Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Max takes after Chow Yun Fat as he flies through the air.

When Max Payne was first introduced to us back in 2001, it changed our perception of the standard action game. The defining moment in the original was of course the bullet time, which although it had already been seen in the hit movie The Matrix, had yet to debut as a functional feature in a video game. However, when a sequel beckons, how can we expect the developers to advance on an element that has been used in so many games since, such as fighting, racing and even sports games? Many people were very sceptical regarding the new bullet time; I for one was amongst them. But after playing through the entire game in utter astonishment, I can safely say that this game most definitely plays as good as it looks.

When the game opens, the first thing that you’ll clearly notice is the superb new character models and facial close-ups of Max. You’ll also notice that you can react with the scenery, knocking over chairs, boxes, lamps, etc. (which all makes for some spectacular fire fights later in the game believe you me). It’s not long into the game when you are introduced to a number of the key players in the new story, all of whom you’ll remember from the previous Payne outing: Chief Bravura, Mona Sax, Vladimir Lem and even Vinnie Gognetti - all play some part in The Fall of Max Payne.

Dressed to Kill

The heroine, Mona Sax, is Max’s love interest and the new playable character.

Max has certainly had a makeover since we last saw him in 2001, apart from the obvious upgrade to the games engine you can now fully interact with almost all of the scenery in the games environment. The first stand out moment that really demonstrates the new ragdoll physics in the game is in your first encounter. After waking up in a Hospital bed, you find yourself alone. Upon finding the body of a dead security guard, Max becomes in possession of a Berretta. After killing a commando, you will be treated to his lifeless corpse tumbling backwards into a shelving unit, knocking boxes, tables and shelves flying and crashing down upon each other - moment that will surely have you hitting the new game button, just so you can see it again.

For those of you who have played the original Max Payne, you will no doubt be able to simply jump in and play, however, there are a few changes to the bullet time this time around. For starters, so long as you have rounds in your gun, Max can stay on the ground firing, which is incredibly handy when you cant afford to spare a single second in a gunfight standing up. Another new feature is the slight discolouration of the screen, giving the look of the game a more dark and gritty comic noir feel.

Sweet Sweet Mona

Take that punks! Max lays down some Ingram fire.

As you’ll soon discover Max is not alone in his quest and is joined by an old friend Mona Sax, who in authentic film noir style plays the tough heroine who has her own agenda.. While initially using Max for her own ends, Mona soon starts to fall for him, so when Max becomes trapped in a hostile construction site, you take over as Mona with her trusty Dragunov Sniper Rifle. Although only playable at certain points throughout the game, the Mona element really helps piece the story together from both sides.

Without the strong storyline and plot driven gameplay, the original Max Payne would never have been a hit. So it is no surprise that the story behind The Fall of Max Payne is stronger than the previous in every respect, as we get a deeper look into the life and mind of Max and are introduced to the love element with Mona. Mona’s role in the game is immense, as she plays a guardian angel for Max, by saving his life more than once, as she turns against the people who employed her to take him out. You can expect more conspiracy theories as well as plenty of involvement with the Illuminati-type organisation, the Inner Circle, who are now fronted by none other than Alfred Wodden - the man who made you a hero.

Radio for Help

The detail is astonishing, from the empty shells to the bottom of Max’s shoes!

As with the previous Payne adventure, the sound is once again top notch and worthy of an award itself. The voice acting is spectacular, with the cast really putting their hearts into the parts to bring them to life. As you will no doubt notice, the original cast have once again reprised their roles, so Max once again sounds like the down and out cop with nothing to loose. However it’s not just the voice acting that creates the authentic noir atmosphere. Objects and surfaces have all been cleverly programmed to sound like the real thing, as well as all the guns, which have been sampled from the real things. Close your eyes, and you almost imagine you’re watching a movie.

The Fall of Max Payne, although a bit too short for my liking, is a fantastic roller coaster ride of Hollywood scripting and Hong Kong blood opera. The visuals are nothing short of total realism and the sound samples and voice-overs really put the icing on this explosive cake. If you enjoyed the original then you’ll thoroughly lap this up like a sniffer dog in a dope factory, while there are plenty of new elements to draw in the newcomers. Possibly one of the best action games of the year!

Editor's note: Remember to check out the new Max Payne 2 demo, which you can download rigth here.