..."
Max Payne doesn't have much luck with the ladies. Framed for the murder of his wife and daughter last time, in the sequel our hero is balls-deep in a tortuous conspiracy involving Russian gunrunners, bent coppers and a Masonic crime syndicate. He's also enjoying vigorous sex with the ... Read review
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swathe of imitations--not least, imitations of the bullet-time feature. Yet it never really happened, meaning thatMax Payne 2, like its predecessor, is a little bit unusual.At heart, the game is another over-the-shoulder actioner, with Payne once again in the midst of an intelligent, well-developed story replete with unpleasant turns. And once more, the story is presented in a dark comic-book style with moody voiceovers and deeply atmospheric music. It positively drips with detail. At times, it's mildly annoying that there's so much story to get through, but there's a fantastic game underneath it all.The levels primarily rely on action, and each feels suitably sombre, in line with the tone of Max's adventure. Bullet time is back, and the game does it far better than evenEnter The Matrixcould manage. It's an even more cinematic spectacle than before, yet a very handy gameplay device. You could argue that the game won't last too long and that it's perhaps a little linear, but these are very mild grumbles about a game that's engrossing, addictive and completely unmissable. Here's hoping we meet up with Max again, soon. --Simon Brew
A review by davesmithton on Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PS2) February 9th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Gameplay/Playability
OK
Graphics
OK graphics
Sound
Good sound effects & music
Value for Money
Satisfactory
Advantages:
Atmospheric music and good voice acting, some flashes of brilliance
Disadvantages:
Smudgy dull textures, annoying flaws in gameplay, shorter than before
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
"Mona Sax was trouble. She walked back into my life, flashed that cherry red smile and blew me away. Not literally, that came later, but unless Smith and Wesson had started making underwear, she was packing heat. The future was already starting to unravel. Train tracks stretching out towards the horizon and dark clouds gathering overhead. Once this was over, a lot of men would be dead. And she wanted me pulling the trigger. Really slowly. Because that was how she liked it, Outside, the snow fell like frozen tears. Mona moved closer and my heart took off like the Coney Island cyclone. It was going to be a long night..."
Max Payne doesn't have much luck with the ladies. Framed for the murder of his wife and daughter last time, in the sequel our hero is balls-deep in a tortuous conspiracy involving Russian gunrunners, bent coppers and a Masonic crime syndicate. He's also enjoying vigorous sex with the contract killer from the original game - who somehow managed to survive after being shot in the head and just happens to be the prime suspect this time round. But rather than just waste time gathering evidence, Max decides to crack the case the only way he knows how...Shooting first and not really bothering to ask any questions later.
What we have here is essentially more of the same. But that's no bad thing if you're after high impact gunplay with a generous serving of hard-boiled nonsense, and this time you get to control femme fatale Mona Sax - as well as Payne. Each level involves diving (sloooooooowly) through a series of rooms, gunning down everyone in sight and then guzzling painkillers like a lonely housewife (to regain health). The plot is deliberately cliched, but thoroughly enjoyable, using graphic novel sequences to advance the storyline. Although the gameplay is almost entirely linear, that shouldn't be taken as a criticism either. Max Payne 2 is supposed to be an intense blast of no-brainer entertainment. Short, sweet and oh so stylish. And this it succeeds in doing. The real crime here is the amount of damage that has occured in the transition from PC to PS2.
Payne in Vain?
It's not like a flawless conversion was expected, that would've been unrealistic. But I certainly didn't expect the game to arrive virtually crippled by a string of glaring technical inadequacies. The most damaging of these is the framerate, which gets choppier than an angry sushi chef whenever there's any real heat on screen - bad news for a game that's supposed to be all about gossamer-smooth action. The sitaution is compounded by a camera and control system that seem poorly optimised for PS2 play. Worst case scenario: you're being shot by an unseen assailant, you spin around trying to get a bead on your attacker, and accidentally stumble off a ledge. This certainly doesn't happen all the time but that fact that it happened to me is enough to incur my wrath.
The instant death is infuriating enough, but even more so if you've forgotten to save recently. Unfortunately there's no quick save option, meaning you have to navigate a couple of menus each time. Nonetheless, getting into the routine of saving regularly is essential - assuming you want to avoid repeating the trickier sections.
An without wanting to sound shallow, the game looks so rough that if you woke up next to it you'd sneak out without saying goodbye and delete its mobile number. It almost makes you wince each time you come across some of the more basic background textures. There's also an uncanny resemblance between Max's sideways strafe animation and Michael Flatley's leg- jerking Irish jig. There's more too. Like the way you have to try every door before working out where to go next. Or the platform-based bits, where the only way to survive involves sidling across ledges, face pressed against the wall like the bloke at the end of the Blair Witch. But you probably get the point by now...
Let Me Outta Here!
There's clearly a very good game struggling to get out of The Fall Of Max Payne. There are flashes of brilliance - such as the scene in the police station where Max eavesdrops on genuinely funny interrogaions, or the dramatic escape from an exploding building - when you can forget about these flaws and just enjoy the ride. To be fair, if you are prepared to look past its failings, Max Payne 2 will provide a dozen or so hours of undemanding thrills. The only real innovation is the new physics engine, which has enabled the designers to pack the environment with destructible objects. Most of the time this involves blundering into crates, knocking over chairs and shooting stuff just for the sake of it. But in the moments when it all comes together - bullets flying, glass shattering - there's no denying Max Payne 2 packs a more visceral punch than most other PS2 actioners.
