Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Instant classic"

Max Payne is back, still with his iconic wit and bullet time. James McCaffrey walks back into the role seamlessly, it is great to hear Max's dry wit and views on the world. Max has hit rock bottom after the events that struck him in his first two outings. He is addicted to pain killers and spent the last few years slumped at a bar, drunk on self pity. Max wants to move on have a new life, tried of boozing his life away in grief of the lose of his love ones. He takes on a job as a body guard for the rich and famous in sao paulo, which is a beautiful change from eh grim streets of New York. Max Payne fans do not fear yes the places different but this is defiantly a Max Payne game. We still get flash backs to New York which adds a nice change of scenery and fills in the gaps why Max moved away.

The Game feels like a film you control, cut scenes fold into gameplay perfectly. As for gameplay it is great, Max now uses cover instead or running straight in guns blazing and you need to be wise in the cover you take, tactics are important as the AI are very smart they will put pressure on you. Bullet is amazing fun jumping through the air, though it's not the most affect you could do the game easier not diving around but it's so much you still want to do it. Bullet cam makes a return and it is satisfying, the last enemy of a fight will end with a slow mo shot of the bullet(s) ripping through him. When you pull of a head shot in that mode it makes you feel great as it looks fantastic. Player grinds add a nice challenge, these are little challenges for you to do, for example fire a certain amount of bullets in a level. Searching for clues is also interesting getting to hear what max has to say also golden guns are hidden through out the levels (though these don't really add much). Picking up pills for health is also actually interesting as Max says a new comments for each different location of health which adds a nice change in gaming.

The story is engaging with twists and turns, and gory cut scenes. You feel for Max even if you are new to the series you know that he is a broken man. Max has become far more gritter, angrier and bad ass. His age and lack of care for his health has not slowed him down, in fact Max is like a fine wine he has improved with age. His one liners will stay with you my personal favorite has to be "I now had a hole in my second favourite drinking arm". The stories pace just getting faster and faster. the ending level is action packed and adrenaline fueled.

The game also contains a superb sound track, when you hear the main theme it takes you back to the first games. Max makes references back to the events of the old games at times which is great to hear him think back of how he could have done things differently.

Rockstar has done a amazing job at this game, the worst part is the story comes to an end I'd love it just to keep going. I look forward to seeing Mr Payne again in the future but for now I will defiantly keep replaying this work of art.