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Too much emphasis on emotions

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 6
Date: January 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Unlike the first game where Max Payne had at least a can do fighting attitude, in this sequel, he's always in conceding mode until the end of course and even then it ain't always so. Sure, the bullettime and graphics are souped up a bit but storywise and gameplay-wise, this game lacks much of both. It was annoying enough that in the first game Max had to walk through a couple of dark mazes but what's worse in this sequel is that in at least 3 or 4 levels of this game, Max walks through while talking to himself in a more groaning manner which is even more annoying. Also, too much emphasis is placed on Max's desperate love for Mona. Yes, there is supposed to be love noir crap in this sequel but how much emphasis can you really afford to put on emotions until you make the game all sappy !?!?! Too easy and too boring if you ever want to play it again. Get it for a few bucks at ebay for what it's worth !

Re:Outstanding game that doesn't last long enough

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: April 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Max Payne 1 may have been sort of outstanding but Max Payne 2 comes nowhere close. Just about any other game could easily take all the hyped features of this game and thus bury it. And don't forget no multiplayer and the fact that it is extremely boring after the first play. The only thing different in the toughest skill level is Mona is alive instead of dead which is the dumbest thing a game developer could come up with to try to make the skill levels unique.

14-year olds shouldn't write reviews...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 8
Date: May 31, 2004
Author: Amazon User

...because most of them are functional illiterates, and for attempting to form an opinion of games like this I also think a fine should be levied. Max Payne is not for children, nor for certain particularly idiotic adults.

That said...

The genre of this game is called "noir" for a reason --Max Payne is the luckiest unlucky bastard on Earth. He survives against incredible odds while watching his life go down the toilet and it's all because he is a 'good man' and he believes in justice no matter the price. The road of truth is costly and boy does he pay.

The comic book style cut-scenes and the noir movie voice over work is perfectly suited to this blackest of love vis-a-vis revenge stories. Graphically it's a masterpiece, particularly the abandoned amusement/theme park. The story is exactly what it should be.

My only gripe is that many people won't be able to fully immerse themselves into Payne's world for wont of a top grade graphics card. Also, for better marketing Max Payne-2 shouldn't have been given the "2" designation so that lots of new fans could have got onboard without thinking they had missed something by not playing the first one. You're not missing too much --in case you wanted to know since Max explains his past in the game's first 5-minutes.

This game is exactly what it says on the box; a film noir love story. 5 stars. If you don't know what "noir" means, look it up.
If you think it's too much trouble you get 1 star.

More of a good thing

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: November 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User

For those of you who loved the first Max Payne: rest assured this game will not dissapoint. Stop reading and buy it.

For the rest of you: Max Payne 2's story picks up where the first left off. Although the focus of the game is shooting, there is a rather decent storyline attached to it. Actually, if you're into plot, you may want to play through the original game first if you haven't already. The unique gameplay feature in both games is the 'bullet time', which has been slightly enhanced for the sequel. Basically, you press a button and time slows down to give you a slight upperhand while aiming.

If you into shooters, you'll find a lot to like about this game. Yes, it's short... but that was something I personally never minded (I was able to finish it, unlike these 80-hour epics).

An excellent game overall

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: November 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I was wowed. My jaw dropped to the floor and stayed there. The graphics are easily the best I have ever seen in a FPS. The sound is utterly perfect, and the controls are very easy to learn (especially if you are a MP veteran). The battles are difficult, but never too difficult. My only complaint about it was that it was rather short (like the first one), but the Dead Man Walking mode more than made up for that.

However, the plot was a different story. I was thoroughly disappointed by it. They should have had many more references to the first Max Payne, and the love story gets old and annoying after while, so much that it can interfere with the main story. One of my favorite characters in MP 1 turns bad, and the whole thing just doesn't captivate me like the first one did.

Anyway, except for the story, the game rocked. I have never played a game more exciting, and that's that.

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: November 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is a much improved game from the first one.
I just love the bullet time and how you can redo
the scene over and over each time doing it a different way.
this game scores a 10/10 in my book.

Great fun while it lasts, which turns out to be not long

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: January 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I rented this game on Saturday afternoon, and two and a half hours later, I was finished. Visually and in terms of gameplay, atmosphere and immersion, 'Max Payne 2' is practically at the top of the pile. Some of the levels are incredibly inventive and original, and it's good to be able to step into the shoes of another character from time to time. But two and a half hours of gameplay? Even 'Call Of Duty', much lamented for its shortness, lasts much longer than that. I'm glad I rented 'MP2' and didn't pay full price. Sure you can go back and play it on higher levels of difficulty, or try the various other modes, but why bother? You know what's going to happen and how - all that's changed is the damage you take.

