PAX Round-up 3: Max Payne 3

PAX Round-up 3: Max Payne 3

Did Rockstar manage to stay true to Remedy's noire title?

Written by Matrarch on 13 April 12 at 11:13

Max is finally back in Rockstar's Max Payne 3, but quite a number of questions come with his return. A different development studio is behind this, as Rockstar Vancouver has taken over where Remedy left off. Going in, I was honestly a little concerned about how Rockstar, which has such an identifiable style of its own, would adapt the established identity of Max Payne into what they know how to do best.

The demo showed off an early scene where Max and his partner have to shoot their way through a pool hall. The bullet time mechanic was fully realized and fun to use. The developer who was walking me through the demo recommended using bullet time to go over a pool table, thus taking the guy on the other side head on, but I jumped too soon and landed short. No problem though, as I was able to get up and keep shooting… until I was almost dead. The game then popped me to ‘Last Man Standing’ mode where time slowed down and the camera took you right to the guy who nearly killed you. You have that instant to kill or be killed and, believe me, I needed it.

CHEEVOS 1


The developer also confirmed that the game will be linear and will have at least one collectible element in the form of golden guns. The traditional story-telling method of the Max Payne series also returns, so those of you who have balked at the title due to the change in developer may want to breathe a sigh of relief – it really looks as though they nailed it. I can’t speak as to the impact of multiplayer, however, as it was not on display. They also confirmed that there will be a Rockstar Pass with this one, but they claimed to be too early in the development of that stuff to be able to comment on specifics.

Max Payne 3 will be released May 15th in North America and May 18th elsewhere. Head here to see everything we've covered about the game thus far.

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LifeExpectancy
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LifeExpectancy - The new Star Trek is awesome. So what if it feels like a quasi remake of one of the old ones? It's done very well!
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Last post: Yesterday at 15:10
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 11:19, Edited on 13 April 12 at 11:23 by LifeExpectancy
I'm surprised they're still going with bullet time. I guess they're trying to stay true to the gameplay of previous titles in the series, but it just seems outdated. I would much rather see a truly noire title, gritty and stark with no happy endings and a true antihero, than have an old mechanic resurrected.

I think developers have lost sight of style in favor of mechanics at times lately, with some exceptions of course.
200k/200k gs, 200 games played, 100% completion including all DLC, 11-13-11.
Jake2355
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Jake2355 - Bought Dark Souls (PC), Fable III (PC), and Batman Arkham City GOTY (PC) for $25 all together.
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Last post: Today at 17:15
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 11:20, Edited on 13 April 12 at 11:20 by Jake2355
It's Rockstar... How wrong could they possibly go.. Haha.
Jake
B A R 4 D
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B A R 4 D - Gears 3 - level 93.
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Last post: Yesterday at 11:42
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 11:41, Edited on 13 April 12 at 12:10 by B A R 4 D
Rockstar can never mess a game up, this game is gonna kickass.
Battlefield 3 Gamer !
Ulfsang
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Ulfsang - Giving up the 360 for good; Steam ID = Ulfsang
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Last post: 28 Jul 12 at 09:30
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 11:59
I have faith in Rockstar. They've never steered me wrong.
REBORN GAIDIN
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REBORN GAIDIN - A beautiful sun shiny day. We all know what that means right? Gotta close my blinds to kill the glare for my gaming!
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Last post: 08 May at 17:50
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 12:45
Lots of Rockstar fanboys out there and I must say I agree with them. They know how to make a good game so not going to waste any time doubting them.
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Darken81
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Last post: 30 Mar at 14:22
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 13:06
Gameplay was never the main selling point for me regarding Max Pain. The way the story was presented and how they portrait Max was what I enjoyed the most. Hopefully they'll stay true to that.. Though I must admit that any game with an Africa sorta theme to it generally never appealed to me. Guess time will tell.
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Math V
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Math V
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 Posted on 13 April 12 at 13:13
Darken81 said:Gameplay was never the main selling point for me regarding Max Pain. The way the story was presented and how they portrait Max was what I enjoyed the most. Hopefully they'll stay true to that.. Though I must admit that any game with an Africa sorta theme to it generally never appealed to me. Guess time will tell.Africa, Brazil, tomato, tomato wink
Ant McGrittz
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Last post: 08 Mar at 18:28
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 13:57
I think it is worse that he spelt Payne, Pain...
raimaximum
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raimaximum - Minha assinatura na live expirou dia 15 mais ainda estou gold...
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 Posted on 13 April 12 at 16:03
Math V said:Darken81 said:Gameplay was never the main selling point for me regarding Max Pain. The way the story was presented and how they portrait Max was what I enjoyed the most. Hopefully they'll stay true to that.. Though I must admit that any game with an Africa sorta theme to it generally never appealed to me. Guess time will tell.Africa, Brazil, tomato, tomato winkAfrica? ...........
N0T PENNYS B0AT
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Last post: 16 May at 03:38
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 16:48
Rockstar's body of work speaks for itself and they're my favorite developer so I don't have many concerns about this, but I do wonder what it would have been like if Remedy did it.
Shadow Enz
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Last post: Today at 18:29
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 16:58
Bleh online pass.I knew it was too good to be true.
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MH The Rockstar
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Last post: 16 May at 21:23
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 17:15
I'll pick this up day one as I love Max Payne and I think Rockstar's track record is solid.
JDA27
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JDA27
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Last post: 09 May at 19:10
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 17:28
Darken81 said:Gameplay was never the main selling point for me regarding Max Pain. The way the story was presented and how they portrait Max was what I enjoyed the most. Hopefully they'll stay true to that.. Though I must admit that any game with an Africa sorta theme to it generally never appealed to me. Guess time will tell.hmm.. don't like games based in Africa. Well your in luck, because this is based in New York, USA, N.America and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, S. America. :D

