| System: PS3, Xbox 360*, PC |  |
| Dev: Rockstar Vancouver | |
| Pub: Rockstar Games | |
| Release: May 15, 2012 | |
| Players: 1-26 | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol |
However, and I hate to say this, subtleties don't make the transition to multiplayer. It's not that the multiplayer component isn't fun; it is. It's just that the lighthearted pandemonium of the multiplayer seems to undermine the tone of the rest of the game. Though, even though I had my reservations, I still managed to spend several hours addictedly glued to a multiplayer game. So you should probably just ignore me.
As far as the controls go, if you've ever played a third-person shooter, you're probably ready to go. Some of the buttons that are typically allocated for grenades and hand-to-hand combat have been co-opted for the Bullet Time mechanic, but it's an easy switch to make. You utilize the slow-down controls so often that they become part of your repertoire quickly.
I should also mention, just to cover my bases, that this is not a Rockstar Game in the same way that Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption is. Players are strapped to a fairly linear storyline that lasts between 15 and 70 hours, depending on how frequently you use bullet time. However, the narrative has Rockstar's stamp all over it. There's a nouveau kind of interactive storytelling happening in Max Payne 3 that could only really be told by the people who brought you GTA and L.A. Noir.
The cutscenes, while possibly too numerous, are seamlessly integrated into the overall narrative in a way that often makes you forget when it's time to take control of your character. This, coupled with a graphical universe that undoubtedly pushes the limits of this generation of consoles, creates an immersive experience that will give titles like Uncharted a run for their money.
However, if you're looking for a fast-paced, explosion-filled, Michael Bay-type experience, you're probably going to want to steer clear of Max Payne 3. Remember, this is a game where you slow things down.
When you actually add them up, Max Payne 3 contains more played-out references than I'm typically comfortable endorsing. You've got a burned-out cop with a drinking problem who plays by his own rules, a highly funded crime syndicate bent on personal revenge, and a gameplay mechanic that's made its way into almost every video game and film over the last decade. Rockstar even added a last stand mode, à la Call of Duty, as if one overused mechanic weren't already enough. But clichés exist for a reason, and Max Payne uses them all flawlessly.
In fact, I would almost say that anyone who's used one of these clichés up till now was just trying to be like Max Payne 3.
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By Josh Engen Contributing Writer  @CardCanuckDate: May 15, 2012 |
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