That familiar violin melody cued up as soon as the game installed, and I was back in the stark and gritty world the first Max Payne established over 10 years ago...
"Hopped up gringo a long way from home"
Now 8 years after Max has left his former cop life far behind and has headed 5000 miles south to the sunny streets of San Paulo, Brazil, a departure from the cold streets of New York of the first two games. Whereas Max began the series with a bleak outlook, he still had a sense of humor, albeit a morbid one. This 3rd version of Max is a far more world weary and cynical version. Now an obvious substance abuser, Max has little left in his life to hold on to. This does help retain the traditional film noir feel against the more cheery, party vibe of Brazil. Instead of Payne taking down organized crime and secret societies on the east coast, Payne now keeps a lookout for one of San Paulo's wealthiest families, the Brancos. When sisters Fabiana and Giovanna are kidnapped by local thugs, it's up to Payne and company to find them.
"I kept moving towards signs of life, rubbing them out as I went along."
Like always, Max can take his shots, bullets and whiskey alike. But so too can his enemies; a couple of shots to non-vital areas might send them to the ground, but they can and will get right back up again. Taking cover is more than just a new feature in the Payne series; it's a survival technique. But it's far from a lifesaver. Enemy AI has improved, and they'll know to get their shots in at your sides, rendering cover ineffective. Bullet time is a technique you'll need to frequent in order to stay alive, thought it can feel forced at times when you're up against more than a half dozen thugs. When it's down to you and a single enemy as the last men standing, score the fatal shot and time will slow down to a snail's pace. You can drag out the ensuing cinema for almost as long as you want, and continue to pump bullets into your enemy until he falls to the ground. If he manages to get one off on you, time again slows down as you're given the chance to take him down before time speeds back up again. Miss your shot, and the game ends.
Cut scenes have lost their comic book vibe, trading action conveyed in still panels for now taking place on the fly, giving a more flowing transition between game play and cut scene. Voice actor James McCaffrey still provides Payne's gravely voice for narration.
Continuing a tradition begun in Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption, treasure hunters can relish search for pieces of golden guns that are scattered throughout the levels. But if you're an easy way out kind of person, you can use this guide to help you track down all the pieces.
The weapons are as varied as ever, from shotguns to submachine guns, and back to pistols. But Payne can only carry so much. At times you'll have to make a tactical choice between one gun or another; go automatic, or let Payne fly with traditional dual Berettas.
A great new feature is the close up takeout. Manage to sneak up on an enemy, and you can take them out with a melee attack from whatever weapon is equipped. The enemy gets knocked to the ground before Max takes aim at their head, giving you the choice whether or not to pull the trigger.
Early shots of the game showed a Payne very different from what we had been accustomed to, bearded and bald. You'll have time to adjust to this transition, the game beginning with a more familiar Max. And you'll still get to see the leather jacket sporting Payne we're all used to in flashbacks, complete with leopard print tie, explaining how he went from Hoboken bar fly to bodyguard in Brazil.
"San Paulo is like Baghdad with G-Strings."
Rockstar took painstaking efforts to ensure that San Paulo was realistically represented. A 10 man team was sent to the city to photograph locales and get a "vibe" for the metropolis, from the favelas to the high rises. The team also did hundreds of 3D scans of local people so they could ensure authentic character models. Payne makes his way through a Brazillian nightclub, soccer stadium, rusted out boat yard, shanty town strip club, and more.
It's easy to see why Payne's run and shoot action recently topped Diablo 3's point drag and click gameplay in the UK sales charts. Max Payne 3 features great gameplay, a replay able for days multiplayer mode, and Max's omnipresent monologue highlights excellent writing. Max Payne 3 is out now for PS3 and Xbox360, and is a definite must have for any gamer.