But ultimately this feels like a badly missed opportunity - largely because PS2 is more than capable of handling detailed action games. The likes of Devil May Cry, Prince of Persia and Manhunt speak for themselves and that's all partly because they were designed specifically for PS2. Frankly, I'd rather have waited to get a lovingly converted port of Max Payne 2 that played to the machine's strengths. However, there is still plenty to recommend about the Fall of Max Payne, especially for those who care more for shooting the hell out of anything that moves and cheesy plotlines that textured edges and technical adequacies.
Advantages: Outstanding Graphics Disadvantages: Lack of multiplayer option
...just awesome.
The original Max Payne came out a while ago now, it revolutionised gaming with the addition of bullet time in which the action would slow down so the main character Max could dodge bullets and slay his enemies (a bit like Neo and the agents can do in the Matrix).
In the original game Max's wife and child are murdered and Max was left to fight the Mafia, Police a shadowy organisation called the "Inner Circle" and the Aser Corporation ... ...was nice to follow.
Max Payne 2 starts pretty much were Max Payne left off, Max has gone back working for the NYPD, a routine investigation of a warehouse becomes linked to some killer cleaners and before we know it Max is pulled back into the murky New York Underbelly.
Once again the game plays out like a film with you in the driving seat, as you play chance encounters and secret plots are revealed. In the first chapter we meet a few characters ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: great sequel Disadvantages: a little too short
The Fall Of Max Payne is a sequel to the best-selling PS2 game which sees you return to the world of undercover detective, Max Payne, some years after the original. Max is investigating a series of murders by hitmen, The Cleaners, and finds himself drawn back into his shawdowy past when he encounters his very own femme fatale, Mona Sax, whom he thought killed in the first game. Mona is essentially here Max's love interest and is every bit the cold, ... ...are gonna love this as Max is just as moody and repressed as in the original and Bullet-Time has been vastly improved. The controls too feel slicker and more polished and this is a game no PS2 collection should really be without if it already includes the first Payne game.
Overall I found this just as enjoyable and though the surrealism is slightly lowered in this game still there are some novel levels including one in which you play constricted ...
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Gameplay/Playability
Graphics
Sound
Value for Money
helpful
09.12.2008
Max is back in action Review ofMax Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PS2)by
bazmansealey
Advantages: Nice action game Disadvantages: None really
...very nice with the 1st Max Payne game, unfortunately I haven't played it so can not comment. The plot is very good in this game, as you go through levels there's various cut scenes, some of the scenes you control Max (but all you can do is walk around) which is a fresh change.
You control Max Payne, a troubled, slightly mixed up in the head Detective. As the game progresses you find out why Max has the problems he has, you find out where certain ... ...of the storyline is between Max and the love of his life Mona Sax, a very dangerous and pretty set of pixels. The game is a 3rd person style (Tomb Raider) so if you play about with the camera you can see the detail of the guns Max can use.
A really neat feature in the game is the 'bullet-time' (you'll probably recognise the phrase from The Matrix) to use it you just press a shoulder button on the controller and then time slows down for every character ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great Game, Good Price Disadvantages: Not Many
...Background : The original Max Payne was arevelation on PC when it first came out on PC back in 2001.The game managed to neatly mix a film noir storyline with some totally unbelievable special effects,the bullet-time from The Matrix movies is brilliantly used in this game. Also we were introduced to a truly unforgettable main character.In this latest outing the Payne is back and he is gonna Revolutionise the action / shoot 'em up genre once again.
... ...in love, however this being Max Payne he's fallen in love with a murder suspect. Therefore the idea of French Chocs and candlelight meals is out of the window. Instead you'll meet lots of unsavory characters, have to explore poorly-lit warehouses and jump around with guns in your hands as you dodge enemy fire.The things us men do for love and women. Playability : In MP2 the AI has been vastly updated from it's the original. This makes the game more ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Improvements over #1 better bullet-time,controls and bonus levels. Disadvantages: Although it's longer than #1 its still short.
Game Info
Genre = 3rd Person Action
Developer = Remedy
Publisher = Rockstar
Players = 1
Online = No
Age = 18+
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If you liked number one then u will like this too. It mostly the same but with more added stuff.
The graphics have been improved, the controllers are better. Again you have got the detail with the bullet's over the floor and ever thing braking apart. This time you also ... ...ones you have completed it, its not over because when you have you unlock some level where you have to say alive for as long as possibly, which is great fun and u all so have the hard modes to try if you think your hard. This time you can wait on the floor after you have dived and also there an even deeper longer slow-motion bullet time to help in the hard levels and game modes. So get this game if your a fan of the first or you just love guns and ...
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Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Tom Waller - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Kate Steavenson-Payne, Martin Kemp, Rupert Vansittart, Rhona Mitra, John Michie, Ben Taylor, Paula Hamilton
Production Year: 1995 - Comedy - Director: Nick Castle - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Michael Ironside, Karyn Parsons, Damon Wayans, Bill Hickey, Steve Martini
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