Let me know what you feel about Max Payne 3, why do you feel it's not often spoken of when remembering older games? Do you like it? Do you dislike it? Let's get discussing!
Max Payne 3 my favourite rockstar game but (at least narratively) the worst max payne game. (1 and 2 were only published by Rockstar not developed). Max Payne 1 and 2 were tradition film noir, steeped in the grimy new york criminal underworld and worked around their limited technology and budget using comic panels for cutscenes. they are some of the most creatively inspiring games ever made and as much as I love 2, mate, you need to play the original max payne 1 and max payne 2. Remedy may be coming back for the remakes but you need to understand the originals to get the full picture. if you don't feel like playing them, I'd recommend the videos by raycevick or avalanche reviews.
An amazing game that just doesn't seem to age you can pick it up and play it through and I got the two extra difficulty levels and 100% of all the golden guns, and I would still play it through again.
Like you, I've never played the first two Max Payne games, but I wholeheartedly believe that Max Payne 3 is one of the best third-person shooters ever made. The gunplay never gets old, and I feel like this captured the feeling of being John Wick long before John Wick was a thing. I find it really odd that Rockstar seems to show very little love for this game and I cannot understand how LA Noire got a re-release, but this game is still being neglected. I really hope the re-release of the first two games sees Max Payne 3 gets a second wind. Rockstar would be dumb not to remaster it, but then Rockstar is pretty dumb these days.
Funny u say this because while I was watching another review of max Payne three(I never played it) I was thinking "this gives me very strong John wick vibes"
I played all 3 of these games on the 1st day of release and I can honestly say me or nobody I know feels 3 moved away from the formula. I believe it was just updated perfectly with modern mechanics to be the best feeling 3rd person shooter I ever laid hands on. Over the years it has made me feel like whatever action movie is currently out and influencing Hollywood at the time. Matrix for the 1st one. The 2nd one feels like a few movies. 3 is def John Wick feeling with Man on Fire effects and story
I played each game as it released and replayed all of them numerous times over the years. Easily one of my favorite trilogies. I will never forget Max Payne.
One of the best video games I’ve ever played. I’ll never forget Max walking along that beach and watching that sunset, it’s so cliche but I fucking love it. Max has finally found peace and moved on, a brilliant send off to such a depressing character that never caught a break. I’ll never forget it. Edit: soundtrack by HEALTH is iconic too
I love the ragdoll and enemy reaction to getting shot. I really love the body armor system it actually does something instead of being cosmetic, it gives the enemies that have it a realistic reason for taking a lot of damage. Also did you know sometimes enemies can just bleed out while fighting sometimes it doesn't happen much but when it does it's surprising, the first time it happened I was suprised. Definitely one of the best games for combat mechanics.
In the RCU, the Rockstar Cinamatic Universe, GTA games are action comedy movies, Red Dead dead are action drama movies, and Max Payne games are action noir thriller police movie. I loved Max Payne 3. I loved it for the graphics and for the gameplay, It can be very well play nowdays. Bust most of all, for the writing. Max cynicism and dark humour are always a hit.
I love the way this game doesn't stereotypically make violence a built in justified and satisfied thing. There are bad guys but this game really emphasizes the fact that violence at this level is horrific and tragic regardless of the context. When I was a kid and it had just released I was so jazzed on the level of gore, but ten years later it's still as fun as ever, but quite literally exhausting. Masterclass game making.
You should play the first two games James. You're gonna love them. They're not that long you could probably finish both of them in under 8-9hrs. Max Payne 3 was more of a deep dive into Max's thoughts and how he dealt with the aftermath of the first two games. MP1 and 2 have more of a "story" and there are other great characters as well
As a huge fan, not so much of Max 3 as I did with 2 or 1, I loved more their stories, the comic approach, and the dialogs you hear all over the place, not only from the main character, Max, I miss Mona.
