Max Payne uses extremely realistic graphics to showcase a gritty film noir-inspired New York City. Payne stalks subways, tenements, nightclubs and even government installations as he takes his vengeance out on a horde of gun-toting bad guys. Taking a page from the visual style of famed director John Woo, as well as The Matrix, Max Payne lets the player launch into a slow motion mode generally known as "Bullet Time", which makes dodging enemy fire and dishing out your own in return, while leaping side to side, a breeze. While this looks extremely cool to do, it also evens the odds and can only be used for limited amounts of time, making it a strategic as well as aesthetic option.

And speaking of aesthetics, the game is packed with exciting moments, weapons and locations, even if the enemies get a little redundant after a while. The level design ranges from inspired (a multi-level parking garage) to humdrum (a warehouse) and several levels actually take place in the twisted wonderland of the hero's warped psyche. The graphics are state of the art, though admittedly the PlayStation 2 doesn't have the power to render them as well as the Xbox or PC, but most people won't notice the difference. The introduction scenes are painted photos presented graphic-novel style, which is a stylistic choice that pays dividends, even if the writing is hilariously bad and the voice acting is, if possible, even worse.

Needless to say, all this is violent, disturbing and not at all for the kids. Pay attention to the 18 rating, it's not there for decoration.--Bob Andrews

Graphics 10/10 Perfect.No flaws.

Lifespan 9/10 long time to comeplete and new dificulties to unlock.

Playability 8/10 good,but blocked areas.

Overall:

This game is almost perfect,but Rockstar should of made the bullets more visible so it's easier.


Max Payne   April 22, 2004
 2 out of 8 found this review helpful

Unfortently i don't like the style of this shooter, but it doesn't meen you wont. Max Payne is a police officer that brakes the law to go after a mafia group after they killed his wife. That's who you get to be. I must say that the game has a massive amount of levels, and i mean huge, all of them great quality and great gameplay. Theres also a massive range of weapons.
Unforteantly though, the game does lack the extra realism facter that I love. What I mean is that theres only one way of entry, and theres NO chance of been able to go in stealth. But don't let that put you off, if you like storming in guns blazing, shooting everyone you see then it's a great game.


Pain in the But!   February 1, 2004
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

I can remember first getting this game on P.C and absolutely loving the game completing it over and over and over with and without the cheats. So when I got this on the Ps2 I was proud to have it in my collection for about 10 minutes. As soon as I loaded the game in I felt the long loading times were pointless and the layout of the start-up screens were very disappointing for a conversion. But still I played on determined to see the quality of the game play. I saw it and I did not like it one bit. The opening cut scene was badly structered, the graphics were blocky and slow and Max’s face still looked slightly weird. For some reason I still kept my head up high and started to play the game only to find out that the controls were the fiddliest I had ever played. The graphics needed a good polish the game play and controls were worse than the PC version and there were more loading time then the PC version. I was very disappointed with this conversion. Worst conversion ever. The only way this game earns any stars at all is the brilliant storyline, the almost quality bullet time, and the range of weapons. If your looking for a game with an immense storyline than by all means get this game but if you can get it on the PC then do it because believe me it is so much more graphically polished and the layout of the controls are brilliant. Brilliant Game let down by a shoddy conversion.


Anyone else who buys this game, you are in for a let down   December 31, 2003
 0 out of 29 found this review helpful

I didn't get this game from this website but anyone who is lazy enough to try DON'T BOTHER. Im not saying this site is rubbish but this game they are selling stinks worse then dog poo!!!
My reasons for saying this is because the controls are difficult to use and the Bullet-time feature was just stolen from the game ENTER THE MATRIX to make it seem really good.