Rockstar’s Max Payne 3 had the difficult task of being compared to its predecessors. Part 2 in particular had a great story behind it, told through its unique comic-book format. The games also had a trick to be copied ad nauseam- slow motion, or ‘bullet-time’. So has this most recent instalment lived up to hopes and expectations? Sort of. Though it has developed its story-telling style, with cutscenes being done well with the help of moving panels with occasional speech bubbles, the story just isn’t as good – the most interesting character in the game is Max, and he is almost passive throughout the first few chapters, making it difficult to really invest in him. The gameplay is also not as revolutionary as it was: aside from its dodge and slow-motion dimension, it is a little generic, and the way you play it doesn’t particularly change through the game. It’s all saved though by being beautiful to look at. Though graphically not that complex (and reasonably well-optimised for you PC gamers), the camera following your final bullet in a gunfight and the death animations as well as all round impressive style, despite everything else, make it a joy to play the game.
Overall verdict: A worthwhile purchase despite the limited changes to the franchise.