Max Payne 2
Narfwak
Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5258Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Playtest Lead, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Supporter, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow, Subnautica PT Lead, NS2 Community Developer
<div class="IPBDescription">"Whoa."</div> I was a fan of Max Payne for a long time, played it many times over, and downloaded almost every single mod imaginable. Alas, you could only do so much with the engine, and most people resorted to stealing each other's work, so there was only so much content; thus, I mournfully uninstalled the game last weekend in an effort to free up some much needed disk space. Later that week, I heard that Max Payne 2 had come out, so I quickly acquired it.
To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much at all - MP2 had received almost no press, and wasn't even showed at E3 this year. What screenshots I had seen had also turned me off to the game; Max's face was completely redone, and he looked almost nothing like the original. However, I knew that Remedy couldn't screw it up <b>that</b> much, given the success of its predecessor.
What I saw totally blew me away. Max Payne 2 is by far the most fun I've had with a single player shooter - ever. More fun than Half-Life, more fun than Deus Ex, and the original Max Payne doesn't even compare. Everything about the game has been improved immensely. The engine is incredible, far better than the first, with excellent textures, lighting, particles, and extremely fluid animation. The sound is terrific. All the guns are perfect. Bullet Time has been revamped and made more essential. And the story . . . well, they hired a <b>real</b> writer this time, and it <b>shows</b>.
So, go get this game. Now. Don't ask questions; don't ask for screenshots (they don't do the game justice at all, you really have to see it in action), just <b>get this game <i>now</i></b>.
To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much at all - MP2 had received almost no press, and wasn't even showed at E3 this year. What screenshots I had seen had also turned me off to the game; Max's face was completely redone, and he looked almost nothing like the original. However, I knew that Remedy couldn't screw it up <b>that</b> much, given the success of its predecessor.
What I saw totally blew me away. Max Payne 2 is by far the most fun I've had with a single player shooter - ever. More fun than Half-Life, more fun than Deus Ex, and the original Max Payne doesn't even compare. Everything about the game has been improved immensely. The engine is incredible, far better than the first, with excellent textures, lighting, particles, and extremely fluid animation. The sound is terrific. All the guns are perfect. Bullet Time has been revamped and made more essential. And the story . . . well, they hired a <b>real</b> writer this time, and it <b>shows</b>.
So, go get this game. Now. Don't ask questions; don't ask for screenshots (they don't do the game justice at all, you really have to see it in action), just <b>get this game <i>now</i></b>.
Comments
Its not the same!!!!
Gogo Amazon delivery times >_<
BURN HIM!!!!!!
I know, I know - it was kinda hard to even think that. DX does have a lot going for it, with its rather open-ended approach, uber storyline, and incredibly fun gameplay. However, MP2's engine, and, more importantly, what Remedy has done with it, is just incredible. I was practically bouncing off the walls with glee after playing the first few levels.
And about the face - the same actors do the voices for all the characters, so while some of the models are slightly different, the overall character of the game isn't that much different. If anything, the far superior writing and pacing of the game makes the characters appear more like the original than the originals.
Blah Doom 1 was better than Deus EX.
BETTER!
I too want MP2.
<span style='color:white'>I'd like to note that you're only not banned for that statement because I could muster all my willpower and beat my hand with a blunt object whenever it moved the mouse near the Admin CP <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
-- Nem</span>
Ditto.
Only bad thing I can say about it is that it's so god damn <i>short</i>. I've had the game two days and I beat it already. Then again, I was playing almost nonstop because it's so awesome. It's still fun to fiddle around in bullet time even though I've beaten through the storyline.
It's easily the most engrossing game I've ever played, it's like a movie. The cinematics are done in-engine, but look so much better than any rendered sequence could have.
I seriously can't wait for Kung Fu Mod 2 to come out. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
<i>Edit:</i> Oh, and the physics, the physics... so awesome.
Then one must ask why you decided to post anyway.
Back on topic, it seems like a good game, I shall be considering it, £750 and nothing to spend it on. Go go DVD Collection!
Are there any MP2 mods out yet?
Only thing I dislike that the badass always grinning Max Payne now looks like your regular american donut cop... Damn..
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Blasphemy!
*Ekaj stabs you with a nano sword
Err, yeah, MP2 is pretty good all right. I’m interested in seeing other people’s Dead Man Walking times. For those who don’t know, the Dead Man Walking gameplay mode is unlocked when you beat Max Payne 2 on the first difficulty setting. You basically just fight your way through hordes of enemies that spawn faster and faster as time goes on until they’re everywhere. Here’s my scores after half an hour of play:
Manor Yard: 11:22:94
Construction Site: 04:21:96
Manor Garden: 04:30:00
Used Car Lot: 04:10:77
Scaffolding: 04:52:98
Tha Manor Yard is easy so I won’t be surprised if I see someone with a very high time on that one. It should be interesting to see what DMW maps the mod community will come up with when they release the level design tools.
I have a P4 1.6 GHz system, 512MB of SDRAM, a GeForce 3 Ti, and a Soundblaster Live! 5.1 (I need to upgrade). The game ran resonably smoothly, and preformed just as well, if not better than, the original Max Payne. I didn't crank the settings up all the way (didn't really need to, the game is just incredible anyway).
the game is pretty awesome, it runs very smoothly on a geforce3ti and athlon 1.3ghz w/ 512 ram. i seem to be missing some of the reflective surfaces effects that pennyarcade mentioned about max's leather coat though. and it only gets choppy during massive explosions. BUT, segue:
massive explosions take system resources? why? oh thats right Havok 2.0, the same physics engine that halflife 2 was supposed to debut two weeks before max payne 2 was released. sorry HL2, some of your thunder has been stolen, and we are already getting bored kicking around boxes, chairs and trashcans, i had fun knocking over shelves to reach the health on the top level, but the novelty of being able to do so is already gone.
maybe its the MP2 environment thats makes it less fun, i'm always so freakin rushed to run through the next area, the plot makes everything so damn fast, i have to save this person or i have to save that person, and i dont get a chance to enjoy the ragdoll physics when i snipe someone off a scaffold and see the body topple down to the floor.
note i was careful not to spoil the plotline, its pretty nifty. and no one else do so either. even the identity of a badguy could ruin it =/
Then again, what do I need an appartment for when I can play Max Payne?
