The Max Payne series set the benchmark for stylish action in third person shooters. Over the years, countless other games have incorporated bullet time into gameplay, but only a few have succeeded in whipping up the delicious, kinetic action Remedy’s franchise was known for. Over the nine years since Max Payne 2’s release, technology has evolved by leaps and bounds, so naturally expectations have risen exponentially.
Even then, Rockstar stepped up to the mantle and accepted these challenges. Their goal was to wow players in 2012 the same way Max Payne did in 2003 - a rather lofty ambition since we’ve experienced games like Gears of War and Uncharted since then. And guess what, they’ve pulled it off.
Max Payne 3 is more of a reboot than a reinvention. The game has been made accessible to the modern day gamer from a gameplay and technical standpoint, but at the same time, Rockstar hasn’t forgotten the series’ roots, keeping certain aspects of gameplay firmly grounded in old school gameplay. Ultimately, whether you’re a fan of the franchise or have never even played a Max Payne game in your life, Max Payne 3 is a must-play because it is one hell of an action-packed roller coaster ride.
