[natedog]

WOW. Overall, I am very impressed. The gameplay is incredible. The story is nothing short of brilliant. The graphics, light effects, bump mapping, textures, everything, is great. The sound is very realistic, and the game's main theme is absolutly moving. The animation is very good, especially the death animation and the weapon animation. Shell casings eject and mags do to realisticly, and enemies crumple and fall in life-like fassions under a hail of gun fire. Oh, and the guns are great. Max can use his trademark Beretta (or a pair), a pump shotgun, Desert Eagle, sawed of shotgun, street-sweeper, M-4 Carbine, AK-47, Single (or Dual :evil: ) Ingrams, Remington 700, Dragunov, MP5 (with a red dot scope), molotov cocktails, grenades, and melee attacks. The weapon models are done very well. On the AK-47, you can see wear on the bluing and pitting and such in the stock, for example. On several of the firearms you can even make out the serial numbers (or see where they've been filed off) and model numbers. On the downside, the game is a bit unrealistic. You can carry all the above weapons at once, with 10 mags for each. Max's trademark move is to dive forward, backward, or side to side while firing a weapon. While this move is very useful to get to cover quickly, it is hardly practical in real life. Further, he can empty 2 Ingrams on full-auto at the same time without any kind of muzzle climb-albeit with extreme innacuracy. Also, a feature called "Bullet Time" is used. With it enabled, everything slows down as if you're in intense concetration, but Max can still aim in real time, giving him an edge on enemies. The more enemies you kill while in "Bullet Time" the "deeper you go into 'the zone'". Time slows down even more, but Max is moving at the original "bullet time" speed. However unrealistic, it's the most frickin cool feature in an action game, ever. Plus, you can pause the game and the camera pans around Max, showing a *360 view of him, so you can see the bullets flying past him and the trail of brass you're leaving. One thing that I thought was really cool (but somewhat stupid) is the "bullet time" reload. If you're in "bullet time" and you reload, Max spins around, drops the mags, and reloads. Only problem is that you never see him insert new mags. With the dual ingrams, for example, all he does is spin in a circle and drop the mags-never does he put in fresh ones or recock them. Also, he can do the "bullet time" reload with a tubular magzine fed shotgun :rolleyes: in about 1/2 seconds. It still looks sweet, though, if you just turn of your sense of realism for a bit. Overall, I'd give Max Payne a 95%.

Graphics: 100%. The game looks incredible, but still isn't too taxing. On my 2ghz Penitum 4, 512mb, gf-4 4600 128mb graphics card, I can still turn on anti-aliasing, enhanced lighting, etc. on 1284x768 resolution and get about 40-50 frames per second

Sound:100%. Guns sound good, music is good, and the main theme is downright moving.

Story: 95%. A great continuation of an excellent story. The plot is very good, but there are a few holes in it.

Gameply: 98% This game is fun, fun, fun. The main single player game is fairly short. I bought the game on the 15th (the release date) and had it beat by the 18th, with steady hours put in after school. I'd guess it to be about 15 hrs. long. However, the game features a gameplay mode called "Dead Man Walking". Max Payne is in a closed off area, with a pistol and a shotgun and a few health items, and must survive against hordes of enemies for as ong as possible. For every kill you get a +2 second bonus. Enemies continue to respawn, and death is inevetible. How long can you last? This adds nearly unlimited enjoyment. (Note: on my favorite map, Manor Yard, i have a record of 9:44:53. Beat that :) ).

Gun factor/Realism: 90% (See above reasons)

[SDC]

I enjoyed the first one, and it looks like I'll be making another trip to the store this weekend :D

[Black92LX]

does it have any of that stupid satanic/witch stuff like in the first one. i hated that and most of all that dumb maze where you had to follow the babies cry. i felt it took away from the first game big time.

[natedog]

No. You no longer fight any satanists. However, there are nightmares again. They aren't bad like the first one, though. They are much better done. Seriously, they are very trippy. They put you in his mind and you can feel the phsychological torment that he goes through. A very good addition, that helps very well with immersion.

[PaladinX13]

Best of all the dream sequences are much much shorter.

If you did not like the first game, however, this sequel probably will not change your mind. Basically, they took everything from the first game and polished it up further. Melee and thrown weapons now use an alternate key (so you can toss them while fighting with your primary weapon, no awkward weapon switching like the first game). You can shoot while on the ground after a Shoot Dodge, and Bullet-Time 2.0 is much much more useful.