Anyway, I got this pre-ordered and can't wait. Max Payne 2 was one the best games I've ever played, and so are most Rockstar games.
raimaximum
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raimaximum - Minha assinatura na live expirou dia 15 mais ainda estou gold...
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Last post: 18 May at 14:58
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 18:11
JDA27 said:Darken81 said:Gameplay was never the main selling point for me regarding Max Pain. The way the story was presented and how they portrait Max was what I enjoyed the most. Hopefully they'll stay true to that.. Though I must admit that any game with an Africa sorta theme to it generally never appealed to me. Guess time will tell.hmm.. don't like games based in Africa. Well your in luck, because this is based in New York, USA, N.America and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, S. America. :D

Anyway, I got this pre-ordered and can't wait. Max Payne 2 was one the best games I've ever played, and so are most Rockstar games.SÃO PAULOOOO

not Rio De Janeiro :)
Converse
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Converse - Well, this sucks.
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Last post: 09 Jul 12 at 18:30
 Posted on 13 April 12 at 22:24
iSHOCKWAVE 1993 said:Rockstar can never mess a game up, this game is gonna kickass.Totally agree with that. Them gold guns look kick-ass as well.
Blue n Gold Eel
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Blue n Gold Eel - Christian Horner's is a loser that couldn't make it as a racer himself, so shouldn't criticise others the LOSER.
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 Posted on 13 April 12 at 22:51
Converse said:iSHOCKWAVE 1993 said:Rockstar can never mess a game up, this game is gonna kickass.Totally agree with that. Them gold guns look kick-ass as well.I dont think rockstar's game are all that good, and i'd rather see a Max Payne made by Remedy. I liked the dark edge the first 2 games had, where as this looks like another boring run of the mill shooter which will sell by the bucket load because of the name of the game and by who's making it, and not because its a good game, time will tell.
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RedDeadKBII
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 Posted on 14 April 12 at 00:23
Rockstar Pass seriously? I'll have to wait this out then....
Devonian AUS
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 Posted on 14 April 12 at 02:37
OMG, OMG, OMG!
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iceman00behave
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iceman00behave - 2013 - the year to turn it all around
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Last post: 11 May at 01:49
 Posted on 14 April 12 at 05:43
LifeExpectancy said:I'm surprised they're still going with bullet time. I guess they're trying to stay true to the gameplay of previous titles in the series, but it just seems outdated. I would much rather see a truly noire title, gritty and stark with no happy endings and a true antihero, than have an old mechanic resurrected.

I think developers have lost sight of style in favor of mechanics at times lately, with some exceptions of course.You're seriously questioning the devs adding bullet time to the next Max Payne game??? Its only the fundamental gameplay mechanic of the entire series...not to mention its been updated and enhanced with either the Euphoria or Natural Motion physics engine (can't remember which at the moment).

And then you go on to say that developers have lost sight of style in favor of mechanics, when bullet time itself is the very definition of a super-stylized slow motion gameplay mechanic, which was ripped off of a super stylized cinematic technique. I'm just scratching my head at your whole post, honestly.