It is weird how some franchises like Resident Evil or GTA just never seem to die, for better or for worse but Max Payne seems to have been left in the dust when it seemingly had a really unique gameplay appeal that I haven’t seen recreated in any other game, based solely on this video as I haven’t played it lol. But be that as it may, why didn’t they ever continue on with this series? The game was by all accounts a financial hit with a wide and devoted fanbase, or so it seems to me. Even if the character of Max is done, you could introduce new named characters to follow to keep this gameplay style alive but for whatever reason, Rockstar just let it die away just like Bully and LA Noire when there was seemingly so much more you could have done with those IPs.
Yeah I guess maybe it’s due to the publishers at Take Two wanting a focus on bigger IPs like GTA and priorities had to be chosen, it’s interesting though.
Max Payne 3 definitely lost a lot of the atmosphere of the original 2, which I really missed but you are absolutely right about the gameplay. There is a list of games that I keep in my head, and tell myself, “I gotta go back to that one day cuz I just wanna keep playing it.” The list includes Paper Mario 2, Mario Galaxy 2, Bloodborne and Max Payne 3, to name a few. I’m glad you enjoyed the gameplay so much because that’s definitely where the game shines. The story is actually what keeps me away. But maybe I’ll enjoy it more now that I’m older. In a “this is so stupid” kind of way. Anyway, good review.
It's always great seeing appreciation videos for Max Payne 3, since it doesn't get talked about enough. Oh, and I'd definitely love more Rockstar titles being covered here, like LA Noire another game that isn't talked about enough, GTA IV, RDR1, GTA V, etc. Would also make for great videos imo.
I do love Max Payne 1 2 more because it was originally by remedy! SPOILER! the first game had a comicbook noire style with a great monalogue which was compelling the story on the game felt alot like the punisher a revenge story were Max Payne goes on a killing spree to take down the people responsible for killing his wife and daughter, Second was a dark and tragic love story with the same noire style where Max Payne finds love then it's taken away and looks to take down the mafia and the Russian mob Max Payne 2 is definitely the best one in the series, Max Payne 3 had better mechanics better graphic that is really it it felt like a Liam neeson action film like taken in its story that is very all over the place! a story on kidnapping and being set up not better than the first two games story wise in my opinion but it is a classic third person shooter aswell people till play this one beating the runtime, I what play James bond bloodstone and the Bourne conspiracy there pretty much the same.
As a matter of fact i randomly just purchased and started playing MP 3 on Pc Through Steam. I am a huge fan of this game and it really still holds up well even after 10 long years. I have played MP 1 & 2 as well. They are definitely nostalgic classics but MP3 is hands down best. I hope someone really comes down with a plan to make MP4 or atleast similar style games. 🥺
I played this game for the first time in the spring of 2022, as a 19 year old. It immediately became my new PERSONAL favorite game I've ever played. Dozens of hours later I finally beat it's Hardcore New York Minute challenge. It was worth every painstaking second I spent trying to complete. God, I love everything about this video game so very much. I'd give a finger or two to be able to play multiplayer in its prime / at all.
Bro how are these many people so dense? Every time you post a video with a catchy title they take it so seriously, it’s just a fun video title. I would lose my mind over these comments if I were you James :D
i bought this game when it came out when i was about 11 or 12, didnt remember much just remember loving it. I just finished my 2nd playthrough on pc 5 minutes ago... man that soundtrack is a tearjerker for me.
People hated the restrictive, albeit realistic movement mechanics. I loved it. It made the shootdodge mechanic more interesting because now it came at a cost. Cost of getting back up, and in that time being vulnerable. I am glad though that Remedy is working on the remakes. I hope they use the movement system of Control and improve upon the weaknesses of the original games.
This was one of the first games that made me actually look out for games at E3. I thought the pre release gameplay breakdown was so cool I would literally screenshot scenes on my iPod just to go over all the detail in the shot and use as a screensaver or whatever. This was a good time James, I'm glad you took a look at this underrated gem (that's actually good after the patche....fuck get out of my system unity)😂
As a long time fan of the trilogy to me this is still one of the most underrated games of all time. I like to compare Max Payne 3 to the Big Lebowski, both are about long complicated stories where the hero is out of their element and does not understand or care to understand about anything that is happening. Max does not understand the politics, the language, or the people. The dude is wrapped up in a complicated money scheme that he also does not understand but also couldn't care less about. All Max Payne games following the 1st would change the gameplay in simple yet big changes that made them all unique and fun to return to but still retain to the slow motion formula, the 2nd game was a power fantasy while the 3rd is using the slow motion style of the 1st but with a bigger reliance than ever before on accuracy. That along with every gun being viable even late game for me makes Max Payne 3 the most satisfying game I've ever played. Never understood the hate towards the depature of New York to Brazil, I think it was absolutley needed. Where does Max Payne go after the events of 1 and 2, we met every character and most of them are dead we are done with that place so take Max to a different area. Like how Bioshock Infinite took us out of Rapture, we get a great variety of locations in the 3rd entry I never really understood some of the hate. Max Payne 3's use of music is honestly top tier even if you dislike this game, shit incorporates his dead baby's cries, to his dead family and friends telling him to let go in the lyrics of the airport shootout is nothing short of brilliant. Lastly great video but sooner than later do yourself a massive favor go play the first 2 games you won't regret it.
Literally love Max Payne 3, it's incredible, and underrated massively, I had friends who had no idea about Games or Max Payne, but loved this game. It's perfect. Remedy would have done it differently no doubt. But doesn't change the fact its a masterpiece.
Awesome review. This game doesn’t get enough love and I haven’t even played the first 2 MPs either. Wish you would have been able to give multiplayer a try, it’s a blast with friends. Glad to see people are still playing this in 22
just finished it again for the first time in several years last month. i used to nonstop play the multiplayer to try and earn the bonuss they gave you for gta 5, wow that was so long ago.
I really enjoyed Max Payne 3 when it came out and still do. Sure the atmosphere and enviroments are very different from the previous entries, but I think the game was better for it. It has also aged extremely well
Played on xbox 360 and now replaying it on steam deck and it's as good as I remember,I wish it got the love that it deserved from reviewers and rockstar made number 4,there's so much more that max could get involved in....
Just played Max Payne 3 today. It's certainly abit of a different third person shooter, what with Max needing to use medkits(pain killers) to heal. But it's also pretty solid. The one thing I'm afraid of though for gameplay is dual-wielding because Max would let go of his two handed gun just to do so.
How LA Noire got a re-release baffles me. How did they decide upon that? My fave 3rd person havoc shooters are Max Payne 1 - 2 -3 and Kane and Lynch. Absolute benchmarks in their own respective game genre. We will never get any game like those, ever again. We can only hope!
Iam downloading it right now to play it again after 10 years because of your video and i played max payne 2, too. I remember it even better and a lot darker than 3
This game multiplayer was a gem I use to try to play this when I was a kid but the multiplayer was so complex that I had to learn everything about bullet timing online n aiming
I’ve played this game for the first time in 2012 and fell in love with it. Although I never played the online multiplayer I’ve done beat this game four times within the timeframe this game has game came out. Sure the story kinda sucks but it’s about the run n gun and the bulletime gameplay that makes up for the negatives. The shootouts haven’t aged at all and is still fun to play 💯
BTW at that time when "Max Payne" came out, it had in a way the same impact as "Stray" has today, as both came from an indie game developer and provided a very unique gameplay style and immersive story telling with very rememberable characters.
I love Max Payne, and I _worship_ Max Payne 2. I actually liked Max Payne 3 but I'm in a third corner... MP3 is a different interpretation of the series and ditches Noir romantic for hard realism concerning the story and kinda psychedelic shooting madness for an ultra-violent shootout simulator. I can absolutely appreciate both and also like how they continued Max himself. Completely losing the Film Noir smoke screen which was kinda his protection from hard reality, where he arrived in MP3. Long story short: Different but awesome. Love the violence in this one and for me it's the best shootout simulator ever. Also great storytelling. I don't even mind that cutscenes aren't skippable, because whenever I replay I really also want the story, like when I'm rewatching a TV show. :D
Max Payne 3 is an amazing game, and probably a masterpiece. I even think the story is good - it took me multiple playthroughs to catch all of it. I hope there will be a Max Payne 4.
I just finished the game and I have to say I haven't felt this engage to a game since yakuza like a dragon. I never played the other two games but I will definitely play the remasters when they release.
No offense, but it's really important to play the originals to fully explore Max's mind. In this game we see the downfall of the character, and how it reflects his previous self. In the original games (which I'll try not to spoil it's deeper parts), Max is much more stoic cop. Even though his wife and baby child were murdered, Max is cold headed, fully focused on his vengeance, making more smart moves but still fully revenge driven. But in the end, even though he gets his vengeance, by discovering who was the person who ordered the death of his wife and ending their life, Max ends up having most of his friends dead. He is alone, and ends up being alone and without nothing to do but focus on his job. That's when Max Payne 2 starts, where a character from the original character, one of two characters that survived apart from Max, Mona Sax appears. This story is focused on their romantic relationship, and how it help Max to deal with the death of his family. But, you guessed it, Mona also dies, along with some other people, leaving Max into a depression. The Max we see in 3 is drastically different from the original games, suffering from, what I can guess, surviver's guilt, being the only one who survived and wishing to have dies alongside his wife and child. Max regrets his past and due to his addiction to alcohol and probably painkillers, becomes stupider and more grumpy than his former self. Max Payne 3 is his journey to sobriety, trying to finally put an end to his pain once and for all. I also wanted to clear up the moments where there are certain words in the game that are remarked, and its because of the original games to. The original were narrated through comic panels, with actors composing the scene. The TVs were also something that the original team, Remedy, is really known for, to the point it apperead not only in Max Payne 1 & 2, but also in their other games like Alan Wake. If soemone is interested in a much more thorough analysis, I recommend the "Sad Max" video. He makes a great analysis that I could ever dream of to achieve here.
As a long time fan of the series, i think Max Payne 3 is a great game, mechanically, probably one of the best third person shooters of all time, as for aesthetics, story telling, character arc, it's a very ... rockstar game, and it was done better by Remedy in the first two games, Max arc in 3 is almost the same as the one in 2 just with less depth. But all in all, its not offensive by any means, Max still great, the one liners are part of the character, and they are gorgeous to hear in 3, the combat is amazingly well done, and despite the more realistic tone, i like it very much. P.S.: The remakes will be done by the original creators of the series, Remedy, so it will probably play much more like Control, not like Max Payne 3 (Which still great, and will fit Max's world, and style of the first two perfectly), also, i wish the remakes are being done to make Max fit in the Remedy shared universe.
“I never played max Payne 1-“ You poor, poor soul. It’s one of my favorites and most inspiring, next to SR1, Zelda OcTime/MajMsk. It doesn’t compare to MP3’s gameplay, in some aspects. But the “feel” and story are of its time, which is where it’s charm really comes from. It was a work of passion, and that passion bleeds through. Don’t take a poop on it because it’s older.
Grew up playing the first couple of games, so when playing Max Payne 3 on the shit pc I had back then was quite a surprise. I really read into the depth of the game and how max struggled to keep pushing throughout the story with his drinking addiction, everything to the corruption between the broncos and how a cop with the highest body count ever dismantled it. So yeah, the games pretty fucking awesome.
I've only played Max Payne 2, and that was a year ago and on the original xbox. I don't remember much of the story but the gameplay looks the same to what you've shown in 3, except 3 has a more modern approach to it. However, 2 also had the comic book panels in the story telling and the narrations of Max. So I reckon you're right in saying 3 takes what made 1 and 2 and makes it better, but that's just at what you've said here. Also, James, watch Die Hard. It's Alan Rickman's first and best performance. You'll have a great time with it
Can I make a request? I can? Cool, could you make a quick AC-Valhalla review or a short video of your opinions on it? I know what you think of Odyssey and I wholeheartedly agree, so it would be an interesting topic for me at least. I know its an older game but still. And thanks for the great content, I have been binging your videos, they are a joy to watch.
Yes I do but unfortunately something happened to my rockstar account and it won’t allow me to play it so now I live in Payne where I can’t play my favorite rockstar game
Hey Lazzerz you should play What remains of Edith Finch, its a really great experience, its the only game other than assassins creed revelations, red dead 2 and mgs 5 that made me cry.