Then again, what do I need an appartment for when I can play Max Payne? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's how you should be thinking! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I don't know the specifics, but they aren't that high. Like I said before, my comp isn't exactly stellar, and it runs the game just fine.
the game is pretty awesome, it runs very smoothly on a geforce3ti and athlon 1.3ghz w/ 512 ram. i seem to be missing some of the reflective surfaces effects that pennyarcade mentioned about max's leather coat though. and it only gets choppy during massive explosions. BUT, segue:
massive explosions take system resources? why? oh thats right Havok 2.0, the same physics engine that halflife 2 was supposed to debut two weeks before max payne 2 was released. sorry HL2, some of your thunder has been stolen, and we are already getting bored kicking around boxes, chairs and trashcans, i had fun knocking over shelves to reach the health on the top level, but the novelty of being able to do so is already gone.
maybe its the MP2 environment thats makes it less fun, i'm always so freakin rushed to run through the next area, the plot makes everything so damn fast, i have to save this person or i have to save that person, and i dont get a chance to enjoy the ragdoll physics when i snipe someone off a scaffold and see the body topple down to the floor.
note i was careful not to spoil the plotline, its pretty nifty. and no one else do so either. even the identity of a badguy could ruin it =/ <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Its easy, shoot the bolt thingies that are attaching the platform wires to the roof.
I've just completed it on DOA mode... let's just say you get a different ending on the hardest difficulty, so I emplore you to play it more! Plus the storyline makes much more sense on repeat viewings, you notice a lot more intricate details and such. Things can turn out different too, see below if you don't mind a small spoiler:
!SPOILER!
I managed to keep Mike "The Cowboy" alive when you're first in Vlad's restaurant, and when you return to "Vodka" you get to fight him, complete with some extra dialog <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
The Storyline is just as good this time, if not better. Plenty of twists and turns along the way, and of course there's the series trademark "trip out" scenes from various things like headwounds and bad dreams.
What I like perhaps the most is that later in the game (about halfway through) the physics engine actually matters to the gameplay. Stuff is falling on you that you gotta avoid, you can blow up a barrel which pushes crap into guys, you can roll explosives off a ledge and onto your enemies below, etc. All kinds of fun stuff to do, not just the "OMG look we have ragdolls" crap you see in other games.
My one gripe about the game though, is that it is INSANELY short. And I mean in-frickin-sanely short. As in, less than 7 hours of gameplay short. I was playing this morning and I was on the last level, and somebody told me a dirty lie that there was an alt ending when you beat it again, so I went and played through the whole thing again. In one sitting. The whole damn game. Yeah, 7 hours, but still, I was quite disappointed that that was all there was. Although on the plus side, running through it a second time you pick up on a whole lot more of the story that kinda made you say "huh?" before...
My other gripe is that this one seems to end a little too "happy" for my tastes. Sure its not running off into the sunset together (if anybody cries spoiler, make note that "There are no happy endings" is on the back of the box) but still, I was expecting something more noir-style. Max Payne 1's ending was really good about "okay well its over.. you're not really happy. but yeah.. its over. stop playing now. Go wait for a kung fu mod..."
Can't wait on a good kung-fu mod for this one... :D
<b>Bonus:</b> I noticed something funny while watching **** Justice today...
I've just completed it on DOA mode... let's just say you get a different ending on the hardest difficulty, so I emplore you to play it more! Plus the storyline makes much more sense on repeat viewings, you notice a lot more intricate details and such. Things can turn out different too, see below if you don't mind a small spoiler:
!SPOILER!
I managed to keep Mike "The Cowboy" alive when you're first in Vlad's restaurant, and when you return to "Vodka" you get to fight him, complete with some extra dialog <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
What does he say? PM ME!
Its not the same!!!! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
But this new guy is soooo sexeh.....
I like the Old Max, that face was awesome, now you're 40 and look like Clint Eastwood. Bullet Time's over with, it's way to overused now. Sure it's cool at times, but now after seeing The Matrix: Reloaded what crap. I think if I can I'll try it though. The first one was sad at the end. *Cries*
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ROFLMAO XD
Thanks doom. I needed some cheering up <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
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You haven't been lied to. There is an alternative ending, a 'proper' ending. By the sounds of it you played through it on the initial easiest mode (there's no choice before you start questioning DOOM's manliness <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->), completed it and unlocked Hard Boiled difficultly. You have to complete it AGAIN to unlock Dead On Arrival difficulty, and then complete it on DOA to get the alt. ending. Phew.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You haven't been lied to. There is an alternative ending, a 'proper' ending. By the sounds of it you played through it on the initial easiest mode (there's no choice before you start questioning DOOM's manliness <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->), completed it and unlocked Hard Boiled difficultly. You have to complete it AGAIN to unlock Dead On Arrival difficulty, and then complete it on DOA to get the alt. ending. Phew. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Or, we can just wait until someone hacks it and makes a level-select mod, just like last time.