Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne for Xbox Reviews by Gamers

SYNOPSIS:
Max Payne and Mona Sax are like Bonnie and Clyde, as they shoot their way through the New York underworld. And, they won’t stop until they figure out who wants them dead, and why.

LIKES:
This game is a 150% improvement on its predecessor. It is just better in every conceivable way.

DISLIKES:
They still managed to turn a simple crime drama into a global conspiracy story. Big mistake. It would be better if it were merely Max and Mona versus the mob.

TIPS:
Quick Save as often as possible.

Ducking for cover will get you killed. No matter what you are facing, run and gun is the way to go.

Visuals: Incredible. Truly Incredible. Everything from huge, epic explosions to crystal clear player models to detailed particle effects to the absolutely wonderful physics system, the graphics bring every element of a cinematic experience to videogame form. Most impressive is all the slow-motion effects that are the crux of the game. Just watching someone do bullet time dive, shoot an explosive barrel, and send two henchman flying in believable ragdoll animation is one of the most memorable moments you'll have.

Audio: First off, the music is probably the best element to this game. Epic and moody orchestral scores really set the tone of the game as a dark, mature drama. The sound in the game is worth mention too. Gunshots and explosions all have a strong feel that isn't found in the average shooter. It really puts you into the middle of a firefight, and the way the sounds alter themselves during bullet time are also very cool. The voiceovers are expertly done at every single moment in the game, and gives the many characters each very distinct personas.

Camera & Control: This is what third-person shooters should feel like. The camera should never give you problems, and the controls are very simple to figure out, so you shouldn't be looking down at your controller if you know what you're doing. The only gripe that can be had is during the very rare jumping sequences, you might miscalculate and fall right to your death because the jump action is more of a hop than anything else. Again, very minor gripe.

Gameplay and Presentation: You will love every second of the over-the-top, cinematic, epic, intense, thoroughly enjoyable gameplay as you guide Max down his doomed path. The atmosphere is incredible and the story is very well-written. Occasionally, Max's cop-on-the-edge attitude can get a bit melodramatic, but the feeling fades quickly. The only strange part of the game is the comic-style cutscenes, which feel out of place, but they definitely work.

Max Payne 2 may only be about 4 years old, but in game years that’s a life time. So can the sequel to a true shooter classic still hold it’s own? For the most part yes. The graphic haven’t aged well at all, but other then that the game is still as fun as it was when it first hit store shelves. Unlike the first Max Payne the controls for the sequel have held up very well. The story is still just as great and memorable as ever. The voice acting is still awesome too. So if you can forgive the dated graphics, do yourself a favor and rent this game, I don’t think you will be sorry.

Be safe all and happy gaming.

Max Payne 2 is a great tile with a very well done story and a simple to use control scheme where no matter who you are you can make some really cool moves in the matter of seconds. The gameplay is simple and the death animations are truly where this game shines. The ragdoll truly makes this game! And with out it the game would not be the same. The problems here are no online multiplayer, the single player should have been longer, and more areas in the single player should have had more enemies. Also the level design is down decent but they could have Incorporated more areas with more obstacles and ledges where the ragdoll and slow motion effects really could have shined!

This game is still very much worth the rent! And it has a lot of different content to play when your done!

This game was amazing it is so cool i'd like to play it a million more times!!!

greatest video game awesome weapons and awesome graphics for the 360 dont rent this buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Max Payne 2 is the best action/adventure game ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better than the first game and also better graphics and more weapons!

This game is intense - graphics hold up much better than the original title (Max Payne 1). The gameplay is superfun, but I noticed that all you have to do is shoot in the ball park of an enemy, and the game aims for you. It's really not necessary! You might want to change ALL OF THE CONTROLS to match todays shooters, and turn off the auto aim. Games have changed a lot since this game came out, and I was able to enjoy it only after making the changes.

GAMEPLAY: 9
GRAPHICS: 7

Again, a great, engrossing story with fun gameplay. What's with not updating the graphics though?

I thought this game was a good one right up to the end where you have no chance of beating the game unless you get really really really really really really lucky. Because the Last Boss Must Have Unlimited Ammo as far as Moliyov Cocktails Because he never runs out and you cant even shoot him you have to shoot a Bunch of Pins out of Wires and to do this you have to zoom the scope so you have no idea where the unlimited Cocktails are coming from. if your lucky enough to shoot all the Pins so you have a chance at hitting the boss he takes about 1000 direct hits to kill him I really dont know how many times you have to shoot him because after trying to finish the game about 100 times i finally gave up and decided to send the game back. I really hate games where the Programers make the boss or whatever you need to do to finish it is so hard only one in a Millioin people can do it Hence the Weak rating I gave an otherwise good game

He's Max Payne. This is how he fell. How far did Max Payne fall? Too far. Or did he fall far enough? Does this kind of narrative make for a playable game? Or does the constant film noir atmosphere and graphic novel panel sequences smother the game like water on a flame, taking out all the heat and leaving only charred, rotted wood? This is Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, sequel to Rockstar's famed Max Payne. After the events of the first game, Max is haunted by what he has done... and perhaps what he knows he will soon do. Things get complicated when Mona, thought dead after game one, shows up alive and kicking, ready for revenge... and maybe something more. Max needs Mona (in many ways) and wants to close the case that landed him in hot water with Johnny Law. As the game progresses, you take control of Mona and Max as they blast, dive and bullet time their way through the dirty underbelly of New York. You'll enjoy the ragdoll physics while they last. Unfortunately, Max Payne 2 ends as fast as a summer romance, but oh, what a sweet, poetic ending it is. You can always play again against more challenging enemies, but you'll reach the deadly conclusion in a couple days. Controls work well, though some challenging areas prove as stubborn as Max himself. Rockstar still delivers on sound and voicework, though graphics suffer due to age. Still, Max deserves your time. You should really hear his side of the story.

First of all I played Max Payne and was blown away by the sheer gripping power of the games plot about a city brought to it's knees by crime and a mysterious drug named "V". And one man's obsessive quest for revenge with nothing left to lose and a whole lot of spent bullets between him and the Mafiosos responsible for murdering his family. unbenounced to him he would start on a long spiral into consuming paranoia and depression. Bring about Max Payne 2 the fall of Max Payne. A game which takes place years after the first. MP2 centers around Max who has spent the last few years living in a haze of memories and regret and as a lowly homocide detective after turning down a promotion to the DEA. And Mona Sax who was last seen shot in the head and is now beeing hunted as is Max by the remnants of the same Mafia family Max nearly eliminated in the first outing. Except things arent easy for our Hero when what he assumed were only Paranoid Dellusions of a worn down mind turn to be reality when he finds out that Mobster Assasins and dirty cops have been conspiring to kill him and Mona. What Follows is a descent into further madness as Max desperately searches for answers all of which hint at a larger conspiracy going back to the murder of his family years prior. Oh, and of course the Mafia bodycount will skyrocket as Max continues a lost quest for Revenge in a city which knows how to keep secrets. MP2 is honestly one of my favorite games from graphics to gameplay tp physics. No other game that I have played has ever been so polished as MP2.
buy/rent-buy all the way. You could pick it up for $1.50!!!!! at EB!!!

Maybe less story next time? Gameplay is great, but the constant moaning by Max gets old fast. Also, the story is so unbelievable that you have to ignore it completely: Max takes a bullet to the brain at close range, and just sleeps it off? OK.