Some would complain there is too little difference in this sequel, I'm just thankful for another game....

[Daedalus]

I liked the fact that they took out the Pancor jackhammer and replaced it with the much-more-likely-to-exist-in-the-game striker.

I did not like the extremely awkward and bizarre sex scene.

[Camel]

This game is great! I like the option of being realistic or hollywood. I can run in blazing away with dual Mac-10s, brass bouncing off the floor, bodies flying left and right, or I can run for cover and have a shootout with the BGs.

The Bullet Time reload is a little scetchy realism wise but its coolness factor makes up for it. :D

The new physics engine is great. When I start shooting stuff goes flying. Its also nice to see realistic reactions from the BGs. They fall down when they take leg hits and you can knock them down flights of stairs. Its fun to wait for one to come through a door and slam it in his face to knock him down.

I give this game a 9.9/10

[natedog]

I actually think that the AK-47 (and M-4) in this game are semi-automatics...it's just that the computer continues to fire it when the mouse button is held down...you can tell because you can fire faster just by rapidly pressing and releasing the mouse button.

I regard the Manor Yard level as the ultimate SHTF home defense scenario...just trying to hold out as long as possible from your house...i dunno seemed kinda like a cool idea to me.

[Kamicosmos]

Loved the first one, can't wait to play the next one! (just a bit short on cash right now...bummer.)

[zahc]

Can you get it for Ps2?

[Ham Hock]

I'll be keeping an eye out for this one, I really enjoyed the first one.

[Camel]

Can you get it for Ps2?

Yup, the XBox and PS2 versions are coming out Dec 3.

[Jack T.]

Yes, I was VERY glad to see the lack of satanic junk. That spooked me out in the first one.

But those ding-dang dream sequences are still there :barf:

Took me a couple days to run through it on "easy" mode. . .going back through on a harder level now.

SPOILER: Mona does not die if you play on a harder level.

[Dorrin79]

I pretty much concur with the review.

MP2 is a lot more polished than the first game, with a more developed (if less epic) story.

Unfortunately, it is shorter than the first game, which was already pretty short.

I would have liked it a lot more if it had been about 4-6 hrs longer.

The gameplay was superb, the weapons were awesome (although I miss my M79 grenade launcher)

oh, and NateDog - I lasted 10minutes 47seconds on Manor Yard. Beat that!


All in all, a good purchase. I can't wait to see what they do in the next one!

PS - the level were you are trying to protect Gognitti in his stupid costume is one of the funniest levels of any video game ever. The stuff that guy says is hilarious

[Dorrin79]

SPOILER: Mona does not die if you play on a harder level.

er, SPOILER: yes, she does. I've beaten it on all three difficulty levels and the story unfolds the same way all three times.

I also thought the dream sequences were pretty cool. They were too hard in the first one (stupid jump puzzles) but flowed nicely in the sequel.

[natedog]

I'll have to do that. Go to the Max Payne 2 site, hit the link to Mods, then Payne Reactor, then mods again, and then go to new levels, and you can download two brand new Dead Man Walking Levels. I've been playing thoughs ALOT. I tried playing the first game on PS2, and found it very difficult-the graphics were very poor, and they were not optimized for the PS2's aged hardware. Compared to PC, i couldn't tell what was going on!

[George Hill]

Anyone want to trade a copy for a PC version of GTA: Vice City? Anyone? :uhoh:

[Penforhire]

Can't wait to play it. The original M.P. game was what made me do my last computer upgrade (it crawled on my old PC, with all the details turned down). I may wait for the Xbox version since I still like my 1.4 GHz Athlon PC today.

[Dorrin79]

Sorry, George.

I already have GTA: Vice City for PC.

I might be willing to trade it to you for a gun , though.

;)

[Hatchett]

"SPOILER: Mona does not die if you play on a harder level.

er, SPOILER: yes, she does. I've beaten it on all three difficulty levels and the story unfolds the same way all three times."

SPOILER: You must be doing something wrong. When you win on Dead On Arrival mode, you definitely do get a different ending.

[Hatchett]

It's a pity that Max seems to have decided that a folding stock on a shotgun is there for decoration this time around. He also seems to do more hip-firing than last time.

Someone ought to make a realism mod to go with the next kung-foo mod.

[Dorrin79]

i'll have to go back and beat it on DOA again, then.