My advice is to either rent this game, borrow it from a friend, or wait until it drops into the budget zone, which should only take a few months. As far as games go it's wonderful, but as for length, I've had pizzas that took me longer to complete.

Ah...the Pain of Love...and a Gunshot Wound

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: January 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

WOW! I found it hard to believe that anything could live up to the incredible standard set by the original Max Payne. I was wrong. Max Payne 2 is an incredible follow up to the hugely successful tale of A DEA agent framed for murder. Now, Max is back with a vengeance as a tough New York City cop. This game boast some improvements on the original with its improved graphics, redesigned bullet time feature, and a much more intricate plot. This game is like playing a movie with a well developed plot line, and let me tell you, the action is every bit as intense as the first! I give this game 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great third person shooter with a story!

"That old familar feeling."

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: March 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This is my favorite PC game by far! I'll admit I haven't played that much in the way of games, but I have never been addicted to one as much as this. This game is like being in control of a John Woo film in almost every aspect; the way you use the shoot-dodge, the gun in each hand, the slow motion, even the Hong-Kong-Mexican standoff in the cinematics. It's so cool!!

Max is once again up too his neck in problems, but this time it seems like it's the choices he's making for some bizarre reasons are resulting in his problems. He's back to being a detective but he seemingly hates his life know. Several other characters from the first game make apppearances in this game; Vladimir Lem, Vinnie Gognitti, Alfred Woden and most deliciously, Mona Sax. On three of the chapters you actually get to PLAY Mona Sax. Quite the fem-fatalle! What can you say about the a character who hold a .44 Desert Eagle in each hand?

They were able to fix the problems with the first game. My favorite of them is the fact you do enter Max's dreams again but there's no maze to go through and you can't die in them, good poetic idea the first game but a waste of time. The bullet time has been improved. The best aspect is you can shoot when you hit the ground instead of having to wait. You also visit the same location three times in three different ways, I love that damn funhouse.

An excellent game! My favorite addiction by far!

Something special......4.5 stars

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: June 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There is no bigger max payne fan than me. I was estastic to see the new pax2 come out and after the price came down a bit i jumped on it. What i got was arguably the best single player game ever. It was awesome. Everything you liked about max payne was still there with much more. A souped up game engine with exellent graphics and razor sharp game play and action. Max2 gives you little extras including interaction with other characters and the opportunity to be another character, mona, max' love interest. You get to see baseball bat boy close up and personal and participate in situations that will take your breath away.

Like the original the game is just a little too easy as you have no choice but to start at the easiest level. Everytime you feel like you can't get out of a situation you are able to obtain some ammo and or pain killers that keep you going. Never did i run into a situation that seemed almost impossible. Max2 is even more fast paced with larger more advanced weopons entering the game sooner. Early in the first game you can make your way with pistols and shotguns. In this game automatics are your constant companion. The bullets fly fast and furious so be ready.

So is max2 a better game than max one? No. Max one had a better story. In max one you encounter this gut wrenching scene with his baby and wife being murdered. Max was a lone wolf going after these seriously demonic drug dealers while also avoiding the cops. In max one you truly despise the enemy and have a visceral hatred for them. In max2 that emotion simply isn't matched. Max2 does gives you those extras. Also the first game seems to offer more of a strategic challenge to the mind. In max one you honestly had to solve problems that don't seem to be the case in max2. In max2 you do most of your thinking on the fly.

In one spectacular sequence max falls through some scaffolding and is lying helpless under it. You are mona now and get to fight off the bad guys before they can get to max as max lies helpless. You do this from about 6 stories up! The view and the action is spectacular.

If you loved max payne then you will certainly love this sequel. You have to have it. Max payne2 is one of the truly exciting opportunities in gaming. I recommend it.

So why the 4.5 rating? Two eternal issues. Multiplayer and the length of the game.

Max payne2 like mafia and the hitman seris offer terrific single player game play without any multiplayer options. The argument with these games is that single player offers so much they simply can't provide that and a multiplyer element. Ok i buy that but why no multiplayer add ons? I would gladly pay 20 bucks for a multiplayer max payne. Look at all the success half-life has had that way. You finish this great game and are aching for more with no relief. A max payne multiplayer would be awesome.

The other issue here pertains to the length of this game. It ends all to soon. There are just 3 long chapters; that's all. You end up begging for more. The end is so anticlimactic. You can of course replay the game at a harder level and i'm doing that. Still not the same. There is the dead man walking feature which allows you to challenge yourself to see how long you can stay upright against massive numbers of bad guys. That helps quite a bit.

I truly loved this game. The lack of a multiplayer element and the length compel me to lower the rating a bit. Buy it anyway.

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