That Rockstar's Max Payne 3 isn't entirely faithful to Remedy's original John Woo 'em ups should be obvious at a glance. Assuming you're glancing at a screenshot from the Favela chapter, that is, in which the once drab detective styles a Hawaiian shirt that looks like something Mortal Kombat threw up.
With Rockstar's formidable resources and pedigree behind it, the third game is a massive tonal shift. Gone are the graphic novel panel cutscenes, replaced by professionally shot and mo-capped animations. Not content with bombarding your eardrums, the wise cracks occasionally explode into 3D captions. Max himself looks much older and, thanks to a generous helping of Euphoria physics, wobblier - no less catlike in his responses, but considerably less graceful.
It's not just a question of textures. For the most part, Remedy gave us a world of offices and warehouses, right angles and clean edges. Max Payne 2 went a little nuts on loose objects, yes, but this was the Golden Age of real-time physics, when the concept of an object that falls over believably was so miraculous as to warrant prominent positioning. Max Payne 3's bricabrac isn't quite as easy to single out, and the geometry beneath is a snarl of broken surfaces: chipped concrete, mounds of trash, flapping shutters and laundry lines.
That's the case for the Favela level, at least, which occurs a few hours into the game. The other chapter we've sampled takes place in a stadium, and the environment is thus a little easier to read. Even here there are flashes of organic chaos, however - the cluttered, asymmetrical interior of a sportswear shop, its glass display cases detonating in sugary clouds as Max catapults himself into cover. The scenery is a vital cog in the game's storytelling clockwork, complimenting Max's sarky internal monologue, but it's also a tactical liability. There's too much to take in.
There's time to deliberate at the start of the Favela chapter, as a robbed, abandoned Max trudges around in search of a payphone. Time to follow Max's distracted gaze to the kids playing football behind a wire fence, a masterful bit of animation that's purely for show. Time to listen to people gossiping from second storey windows, or study the dandelions poking under the corrugated iron walls. But then a local tough gets fresh with Max in a bar, and suddenly we're plunging across a roomful of bursting tequila bottles and rolling tables.
10 comments so far...
Clanger67 on 29 Mar '12 said:
Sounds like a more polished,better tech,improvement on the other two classics.It is a shame they have ditched the graphic novel storyboards.They could maybe at least somehow have intergrated them in with cut scenes as well.Still looking fab though and definitley on the pre order list for me.
Decent_Jam on 31 Mar '12 said:
I'm thinking this is heading for an 8 or 9 from the look of all these previews so far, the OXM gang seem to like it (well Matt at least).
This is probably my next purchase. My inbox is encouraging me to pre-order, but I find the act of pre-ordering increasingly pointless in that it doesn't make any difference when I order it these days it seems.
Hopefully it won't be too hard, this sort of game could grind me to a halt by me getting stuck somewhere. Rockstar has derailed me before with it, fingers crossed they won't again - I'd actually like to finish a RS game at some point!
Clanger67 on 31 Mar '12 said:
Not sure though Jam but if you are looking to play it online,which i am guessing you might (i will if i ever get gold lol ).Different places seem to be offering some MP dlc if you pre order before the fifteenth of april.Not sure if it will all be available after release or if it even matters to you.
I am guessing it might be tough in places,the other two where.
Clanger67 on 24 Apr '12 said:
Sounds like they are doing a good job of Max.It is gonna be on two DVD's,the first half of the Sp and Mp on disc one and the rest of Sp on disc two.So no loads of disc swapping then,but then it is Rockstar.
Bezza89 on 24 Apr '12 said:
They should put the MP on both discs like with mass effect so you don't have loads of disc swapping if someone invites you and you're on the wrong disc.
Hopefully GTAV will have a few discs, it's likely with it being the largest game world in a R* game ever. One for MP, two for SP? Or will it come on gertrudes Black Ray Drive.
CunningSmile on 24 Apr '12 said:
Is it Black Ray? I heard it was Purple Ray, or possibly Tangerine with Polka Dots Ray.
Bezza89 on 24 Apr '12 said:
It's every colour possible ever, which mixed to form black.
GHOSTY05 on 26 Apr '12 said:
Already ordered.
I have every faith in Rockstar, they create amazing games.
I am willing to take the risk and give this a shot!
Decent_Jam on 27 Apr '12 said:
Surely Green? Or is that just too obvious?
Looking forward to this game, the OXM Max P poster on my wall is mocking me as we speak.
comabob on 27 Apr '12 said:
I cant wait for this - looks phenomenal - keen to see where Rockstar take old Max
I one and only worry is that the campaign will be under 10 hrs long - i know it will look stunning and probably feel as smooth as warm silk - but im concerned that being so pretty is why its on 2 discs and not because (as i hope) its an epic 20 hour beast.
Judging by the trailers and the different looks of Max on display as well as different locales (Brazil AND New York) it could well be a massive game.
Or it could be short but with loads of levels.... (shudders)