I recall the ending being identical (but I might have skipped part because I'd already seen it :o )

[agricola]

bah

the best thing in PC gaming at the moment is choking enemies in Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and then throwing their corpses down the nearest deep chasm / shaft. Viva Sith!

(not gun related) :D

[Penforhire]

Bah on revised endings! I remember wading through Halo at top difficulty just to see a hug in the "new" ending. Bah!

[Sean Smith]

I'm forced to agree with agricola on something... :eek: :D

The game I'm waiting for is Deus Ex 2: Invisible War. :cool:

[Dorrin79]

Sean:

Ditto!!!

:cool:

[Mr. Bombastic]

the best thing in PC gaming at the moment is choking enemies in Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and then throwing their corpses down the nearest deep chasm / shaft. Viva Sith!

Have you tried the 'realistic saber combat' code? You can lop off limbs! :D

[LiquidTension]

I'm gonna have to look for this game. The first one was pretty good. It's a lot like Enter the Matrix (but Matrix is better).

Jedi Academy is the best game I've played in a long time. Level 3 choke is awesome - fling enemies over cliffs, into walls, or just 50 yards away onto the ground. Love it. The concussion rifle is my favorite weapon (other than the lightsaber, of course).

[nsf003]

I had deus ex 2 preordered on August 22nd. It should be shipping in the beginning of December. Can't wait.

I am pro 2nd amendment because of Deus Ex 1. When I was younger, I started playing it and my thinking was the UN and big government was good. I used to be a republican, big government, the end justifies the means, drone. The game altered my viewpoints a lot, and then I decided that the power should be with the people. I supported the militia, the National Seccesionist Forces, but I was mad that there were no NSF missions. So i spent three straight years of my life playing that game and trying to create NSF missions, from the end of 7th grade through the beginning of 10th grade. Gee, I wonder where my name came from?....

.....slightly changed From the login on liberty island. Only my password isn't smashthestate (If you haven't played Deus Ex, don't ask about that one)

nsf003


Edited to add: This probably made no sense at all. Bear with me.

[natedog]

I'm sorry you feel that way, LiquidTension :p .

[PrudentGT]

I've just finished MP2 on the easy level, but now, thanks to YOU PEOPLE, I'm gonna have to do it on DOA just to see the ending where Mona doesn't die (it's not wrong to love a fictional character, is it?)? ;)

*And*, you guys haven't mentioned the best part! he first time you're at the police station, if you stop to listen to the complaint being made at the front desk, it's HILARIOUS! This woman is afraid that her bf is going to kill her, because, "he's been playing those violent video games and they train you to be a killing machine. Those video game controllers are just like real guns!"

[agricola]

lol is anyone following the Light side?

[Daedalus]

I wouldnt say that Deus Ex changed my whole life, but I did like it alot.

I think the video game series that most reinforced my pro RKBA feelings was the "Resident Evil" series. After beating the first one all I could think of was how much easier that game would have been if I had a decent shotgun with enough ammo and a decent battle rifle with enough ammo.

[Jack T.]

n/m

[PrudentGT]

OMG Jack T., you're right! I was just about to finish MP2 on DOA, and everything looked pretty much the same. I was getting ready to carp about being misled -- but then the game ended and there she was! Not exactly in keeping with the constant pathos of the game, but oh well, it was a nice touch.

I would have put this aside and never known about the alternate ending -- thanks!

[Camel]

I suggest you all go download the FPS mod for MP2. Its like a whole different game. That and unlimited ammo is one sweet combination :D

Max Payne Mods (http://www.paynereactor.com)

[Beren]

Yummy. Max Payne 1 & 2, Jedi Academy, Deus Ex..it's great to see such fine taste in video games!

It looks like I'm among the minority who LOVED the twisted horror aspects of the original Max Payne. I've always been a fan of psychological horror, and MP had that in a way no other video game ever has. It was better than many movies in some respects! I had just installed my Klipsch speakers when I first started playing Max Payne...let's just say there was more than one occasion when the hair literally stood up on the back of my neck.

MP was freaky cool fun. Darn, now I'll have to go back and play it again.

MP2 was disappointingly /short/ and lacked most of the horror angle of the original, but it was just as much fun in its own way. Especially Mona. :what: More Mona! :eek:

Jedi Academy was also fairly short, but the thrill of dicing people with a light saber never grows old. The online play can be entertaining, but most of the servers are populated with twelve year-old nitwits who can't do anything more than run around trying to Force Lightning people.

[Kaylee]

strayed from firearms related topic.
OT.