I know this makes me ignorant, but I just can't listen to someone talk about this game if they haven't played the first two. So much context, character development, and evolution of gameplay that you're just missing. It's like watching someone review Return Of The Jedi without them seeing ANH or ESB.
Critical Nobody did a really good video on all the max payne games. He’s also someone who played the original max payne when it first came out. Max payne 3 did make max payne better in my opinion but it’s still an ok game
"I've never played Max Payne 1 or 2" That's not really forgivable. You really should've done that. They're phenomenal games, and they don't need remakes.
Ah yes James, this is my jam, if there's a series of games that defined my childhood, it was Max Payne, Max Payne 2 is still one of my favorite games ever to this day. Here's my opinion: Story: The storytelling in this series is out of the ordinary, up to Max Payne 2 the story was told in a Noir Novel style (along with some cutscenes as well). In my opinion I preferred 1 and 2 storytelling. If you're not aware Max Payne 3 was the departure of Remedy's involvement with the franchise, they sold the IP to Rockstar and were not involved in Max Payne 3, and this shows... like a lot... A good way to put it is, Max Payne 3 definetely feels like a spin off of the original games as if they've gone out of their way to give Max a holiday after the events of the second game. Don't get me wrong I still apreciate what they've done, it's just that the story barely revolves around Max, other than his fight with his inner self it doesn't hit close to home because none of those people feel close to Max, because they aren't, and that's what separates that "Die Hard" style kind of feel you mention from the previous games. If you haven't played them please do and you'll see what I mean. Actually anything by Remedy is really amazing, if you haven't played Control or Alan Wake, please do as well you won't regret it, all of their games are "kind of" in the same universe, I won't elaborate not to spoil anything but the way they are connected is mind blowing, I don't understand how there aren't that many people talking about it. Gameplay: This is where the true evolution can be noticed, if there's anything that each game built upon the previous one that's gameplay. Max Payne 3 takes all credit where credit is due here, it's the best 3rd person shooter I've ever played, gameplay wise. Just a heads up, Max Payne 1 hasn't aged well in this department, let's just say I've played it after 2, and it was pain... It still deserves all credit, because for those of you who don't know, it was Max Payne that introduced the "bullet time" trope in videogames. Also I absolutely agree on what you said about these style of shorter games, the replay value is astonishing, I've never felt compelled to replay a game that's 50+ hours long. The Max Payne series however, is my most played game ever. I'm really looking forward for the remakes, glad to know Rockstar is teaming up with Remedy again, the potential is there.
its better gameplay wise than the older ones but thats kinda obvious considering the time between them, but the writing/voice acting entire noir style is miles better in 1 and 2 if not the best its ever been done.
From what you've shown in the video the game has alot of similarities to GTA V, but much more condensed and focused. The gunplay and general gameplay seems similarities, I guess it was "forgotten" because it was overshadowed by GTA V since that game has alot more to offer
Really nice game, although I do have 2 nitpicks: 1. The story doesn't have much to do with the first two games. Those two had these crazy conspiracies, an Illuminati style organisation, etc. And MP3 has... some gangs and organ smugglers, I guess. Standard stuff. 2. The game kinda suffers from the Vanquish syndrome. Where there are lots of cutscenes but most of them are only there for the sake of level transitions. While most of the cutscenes in MP1&2 were there to progress the story and develop the characters.
May Payne 3 is about Max unintentionally going on a journey of inner peace by saving another cop and his family from other gangs which ends his own sorrow of not saving the his wife, child and Mona.
@@petermj1098 One problem. He came to terms with the death of his wife & child (and Mona) and the end of Max Payne 2. So MP3 was just spinning its wheels.
@@ThePreciseClimber Max Payne 2 is still a sad ending and Max got a proper happy ending to his misery in 3. Dude it is realistic that Max still is in distraught and copes their deaths with alcohol.
I never played any Max Payne games as I saw the box art walking through GAME one day when I was about 9 and thought “meh” and that feeling carried on ever since but I’m willing to be persuaded otherwise. 😂
hello lazerzz, loved the video as always, have you ever tried sleeping dogs, such an underrated game, it does something very unique to other other open world games such as gta
Honestly you should play the original or the second game before the remakes, they have an irreplaceable atmosphere and every encounter has that replay rhythm you seemed to enjoy.
Yeah, of course, we all remember. The story is tied to the first two games as a continuation in more of a deeply emotionally scarred kind of way than a story narrative way. If that makes any sense. But first, I have to ask you...How is it possible that you haven't seen "Die Hard"??? Christmas at LazerzZ place must be very different to mine and most other people as well, I would imagine. It's the best Christmas movie there was ever made. But I digress. If you play it on the hardest difficulty and if you can be creative enough, every round you fire is like a scene from a John Woo movie. And that was its intention. Oh, you might want to look into some John Woo movies as well. I had no idea that you were a Morman.
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Let me know what you feel about Max Payne 3, why do you feel it's not often spoken of when remembering older games? Do you like it? Do you dislike it? Let's get discussing!
I remember playing it on the ps3 and it was Badass and so underrated. Hope Rockstar or whoever gives Max Payne another chance.
Max Payne 3 my favourite rockstar game but (at least narratively) the worst max payne game. (1 and 2 were only published by Rockstar not developed). Max Payne 1 and 2 were tradition film noir, steeped in the grimy new york criminal underworld and worked around their limited technology and budget using comic panels for cutscenes. they are some of the most creatively inspiring games ever made and as much as I love 2, mate, you need to play the original max payne 1 and max payne 2. Remedy may be coming back for the remakes but you need to understand the originals to get the full picture. if you don't feel like playing them, I'd recommend the videos by raycevick or avalanche reviews.
The fact that you can go prone speaks levels🦵
I don't think Rockstar is bad publisher or have any bad studios except Grove Street
An amazing game that just doesn't seem to age you can pick it up and play it through and I got the two extra difficulty levels and 100% of all the golden guns, and I would still play it through again.
Like you, I've never played the first two Max Payne games, but I wholeheartedly believe that Max Payne 3 is one of the best third-person shooters ever made. The gunplay never gets old, and I feel like this captured the feeling of being John Wick long before John Wick was a thing. I find it really odd that Rockstar seems to show very little love for this game and I cannot understand how LA Noire got a re-release, but this game is still being neglected. I really hope the re-release of the first two games sees Max Payne 3 gets a second wind. Rockstar would be dumb not to remaster it, but then Rockstar is pretty dumb these days.
Funny u say this because while I was watching another review of max Payne three(I never played it) I was thinking "this gives me very strong John wick vibes"
“John Wick before John Wick was a thing” you mean The Matrix and John Woo movies? because those are the actual influences for the game
I played all 3 of these games on the 1st day of release and I can honestly say me or nobody I know feels 3 moved away from the formula. I believe it was just updated perfectly with modern mechanics to be the best feeling 3rd person shooter I ever laid hands on. Over the years it has made me feel like whatever action movie is currently out and influencing Hollywood at the time. Matrix for the 1st one. The 2nd one feels like a few movies. 3 is def John Wick feeling with Man on Fire effects and story
It's a nice issue with mostly you newcomers liking this trash ass game
I played each game as it released and replayed all of them numerous times over the years. Easily one of my favorite trilogies. I will never forget Max Payne.
One of the best video games I’ve ever played. I’ll never forget Max walking along that beach and watching that sunset, it’s so cliche but I fucking love it. Max has finally found peace and moved on, a brilliant send off to such a depressing character that never caught a break. I’ll never forget it.
Edit: soundtrack by HEALTH is iconic too
Yes lazerzz, yes we do.
I love the ragdoll and enemy reaction to getting shot. I really love the body armor system it actually does something instead of being cosmetic, it gives the enemies that have it a realistic reason for taking a lot of damage. Also did you know sometimes enemies can just bleed out while fighting sometimes it doesn't happen much but when it does it's surprising, the first time it happened I was suprised. Definitely one of the best games for combat mechanics.
I played it for the first time in April this year and I’ve replayed the story at least 30 times, it’s a masterpiece
Probably my favourite R* game. I wish they did a remake or remaster for Max Payne 3 too.
