5 Stars: What else is there to say?
It's mid February as I write this, and the majority of the video game world is
still experiencing a nuclear winter of sorts, waiting for the releases of Halo 2, Doom 3, and Half-Life 2. But never
fear, for there's a life saver of sorts out there for gamers to cling to until help arrives. Ladies (that is, if any
actually visit here) and gentlemen, Rockstar Games brings you Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.
Before I began writing this, I was debating over whether I should do an actual review, or
just type "BUY THIS GAME" in a 999 point, bold, underlined font. While some might actually prefer it that way, nevertheless
I'mma gonna tella youse guys, capice?
First off, the graphics. Wow, wow, and wow. I can only imagine this is what Half-Life 2
would be like if it were a third person game. As opposed to the original Max Payne, MP2 includes lip synch voice overs,
fully-functional facial expressions, and eyes that can look around. Couple that with the incredibly detailed clothing
worn by the characters, a fully destructable and useable environment, and spooky televsision and radio sounds in the background,
and you'll find yourself totally immersed in the world of Max Payne. All I can say is "absolutely flawless".
It's hard to say this, but even the controls are amazing. Now, when Max uses his shoot-dodge maneuver,
he doesnt use any Bullet Time. While this may seem like it makes things easier, believe me it's not. The enemies
are a lot harder to nail this time around, yet not so much that you have to waste an entire clip on a guy fiendishly wielding
a broom. While in Bullet Time, you'll be treated to a sweet 360 degree panoramic swoosh when you have to reload.
Game!!
As always, the story makes the game, and Max Payne 2 is no different. It is still presented in
a comic-book mode, which only adds to everything in general. The big difference this time is the actual game itself.
Instead of just cutting to the graphic novel, sometimes you'll be treated to an in-game cutscene that is shot just like if
it was in an action movie. If you get a chance to play the game, check out the exploding building scene where Max gets
blown backwards through a plate glass window in slow motion. Holy crap.
I really can't say anything bad about this game. I have heard that the Playstation 2 version has
some glitches, but as far as computer and X-box, everything is awesome so far. In conclusion, Max Payne 2 is about twice
as good as the first game, and is a surefire bet to keep your interest piqued before the blockbuster games come out later
this year.
