Max Payne; The Real Last Action Hero...

Author's Rating:

Pros: Bullet Time, Effects, Story, Voices

Cons: No cons

The Bottom Line: 
Innovative and original action packed action game like no other.

Author's Review
First, we must talk about the biggest feature in this game.
The "Matrix" esque "Bullet-Time" mode. You know those sweet scenes in the Matrix where there is a lot of action, and everything stops while the camera zooms around so it looks really cool? Well, Max Payne not only features scenes with those effects, but you can actually trigger the effect with the "L-trigger" to slow down time and dodge while shooting to take out enemies while minimizing the hits you take. You will find yourself using Bullet-Time in just about every fire-fight and shoot out you encounter. I was worried, before playing, that the feature might be overused and redundant. But after playing, I have realized that this is not the case. Not only does the action look really cool each time, but being approached by a horde of enemies while dodging in slow motion doing your best to get each one without getting hit is a real adrenaline rush that you won't find dull doing over and over again. There are also important scenes where the camera will follow the bullet, such as shooting someone with a sniper rifle. Now that we covered the Bullet-Time feature, on to the rest of the review.

Control: 8
Well, the control is great, but I came across one problem.
There is one level where you must walk across a pipe connecting two roof-tops while in pursuit of an enemy. It was hard to get Max to move straight, but that might have just been me being afraid that I was going to fall. There is also a Dream Sequence level where you must walk, tight-rope style, on a trail of blood (it will make sense, but I don't want to give away too much) which I had to repeat once or twice before making it across without falling. But, I suppose it should be hard, otherwise it wouldn't be so thrilling to make it to the other side. I am not saying the control makes it impossible, I am just saying that it may take a few tries. Other than that, the control is great doing anything you need to do, and is easy to learn.

Here is the layout:

L-Trigger: Bullet-Time(with direction, bullet time with dodge)

Left Controls Stick: Move(Press in to crouch)

D-Pad: Change weapon, works well for navigating the lists of weapons.

Start: Pause gives you a list of options, one of which being "quick save". You can quick save anywhere you want, turn off the system, and start where you quick saved.

Right Control Stick: Aim, turn left or right while moving.
Aiming is pretty easy to control. In Bullet time, you can aim in normal time regardless of the fact that everyone else is in slow motion. With most high fire rate type weapons you can use the accuracy by extreme volume principle. The shot gun type weapons fire a spread of bullets, so enemies at a distance will get hit by a few pieces even if your aim is a little off.

A Button: general action button used when Max is interested in taking a closer look at documents on a table or opening cabinets. The game is loaded with objects that Max can interact with. If you walk in to a bathroom, you will discover that you can turn on sinks, and flush toilets. The A button is also used to use the Zoom scope on the sniper rifle.

X Button: Jump, With direction roll left or right.

B Button: Take "painkillers". What? Painkillers??? Calm down, I'll explain. See, when you get shot, it hurts. Not surprising. So, in order to regain health, Max must take painkillers to relieve the pain of getting shot. This is how you regain health. I think this makes the game more realistic since it kinda makes sense. But in real life painkillers wouldn't actually cure bullet wounds, but this is a videogame, so we can let that slide. Painkillers can be found in places like bathroom cabinets, and just lying around where enemies have been since they have probably been using them too. It is rewarding to explore your environment.

Y Button: Reload. Max Reloads automatically when he needs to too. But if you think you know enemies are coming up, you may want to make sure you're playing with a full deck, errrrr, ammo clip.

White Button & Black Button: Bullet-Time. I guess if you get tired using the L-Trigger?

R-Trigger: Shoot. Probably the most important button in the game. You use it to shoot at the people who are shooting at you. HeeHee.

If you don't like this, you can customize the controls.

Graphics & Effects: 10
Really Stunning!!! First, bullets. Each bullet is animated. Meaning, especially in bullet time, you can actually see the bullets as they whiz past, "Matrix" esque. Also, you can see the fraction of a second it takes to enemies that are at a distance. You can even see the cloud of bullets fleeing the end of the shot-guns. All the environments and textures are right on the money. Speaking of money, if you find a brief case of money, try shooting at it. It flutters through the air just like in the movies. Environments feel realistic, everything from bathrooms, subways, apartments, rooftops, outside, and the like are all realistic. Even the dream sequence has a nice "long-dark-hallway" effect. Different surfaces have different effects, such as the difference of the way tiles look when being shot, and the way wood looks when being shot. The sound of these different material also exists. There are also many fires in the game. This is probably the coolest fire effects I have ever seen in a video game. Very cool.
Also, each important bad guy has distinctive features that you can point out from the rest of the henchmen.

Sound: 10
They have done some very cool effects with sound. As you move towards doors, the voices of enemies talking in the next room become louder. All the guns have their sounds. Shooting different materials have different sounds. Such as, grates, tiles, wood, pipes, etc...
Explosions and fire sound are realistic. Voices sound good. Like something out of a Godfather movie. Which makes sense because these bad guys are all tied to the Mafia. Well, the only exception would be the Russian, who also sounds believable.

Story: 9
I will give you the basic starter story so I don't give away anything. You are Max Payne, a undercover cop who comes home one day to find his house invaded by thugs. They murder his wife and baby. He becomes framed, so he seeks to get revenge on the person who was behind it. You then find yourself tracking down important members of the Mob as the story unfolds.
Very interestingly, they decided to tell the story with a comic book. Yeah, CG cut scenes, but the bulk of the actual story telling takes place as if you were reading a comic book. Somehow the comic style story telling and the cool action hero style gameplay merge together to form a really neat gaming experience. One advantage is you can go back and re-read what has happened so far in-case you have been away from the game for awhile. So, why did I not give it a 10? Well, I couldn't help but stare at Max Payne's stupid smile. But I think that maybe it is supposed to be a shadow, not a smile. It doesn't take away from the story anyway, the voice acting keeps it believable.

Gameplay: 10
Gameplay is not limited to just shooting a gun, although it is most of it. You will find yourself in situations such as, finding your way through maze type hallways, escaping burning buildings, and finding ways of opening certain paths. It is as if they are trying to sneak in some puzzle elements. Each melds with the game fantastically and feels natural. Anyway, getting into huge gun fights is a lot of fun.

There's no multiplayer, it's not needed.

Overall: 10
This is the most fantastic and original experience in this genre yet. Every aspect makes you feel like your in control of the star of a big-time action movie.