There aren't many games out there that come drenched in quite the same concoction of panache, brooding atmosphere and flamboyant dialogue as the Max Payne series. Following the misshapen revenge quest of Max, a rogue cop out to make his own justice for his murdered family, Max Payne brought a corrupted but captivating world to our screens. With Max Payne 3 now visible on the horizon, we're all wondering if the latest instalment can live up to the unique mood and style of the franchise.
Packing a gritty film noir style, the first Max Payne was groundbreaking; it was one of the first games to feature bullet time as a game play dynamic. Using this Matrix inspired concept, players are able to slow the movement of bullets and evade them while striking back at the enemy. Max Payne also introduced some powerful cinematic techniques to game storytelling, beginning at the end of the story with the protagonist narrating it in retrospect (using that intense monologue that we came to either love or detest). Max Payne also made use of graphic novel strips to tell the story between game play, entrenching itself even further in the refreshing style used by developers Remedy Entertainment.
The series continued with Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Continuing with the design of the first game, Payne 2 continued Max's long trudge through crime infested streets and shadowy corners. Despite a great critical reception Max's second outing wasn't a financial success for Remedy and so the game series hasn't seen the light of day since 2003. There was, of course, the 2008 film adaptation but unfortunately this met with a harsh response. Max certainly has a lot to brood about.
But Max Payne is used to having a rough time and he's soon to be making a long awaited return. Initially set for release in 2009 and now pushed back to late this year, Max Payne 3 is coming into view. The question is what can we expect of this latest instalment? Well the first, and perhaps most telling, factor to consider is the absence of developers Remedy and writer Sam Lake. This will no doubt ruffle the feathers of many a fan; the hard-boiled atmosphere of Max Payne, complete with references to Norse mythology, owes a great deal to the dialogue and storytelling skills of Sam Lake. Hell, he even posed as Max himself for the graphic novel panels.
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