"Too stubborn to die"
In this day and age of high-profile game announcements, immense hype jobs, and subsequent delays, Rockstar Games and Remedy Entertainment have pulled a fast one on everybody. Not only did the companies announce a surprising October 14 release date for their blockbuster sequel Max Payne 2 at this year’s E3 in May, but they came through—no pre-release drama included.
True, Max Payne 2 is virtually identical to its predecessor in almost every way, but who ever said that was a bad thing? Max Payne 2 is the original Max Payne on steroids, offering fans of the original game most everything they could want out of a sequel. Like a rollercoaster ride, it’s over sooner than you think, but you’ll want to ride it again and again.
"The past is a puzzle, like a broken mirror"
Sure, Max Payne is famous for its balls-to-the-wall shootouts, but its true soul lies in its outlandish story. For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Payne’s previous escapades, it’s recommended that you give the original game a whirl. The sequel comes equipped with a short clip recapping "last week’s episode," but Max Payne’s narrative of twisted logic is too tangled to be unwound by any one cut scene.
Max Payne 2 picks up a couple years after the conclusion of the first game. Max has since quit his job at the DEA and returned to his roots as an NYPD homicide detective. Unfortunately for Max, years of stress and turmoil have obviously taken their toll: Distorted images of his murdered wife and baby haunt his dreams, and the once young, smirk-faced family man bent solely on revenge has been replaced by a tired, weathered cop who just wants to know the truth. Adding to his troubles, the elusive Mona Sax (whom we last saw unconscious with a bullet wound to the head) has returned, as well as numerous familiar faces. Deputy Jim Bravura, Vinni Gognitti, and Vladimir Lem all play major roles in Max Payne 2’s story of vengeance, love, betrayal, and acceptance.
The plot is thoroughly complex, so don’t worry if you have no clue what Max and company are rambling on about during most of the game. A large chunk of the story is told through graphic novel slides before and after levels; the rest with in-game cut scenes. The slides read like an old "whodunit?" mystery, exhibiting frame after frame of cheesy and humorous (if far-fetched) dialogue. If Max weren't so busy blowing up bad guys, he could get a job as a stand-up comedian with that dry sense of humor of his. Luckily, Max Payne 2's aforementioned short length lends itself well to replaying; you’ll be able to absorb the story multiple times, as you’re bound to miss out on much of it during the initial run.
It should be obvious, but Max Payne 2 is definitely not a game for kids. Armed with an "M" rating, the game is fairly liberal with its use of the "F" word, and there’s even a bit of nudity to be found to go along with the bloody, action movie shootouts. Don’t worry, this isn’t Scarface, but it’d probably be best if a youngun’s sensitive eyes and ears weren’t exposed to Max Payne 2.
"I’ve been switched; I didn’t used to look like this"
Blowing away baddies hasn’t been this much fun since the original Max Payne. Despite Max’s new physical outlook on life, he hasn’t lost his old touch; instead, like a fine wine, he seems to have only gotten better with age. There have been a few subtle yet handy changes to Remedy’s tried-and-true Max Payne methodology. This time around grenades act as a secondary attack and can be thrown much quicker without changing guns. Shootdodging now no longer eats away at Max’s "bullet time" meter, and you can lie on the ground afterward and squeeze off a few more life-saving rounds if needed. A couple new guns—notably the Kalashnikov AK-47 and MP5 submachine gun—have been added, though they function and perform similarly to the weapons they’ve replaced.
The most impressive update is the improved Havoc physics system with rag-doll animations. Bodies fly through the air after grenade blasts, body parts react appropriately when shot, and weaker objects like chairs and boxes scatter when hit during fire fights—all thanks to Havoc. None of these new enhancements significantly improve the core gameplay, but instead help give Max Payne 2, a game already soaked in style, added panache.
In spite of these changes, Max Payne 2 is still remarkably similar to its forerunner. It’s clear that the developers didn’t want to fiddle with a winning formula—the game still revolves around running from room to room, gunning down gangsters. Even less boss fights interject Max Payne 2 than in the original, making the sequel’s romp through building after building seem more tedious than it should at times.
The run-and-gun gameplay, for the most part, is solid and enjoyable enough to stand up on its own, but the mostly dismal environments—run-down apartment complexes, warehouses, and construction sites—don’t help any. There are a couple interesting locations, such as the finale set in a grand manor, but Max Payne 2 not only plays tantamount to its predecessor, but takes place in nearly identical settings.
"Death is inevitable"
As well as two higher difficulty levels, two extra modes are unlocked after completion of the single-player game. "Dead Man Walking" is set in one of five different "arenas" with an unlimited supply of re-spawning thugs. The goal is to stay alive for as long as possible, and it’s not nearly as easy as it sounds. "New York Minute," like in the original, encourages tearing through the single-player game as quickly as possible. You can try and retry any of the game’s levels individually rather than consecutively, though the extraneous cut scenes and graphic novel sequences remain and only get in the way of the action. Once you’ve honed your skills in the main story mode, the "Dead Man Walking" and "New York Minute" game modes are the perfect places to show what you’ve really got.
Also know for its extra goodies, Max Payne 2 comes stocked—the game is littered with reoccurring gags and other subtle details. Fans may remember the Captain Baseballbat-Boy comic from the first game; it’s present here in all its glory, and plays a much larger role than in the original game. Lords and Ladies, the campy medieval television show from Max Payne, attempts a triumphant return, only to be upstaged by the hilarious new cop show Dick Justice. All of these extras are presented via televisions scattered about Max Payne 2’s levels, and each is fully developed. Taking a break from the action to catch up on a little Dick Justice is almost always an option, and certainly never a bad idea.
"There are no happy endings"Max Payne 2’s motto is short but sweet. You probably won’t spend more than 10 hours with it the first time through, and additional playings (even on the higher difficulty levels) should yield quicker results. This comes as disappointing but not shocking—the original Max Payne was the same way, and with far less development time than the first game, it’s to be expected. Nevertheless, Remedy has actually struck a nice balance between quantity and quality, and Max Payne 2, like the original, is a game you’re going to want to play again just to experience certain scenes multiple times. If you’re hungry for more John Woo-inspired action and comfortable with the short game length, Max Payne 2 is the game to get, no more questions asked.
4.5 out of 5 ridiculous one-liners
