It’s been a long time coming, 9 Years and after two and a half years in delays, I can safely say its been worth the wait. I originally planned to pick it up on PC on the 1st of June but until then, the internet would have been a minefield to avoid spoilers. So I picked it up a PS3 copy on the EU release date. I completed the story in under 14 hours, I didn’t use the aim assist’s and played on medium difficulty. I’ve been PC gaming for years now so going to a shooter using a controller was pretty damn hard.
The games story delivers and has some pretty shocking turns though-out. The lack of comic slideshows in exchange for a cutscenes with editing effects was a welcome change. Personally, I dont miss the comics and the only reason they used them in 2001 because of the limitations in tech and cost. The cut scenes also act as a load screen. So technically, you can play the game start to finish seamlessly. You even go from cut scenes to game play seamlessly so sometimes it can catch you off guard. Make sure you’re paying attention!
The main story starts off as you working as a bodyguard for a wealthy business man called Rodrigo Branco and his “Trophy wife” Fabiana Branco. Things start to go pear shaped as a gang of Sao paulo kidnap Fabiana. Obviously things go deeper than just a simple kidnapping but that’s for you to find out.
Gameplay is typical Max payne. Third person shooter, nothing more and nothing less. Bullet dodge is different now, it doesn’t have a fixed time. The length of your slow motion dive is based on your surroundings. So if you decide to jump down some stairs, you have more time to stick bullets in peoples faces. It can also be cut short if you jump into a wall or land on something like a hand rail.
The gore is something else. Pretty much after every large shoot off, is ended with a super slow motion camera follow of the bullet and the impact it has on your target. The more extreme gore consists of limbs missing, bullet entrance and exit wounds, spraying blood and crispy burnt skin. Not for the faint hearted!
For me, the most impressive thing about this game apart from the hard-boiled narrative is the attention to detail. From level design to the animation. Now that you can only use what weapons you can carry, you can have a pistol in one hand and carry a larger weapon in the other hand for use later if you switch to it.
It was the reloading that I liked the most. How he puts the larger gun under his left arm so that he can use that free left hand to reload his pistol in his right hand. Cut scenes also use the same guns you’re carrying and the current state of the firearm. For example, if you’re out of ammo, the pistol slide will be back to show its out of rounds.
To sum up, its an amazing game. Seriously, go out and pick it up now.
I just hope the PC release isn’t a buggy as GTA IV release back in late 2008.
