10 - In Max Payne 3 the risk of death and restart is often too great. Why do something that makes you look and feel like an action hero, when holding back behind cover means you're more likely to survive? The shame, then, is that the difficulty encourages over-cautious play.

GamesTM: 8/10 - Ultimately, none of the story beats or polish mask the fact that Max Payne 3 is very much a refinement of an old formula, and if you're looking for something brand new or revelatory it just isn't here. However, what is amazing is how Rockstar has fallen back on its trademark production values and sublime attention to detail to update the franchise in a compelling way. Factor in some impressive multiplayer offerings and it's still head-and-shoulders above most of its trigger-happy ilk. Which perhaps says as much about the state of the genre as it does Rockstar's obvious skill.

Edge Magazine rated it 70, Gametrailers 76 and Joystiq 90. Interesting.

Gametrailers review:

[Sir-Ominous]

This seriously looks amazing, just need to save some cash and it's mine. I like the fact that Rockstar treats it's players in a mature way. You just can't go wrong with them. Mature themes, sex, nudity, all of this makes a game more engaging and awesome.

[Cyanide]

Got mine pre-ordered but now I have to go to PTA for the weekend so will only be able to play it on Sunday when I get back =(

[Grendel]

"...And we keep driving
into the night
it's a late goodbye
such a late goodbye..."

Welcome back Max, jeez I've MISSED you. Nine long years. You've really let yourself go, haven't you! Anyway, sit down, have a whiskey, and tell me what you've been up to...

[Grendel]

Finished the game, and I must say I'm quite disappointed. The only people who will maybe enjoy this, are those who haven't played Max Payne 2. Here's why:

1. They took away the "Rag Doll" effect. Enemies don't fly backwards anymore when you shoot them, they are glued to the floor, and they just make stupid little spastic movements, before sinking slowly to their knees. It looks pathetic, and it takes away 80% of the fun.

2. Most of the time you are shooting enemies far off in the distance, and the "Bullet Time" effect is totally lost.

3. The slo-mo "Bullet Cam" only triggers when you shoot the last enemy in an area, but by then you've run out of bullets, so it's pretty useless most of the time.

4. Most enemies take 20 shots in the face before they go down, and some will even get back up after that. Totally ridiculous, and VERY frustrating.

5. Enemies throw hand grenades and Molotov ****tails, but you have none. Rockstar thought it was a very wise decision to take them away. Thank you guys, brilliant move.

6. Max moves a such a pathetic snails pace, that he gets shot to pieces while moving from cover to cover.

7. The cover system is very clumsy and frustrating.

8. The sniper rifle was the most fun in Max Payne 2, and it triggered a Bullet Cam every time you fired it. This time it doesn't even zoom in, and the bullet cam only triggers on the last enemy.

9. Cut scenes are extremely long and very frequent, and the stupid blur effect they added gets quite irritating after a while.

Only two plus points to the game:

1. When the Bullet Cam does kick in at the right time, and you still have some bullets left, it looks pretty cool. However, this happens rarely.

2. They kept the original voice talent, and Max's grim comments on the situation is quite entertaining.

So there you have it folks, if you feel like throwing your controller, play this game. Thank you, Rockstar, for ruining a Legend. Next time, rather stick to GTA...

[Squirly]

While I realize that most big game reviewing sites have all the consistency of lumpy custard and I wouldn't trust most of them to give an accurate and fair score - most have been way up there in their scores. How can it be that bad Grendel? Are you maybe playing it wrong?

They took away the "Rag Doll" effect. Enemies don't fly backwards anymore when you shoot them, they are glued to the floor, and they just make stupid little spastic movements, before sinking slowly to their knees. It looks pathetic, and it takes away 80% of the fun.

This sounds completely opposite to what I've seen in regards to the euphoria animation they're supposed to be using.

[Grendel]

This sounds completely opposite to what I've seen in regards to the euphoria animation they're supposed to be using.

The euphoria animation is only used when the "Bullet Cam" is triggered, which only happens when the last enemy is hit. However, by fiddling around a bit, I've discovered the unlockable items, one of them is the ability to turn on the "Bullet Cam" on every hit, which you unlock by finding all the clues in the game. This will make the game much more fun, so I'm busy with it now.

[Grendel]

OK, once you have found all the clues in the game, you unlock "Bullet Cam on every hit." This turns Max Payne 3 into something awesome, and a thing of beauty, a game you want to replay over and over again. This is how the game is supposed to look! You can then choose to replay any level you want, from any save point in the level you like. Also, collecting all the golden guns makes the game much more playable and fun. I didn't know this until after I finished the game...

This makes my previous comments redundant. Rockstar still rules, and this is their best game yet!

