The Xbox 360 has been out for a few years, and there is talk about a new console supplanting it in the years to come. Max Payne 3, the latest game from Rockstar Games, showcases that a motivated company can continue to eke more power out of this console. The years of downtime for the franchise have been put to good use; this may be the most immersive and grip your seat title in this line to date. Storyline-wise, players are set about a decade after the events of the first game. Max is now a drunk and is a bodyguard for a connected family. In terms of gameplay, Max’s vices have been transferred to the player’s own experience. While Max is high on painkillers, one may not be able to get the character to quickly respond to stimuli. The Last Man Standing mechanic is perhaps the most interesting addition here; if one is actively carrying painkillers, they can stave off death if they can waste the shooter.
Rockstar has provided buyers with an additional incentive; they are giving away a DLC pack (the Gorilla Warfare pack) this weekend to get players even more amped up about the multiplayer side of the game. The crews that one can join in the game provide further variation of the game’s style; one simply cannot say they have played the game until they try the multiplayer mode.
What results in Max Payne 3 is a title that anyone that is a fan of the franchise should purchase; anyone that wants their action games to provide a substantial challenge should pick up a copy today as well. This is simply the best game that we have reviewed so far in 2012. Make sure to pick up a copy of Max Payne 3 for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and the PC.
Rating: 9.4/10
Max Payne 3 (Xbox 360) / 2012 Rockstar Games / http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne3