Max Payne 3 Rockstar Games
The last time we saw a Max Payne game, the Xbox 360 and PS3 didn't exist, the first Call of Duty game was still a few weeks from release, and people were still up in arms about a violent game called Manhunt.
Yes, it really has been almost nine years since we last entered the distinctively Noir world of Max Payne.
Plenty of things have changed since then, including a number of new consoles, the rise of the Call of Duty franchise (and its clones), and the Massively Multiplayer revolution set off by World of Warcraft.
In the time that has passed, the average gamer has become much more sophisticated, demanding, and downright hard to please.
With that in mind, the first question one asks when it comes to Max Payne 3 is: does Max still have a place in the modern world of gaming?
Well, fortunately for Rockstar Games, the answer is yes.
I personally believe that there will always be a place for a game with a good narrative, and games like May Payne 3 help reinforce this belief.
The rampant violence present in the game isn't mindless. It all serves to further your immersion in the dark world of Max Payne. There's plenty of guilt, anger, and of course, betrayal, to keep you intrigued in the story.
However, I'm not saying that Max Payne 3 ignored modern game mechanics to focus on its story. In fact, it's obvious Rockstar knew that they had to follow some of the new industry standards (like the use of cover) for their game to be credible, and it shows. The gameplay is tight, controls are responsive, and most of all, the gunplay is FUN.
Much of this has to do with Rockstar's attention to detail, which shows in features like their 360 firing arc, which we delved into during an earlier preview of the game.
The biggest surprise that Max Payne 3 brings is its enjoyable multiplayer. A first for the Max Payne series, multiplayer could have felt like it was just stapled onto a final product (ahem, Bioshock 2). However, the game modes, especially Gang Wars, are fun and easy to get into.
SEE ALSO: Max Payne 3's multiplayer
The single player component isn't long, and will take you around 12 hours to complete. However, the game's longevity is greatly increased by the multiplayer. Getting a crew of friends together to wreak havoc online will likely keep you occupied for the next few months.
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5