[Wesley]

Max Payne makes cheaters feel the pain!

Ever played online and had the absolute luck to be lumped into a match against a group of rampant cheaters? Dealing with a terrorist attack online is bad enough when your team makes a balls-up everywhere you look and the opposition had God Mode toggled on. Rockstar obviously identifies with that and has given a clear message to cheaters - play nicely, or you'll get a taste of your own medicine.

Linky

[Kharrak]

Finished the game, and I must say I'm quite disappointed. The only people who will maybe enjoy this, are those who haven't played Max Payne 2. Here's why:

1. They took away the "Rag Doll" effect. Enemies don't fly backwards anymore when you shoot them, they are glued to the floor, and they just make stupid little spastic movements, before sinking slowly to their knees. It looks pathetic, and it takes away 80% of the fun.

2. Most of the time you are shooting enemies far off in the distance, and the "Bullet Time" effect is totally lost.

3. The slo-mo "Bullet Cam" only triggers when you shoot the last enemy in an area, but by then you've run out of bullets, so it's pretty useless most of the time.

4. Most enemies take 20 shots in the face before they go down, and some will even get back up after that. Totally ridiculous, and VERY frustrating.

5. Enemies throw hand grenades and Molotov ****tails, but you have none. Rockstar thought it was a very wise decision to take them away. Thank you guys, brilliant move.

6. Max moves a such a pathetic snails pace, that he gets shot to pieces while moving from cover to cover.

7. The cover system is very clumsy and frustrating.

8. The sniper rifle was the most fun in Max Payne 2, and it triggered a Bullet Cam every time you fired it. This time it doesn't even zoom in, and the bullet cam only triggers on the last enemy.

9. Cut scenes are extremely long and very frequent, and the stupid blur effect they added gets quite irritating after a while.

So there you have it folks, if you feel like throwing your controller, play this game. Thank you, Rockstar, for ruining a Legend. Next time, rather stick to GTA...

Late for this, but dude.

1. Realism buddy. The enemies still fully rag-doll, they just do so more realistically. People don't go flying back when shot. If they did, you'd go flying back as well. The game actually does a very impressive realistic portrayal.

2 & 3. Bullet time is used to hit enemies effectively, and is only used cinematically on that last opponent. Having a constant cinema-cam would be nausiating, and become tiresome very quickly. That final shot also allows you to know you've cleared the room - which is notably useful.

4. Nonsense. If the enemy has no headgear, a single headshot always kills them. A few enemies have headgear, but they are the notable minority.

5. I noticed this, but was never bothered by it. You get a grenade launcher (which was great), but otherwise I was happy with the gun mechanics.

6. Max moves fine, fast enough to get from place to place, not fast enough to either get you into a messy situation or screw up cover.

7. The cover system is fantastic. No idea why you're seemingly having such issues with it. It's a far cry from GTA's attempt, and arguably on par with the Gears mechanics.

8. Realism, again. Bullet time is triggered by you - cinematic bullet cam disorientates.

9. Really enjoyed the cinematics, actually. The effects tossed in tend to enhance the discorded feel that the narrative expresses in regards to Max Payne. But *extremely long*? They last about 2 minutes.

Honestly, especially when coupled with your complete perception pendulum swing, you're coming across as a fickle ADD kiddy.

[brazed]

Just finished MP3, and I have to say I enjoyed the living hell out of it. Loved it

[Spindleshanks]

So, I decided to go ahead and not buy Diablo III for many (some are obvious) reasons, and rather go for Max Payne 3. I thought I'd head to the BT games in Woodlands on Saturday, for it is the obvious choice of retailer, but when I got there THEY DID'NT HAVE THE GAME. So I went to every other shop in the mall that sold games and not one had it. What gives? The game has bee out for almost 2 months now, yet nobody has it? DAFUQ?

It's the PC version I want btw.

[Incognito]

Westgate has it at CNA. Saw it all over the place there...

[Cleric]

I'm hoping for a second hand copy on Xbox360 if anyone in JHB has? Pretty please?

[Die Jason]

I'm hoping for a second hand copy on Xbox360 if anyone in JHB has? Pretty please?

Won't be surprised if BT Games have a special soon on new copies of MP3 for R399.95 (I mean, Ghost Recon FS is already on special for R399.95), but their current price is a not-too-shabby R499.95 for a new copy, and R399.95 for preplayed.

[Grendel]

2 & 3. Bullet time is used to hit enemies effectively, and is only used cinematically on that last opponent. Having a constant cinema-cam would be nausiating, and become tiresome very quickly.

Not at all, bud. You simply have to experience this with bullet cam on every shot. (which you only unlock by finding all the clues) It turns the game from an average third person shooter into something...brilliant.