Max Payne: Then and Now

Shotgun + guy flying backwards into an explosion of flames + Slow motion = AWESOME! 

In 1999 a movie came out that introduced a film style called “Bullet Time”. Most people have seen the scene in “The Matrix” where Neo dodges several bullets in slow motion, while the camera circles him 360 degrees. I remember being floored the first time I watched that scene. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen, and wanted more of it. The movie was released on DVD, and I watched the movie over, and over, and over. 

In 2001, “Remedy Entertainment” released a game I will never forget. It introduced “Bullet Time” to video games. The best part was the player controlled when the game used it, how long it was used, and the direction you wanted the camera to move around Max Payne. While in “Bullet Time” you could see the ripple trails caused by each bullet. If you needed to dodge bullets, you had the time to do it now.


Not only was the “Bullet Time” effect absolutely incredible, but the story was as well. Max Payne is a New York City detective who walks into his home after work to find that his wife and child have been murdered. The rest of the story is history. He begins a journey to find out who was behind his family’s murder, and uncovers more than he could imagine. Like “The Matrix” I played “Max Payne” countless times. In 2003 “Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne” was released. With better graphics than the first, Max Payne 2 introduced a new story, new characters, soundtrack, and a few new gameplay mechanics; but kept the same overall feel of “Max Payne”.

Graphics improved quite a bit from MP to MP2. And there was only two years between them!

It has been nearly 9 years since “Max Payne 2”. Since MP2 there have been many attempts to copy the “Bullet Time” function in a large number of games. Even though some of these games have been awesome, like the “Red Dead” series by Rockstar Games, none have provided the same experience as “Max Payne”. When Rockstar announced they would be releasing “Max Payne 3", I could do nothing but laugh like a giddy school girl; I’m pretty sure I even wet my self a little bit, due to the giggling.


With several trailers, screen shots, and media releases in the past year, “Max Payne 3" looks like it will be bringing the “Bullet Time” experience back into games. Rockstar has also indicated that multiplayer will be involved! I was also pleased to discover that Remedy Entertainment has been helping Rockstar Games to develop this game. As I stated, it has been nearly nine years since the world has been able to enjoy a true Max Payne experience. Technology has improved dramatically during that time span, and it really shows in the gameplay trailers. The physics in MP3 are looking to be some of the most realistic I have seen in a very long time in a third person shooter. Each individual shot is taken into account. If Max Payne shoots a guy in the right shoulder, the character will take the impact realistically, and throw the entire upper right side of his body back. It’s extremely artistic and realistic at the same time.

Max Payne 3: The way it should be experienced... In HD

I know this game will be the completely new, yet classic experience that I have been waiting for since 2003. I am excited to see what the multiplayer has in store for the world; and I’m totally psyched out of my mind to enjoy another stylistic third person shooter. “Max Payne 3" is set to be launched on May 15, 2012. Be sure you don’t dodge this one!

Until next time, keep on gamin' on!