It’s hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since the first “Max Payne.” After being released to high critical acclaim, spawning a sequel and getting the Hollywood treatment in a major motion picture, you could say the game has left quite a legacy. Too much of a legacy to let go, in fact, which is why, in 2009, Rockstar Games announced a third installment, set to be released in March 2012. Recently, at New York Comic Con, I was given a hands-off demonstration of what “Max Payne 3” will look and play like.
Dark, gritty and with elements of film noir set to a graphic-novel style of storytelling, the first “Max Payne” was a gripping homage to tales of dirty cops, conspiracies and unlikely heroes. Of course, the most famous feature of the original game was Payne’s ability to enter “bullet time,” dramatically slowing time down to perform incredible stunts while dodging bullets and returning fire in the blink of an eye. You’ll be happy to know, it’s all back in “Max Payne 3.”
We drop in on Payne a few years after the events of the second game. He’s since crawled into a bottle of booze and is slipping from bad to worse. As the demonstration begins, we see Payne, not exactly living the good life, alone in a filthy, New York slum apartment, when an old friend, Raul Passos, comes calling. Passos offers Payne a way out, a new life in Sao Paulo, Brazil, working security for a wealthy family. Just as Payne begins to mull it over, however, more of Payne’s “old friends” show up — a small band of mafia, looking to exact their revenge on Payne for the death of the Don’s son.
It’s in this scene that we get to hear some of that top-notch voice acting that Rockstar Games are known for. The emotion really comes through in the angry, distraught shouts from outside while Payne tries to get a plan together. Then, the action-oriented gameplay kicks in as Payne must shoot his way out of this dire situation. As the demo continues, we’re treated to several other hallmarks of the “Max Payne” series, including a surreal encounter with a mad conspiracy theorist with a bomb strapped to his chest.
A short while later, the demo shows Payne in Brazil; his head has been shaved, and he’s grown a beard. It’s a radical departure from the character’s usual appearance, but reflects his adaptation to his new life. Old habits die hard, however. In addition to his addictions, he finds himself double-crossed and fighting for his life, again.
During another gun fight, we see more spectacular animations, bullet time effects and more jaw-dropping cinematic action sequences. We even see how Payne can utilize the environment to duck out of harm’s way as the enemy A.I. searches for him.
“Max Payne 3” will feature many artistic and technical achievements, much of which I saw for myself. However, I had to take the word of the Rockstar representative when he said the game wouldn’t have any loading screens. Levels will seamlessly flow into another as all of the loading takes place behind the motion comic-book styled cut scenes. How well it will work remains to be seen, but in the wake of numerous titles that suffer from long loading screens, it will be a welcome change.
From what I’ve seen, despite his new look, “Max Payne 3” is sizing up to be a fantastic game, worthy of the original. Coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in March 2012.
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