MAX PAYNE (XBOX)

First off, I had never seen the PC version of Max Payne, let alone played it. Nor have I picked up the PS2 port. Getting the game for the Xbox was a leap of faith based on other reviews. Sometimes, these little risks pay off.

Max Payne, undercover cop and fugitive on both sides of the law is searching for answers to the murder of his wife and daughter. The story isn't that deep, just another cookie cutter plot I've seen dozens of times before. The best part is hunting down a wannabe Satanist in the attic of a Goth nightclub. From there the story levels out and never reaches any peak. Fortunately, the game isn't about story. It's about hard brutal action, John Woo style.

The graphics aren't anything to write home about. However, minute details are visible. Fire a gun and you'll see the flash reflect in Max's jacket. There is very little interaction with the levels, though everything you shoot will show it. Just take a look around any room after a gunfight and you can find where every bullet hit, even those fired by your enemies. The comic book cut scenes are a nice touch I'll admit, even if the characters are the faces of the programmers.

The Sound is good too, if you'll pardon the secondhand voice acting. I would suggest playing Max Payne with surround sound so you can hear the difference between being hit by a regular bullet and that of a ricochet. A clever twist is the ability to hear gang members talking in the next room giving you an audio heads up as to how many people you are up against. The explosions are the best. I must say I have not played a game before that had such well sounding (and timed) explosions. They are the best reason for me jumping out of my seat.

The controls are good, not great, just good. A walk feature would have been very welcome. When Max moves, he is always running, and for this I would hate the game if not for...*drum roll* BULLET TIME!! This is the most innovative feature to hit our industry for years. Play the game for no more that ten minutes and you'll be reminded of The Matrix, Chow Yun Fat, John Woo, and a dozen rip-offs. Unlike other FPS, you have limited control over time in the game. This gives you a distinct advantage over your well armed albeit dim opponents. Everything slows down except you can still aim in real time, thus allowing you to find targets quicker. It makes charging headlong into rooms with heavily armed gangsters a less hazardous affair.

For the most part, it is a very linear game. Enter room, shoot bad guys, move to next room. Only two levels differ from this recipe, I'm talking about the psychedelic dream stages. The controls are sluggish, the graphics twist like a nightmare, and distant screams echo all around. These levels feel as if added to the game as an afterthought in order to give game play more variety, and end up making the gritty atmosphere of Max Payne seem like a farce.

In all it's a great game for running around blasting the crap out of people. The flashy bullet time adds to replay by challenging you to find different ways to work around gunfights, but that's it. If you're looking for an in-depth game with absolute freedom that leads to multiple endings, you best look away. Otherwise, grab hold and hang on for as long as you can.

7 out of 10

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