Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Amazing"

The last time we saw Mr. Payne it was late 2003 with the release of Max Payne 2: The Fall Max Payne. The sequel did not stray from the original's winning formula of utilizing Bullet Time and telling the story through comic panels. The first teaser glimpses of part 3 showed a very different looking Max. Now he is stockier and almost completely burned out. We also saw the change to Rockstar Studios as the developing team taking over for Remedy (of Alan Wake fame).

Are we losing the comic book noir style of the 2 original games? Is Max Payne 3 set to become just another Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption knock off? It's not to say that those titles are less than awesome, but fans loved Max Payne for what it was: a hard boiled shooter told through comic book panes that dripped with style and grit. Warm up those trigger fingers, you killers, because it is time for Max Payne 3.