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The long-awaited, epic third installment of the acclaimed Max Payne series by Rockstar Games

The long-awaited, epic third installment of the acclaimed Max Payne series by Rockstar Games

Vote: (891 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: Rockstar Games

Works under: Windows

Also available for Mac

Vote:

Program license

(891 votes)

Paid

Developer

Rockstar Games

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Mac

Pros

  • The game's cinematic presentation is impressive.
  • Max Payne 3's music and visuals are almost perfect.
  • The cover system makes the game feel tactical and challenging.

Cons

  • The Brazil location can feel repetitive.
  • The online game modes often feel a bit shallow.

Max Payne 3 is a highly cinematic third-person shooting game with a police corruption storyline. The previous games in the Max Payne series focused on the protagonist's revenge regarding his dead family. In this game, however, the plot revolves around Max's job as a bodyguard. The plot thickens when a family Max was hired to protect is killed. The events that transpire lead Max to the inner city streets of São Paulo, Brazil. Some portions of the game take place in New York City.

Max Payne 3 plays much like the other games in the series. Max can run, dive and shoot in slow motion. The game implements a new cover system that adds a tactical element to the shooting. The player can now dive in and out of cover in slow motion. Some weapons also have a scope, allowing players to take more precise shots from a distance. The game's most impressive visual trick involves showing the sniper bullet hitting the enemy in slow motion.

Many sequences in the game occur during scripted moments that involve Max doing things like sliding down walls while shooting. These sequences add a lot of variety to the game. In addition, players are permitted to select from several different guns with drastically different ranges that force the player to adapt to each environment differently. The enemies are fairly intelligent, but the game can feel more like a shooting gallery at times. This is due to the checkpoints positioned at the start of the most difficult parts of the game. Players may need to retry a single area as many as 20 or 30 times.

The soundtrack, performed by the band HEALTH, adds to the game's cinematic presentation. Max narrates the story throughout most of the game. The gritty feel of the other Max Payne games bleeds through here, while the humorous undertones pervading the previous volumes is lacking. This time, the tone is a lot less tongue in cheek, making much of the writing feel cheesy rather than over the top.

Some additional features:
  • Max Payne 3 allows online players to compete against each other over the internet.
  • There is an extra timed game mode called the "New York Minute."
  • Players can collect gun pieces to unlock more powerful golden guns.

As the game is of a decent length, players who try it should find more than enough to keep them occupied for a few days. Overall, Max Payne 3 is an excellent shooting game. There is a lot of variety that keeps the game fresh and interesting.

Pros

  • The game's cinematic presentation is impressive.
  • Max Payne 3's music and visuals are almost perfect.
  • The cover system makes the game feel tactical and challenging.

Cons

  • The Brazil location can feel repetitive.
  • The online game modes often feel a bit shallow.