Plus XP

I’ve noticed I have been doing a lot of demo reviews lately. Probably a bit samey and boring, kinda like the combat in TMNT but lets not go there again.

A couple of nights ago I thought I would drag out the old PS2. Haven’t played it in ages, thinking I did get this console for free off a friend to replace my broken one, It was time to do it some justice.

Now back when I was at uni I was trading in games like no tomorrow so I don’t have much of a PS2 games collection anymore. I thought all hope was lost (either that or I would start Kingdom Hearts from the beginning again) until I came across a game that I did not play much of when I first got it, the game was Max Payne.

I dunno maybe when it first came out I didn’t get into it much because: A) I either didn’t understand it (back in 2001 I would of been 12) or  B) I never flipped the controls off inverted and got angry at it.

Now I play it and think, wow. This was a 3rd person arcade shooter at its best, not an overly complicated game at all. Pretty much just run and shoot. Granted ther are some tactics you have to use but run and gun is always they way to go for me. The best thing I gotta say has to be Bullet Time! The slow mo dives while gunning down bad guys is awesome!

This game came out a year after The Matrix but before any Matrix games came out. This was the game that created the phrase Bullet Time which we often use to associate with Matrix slow motion these days.

What I also love about this game is the film noir aspect of it. OK you caught me I love film noir and what it has in ways of telling story. Max Payne has the narration from the lead character, has the down and dirty gang crime, and, especially in the cut scenes, has the great shading and shadowing I love.

Now as I got board of this game when it first came out (face palms self for doing so) I am trying to get a hold of Max Payne 2. Which makes sence really, but what has been playing on my mind since that night I started playing Max Payne again is what is Max Payne 3 going to be like?

It’s gonna be a lot different. The theme for the past 2 games was a clean shaven trench coat wearing, gun wielding mad man in the dark and grimy streets of new york shooting up gang members and running from the police.  Max Payne 3 however he has been moved to sunny Brazil, he is a bald beaded guy, with no trench coat but instead has a white stained vest and carky trousers! Yeah so it has gone down a slightly different route.

But thank god they are trying to still get the ‘noir’ feel of the game, thing is when people hear the word noir they automatically think  every single thing has to be dark. Well no you can still achieve the feel with other things like character narration etc. Also some of the levels have been said to be set at night time or on trains, so some of the true Max Payne feel will be there.

The brilliant news is bullet time will be back! Would be bit of a kick in the knackers if it wasn’t to be honest, also it seems there will be bringing “a number of other features that have to do with animation and interaction with the environment to ensure the gameplay feels distinct.” Some of the features mentioned have been a cover system, destructible environment in some places and the ability to use human Shields……awesome!

What interests me though is a little something called Environmental Bullet Time. This can be compared to quick time events in other games, but somehow you still have full control of Max. Sounds a little confusing but an example Rockstar came up with is Max sliding down a tin roof in slow motion while tagging nearby enemies with bullets. Could be interesting and would love to hear more about it.

The only other thing that has been mentioned is there will be an online component with the game. Could we see a multi player bullet dodging bullet time death fest? only time will tell!

*Gets list out* It seems this one is another addition to my growing list of must have games. I cannot wait for this gem!

Garv!