For me Max Payne 3 is simply a masterpiece.
Story isn't as good as 1 and 2...but it's okay, it fits who max is and it makes sense he would get into this kind of situation.
In the RCU, the Rockstar Cinamatic Universe, GTA games are action comedy movies, Red Dead dead are action drama movies, and Max Payne games are action noir thriller police movie. I loved Max Payne 3. I loved it for the graphics and for the gameplay, It can be very well play nowdays. Bust most of all, for the writing.
Max cynicism and dark humour are always a hit.
I love the way this game doesn't stereotypically make violence a built in justified and satisfied thing. There are bad guys but this game really emphasizes the fact that violence at this level is horrific and tragic regardless of the context. When I was a kid and it had just released I was so jazzed on the level of gore, but ten years later it's still as fun as ever, but quite literally exhausting. Masterclass game making.
One of the best video games of all time in my opinion
You should play the first two games James. You're gonna love them. They're not that long you could probably finish both of them in under 8-9hrs. Max Payne 3 was more of a deep dive into Max's thoughts and how he dealt with the aftermath of the first two games. MP1 and 2 have more of a "story" and there are other great characters as well
I'll have to give them a look some time!
@@LazerzZ Damn you replied. Love your content James.
As a huge fan, not so much of Max 3 as I did with 2 or 1, I loved more their stories, the comic approach, and the dialogs you hear all over the place, not only from the main character, Max, I miss Mona.
Yes the story may be simple but complicated and not at all that well connected to 2 but I happily accept it as a Max Payne story.
It is weird how some franchises like Resident Evil or GTA just never seem to die, for better or for worse but Max Payne seems to have been left in the dust when it seemingly had a really unique gameplay appeal that I haven’t seen recreated in any other game, based solely on this video as I haven’t played it lol.
But be that as it may, why didn’t they ever continue on with this series? The game was by all accounts a financial hit with a wide and devoted fanbase, or so it seems to me. Even if the character of Max is done, you could introduce new named characters to follow to keep this gameplay style alive but for whatever reason, Rockstar just let it die away just like Bully and LA Noire when there was seemingly so much more you could have done with those IPs.
Yeah I guess maybe it’s due to the publishers at Take Two wanting a focus on bigger IPs like GTA and priorities had to be chosen, it’s interesting though.
Because a Max Payne game without Max isn't a Max Payne game. The first 2 games were also mainly focus on Max and his thoughts.
@@fonkwindy1990 And you couldn’t do that for another character… why?
Max’s story ended so it’s not weird. GTA focuses on different protagonists
John Woo’s Stranglehold is basically a Max Payne game
Max Payne 3 definitely lost a lot of the atmosphere of the original 2, which I really missed but you are absolutely right about the gameplay. There is a list of games that I keep in my head, and tell myself, “I gotta go back to that one day cuz I just wanna keep playing it.” The list includes Paper Mario 2, Mario Galaxy 2, Bloodborne and Max Payne 3, to name a few. I’m glad you enjoyed the gameplay so much because that’s definitely where the game shines. The story is actually what keeps me away. But maybe I’ll enjoy it more now that I’m older. In a “this is so stupid” kind of way. Anyway, good review.
Jacob Geller’s video about ugly games touches on Max Payne 3 and it’s such a good analysis.
It's always great seeing appreciation videos for Max Payne 3, since it doesn't get talked about enough.
Oh, and I'd definitely love more Rockstar titles being covered here, like LA Noire another game that isn't talked about enough, GTA IV, RDR1, GTA V, etc. Would also make for great videos imo.
I do love Max Payne 1 2 more because it was originally by remedy! SPOILER! the first game had a comicbook noire style with
a great monalogue which was compelling the story on the game felt alot like the punisher a revenge story were Max Payne goes on a killing spree to take down the people responsible for killing his wife and daughter, Second was a dark and tragic love story with the same noire style where Max Payne finds love then it's taken away and looks to take down the mafia and the Russian mob Max Payne 2 is definitely the best one in the series, Max Payne 3 had better mechanics better graphic that is really it it felt like a Liam neeson action film like taken in its story that is very all over the place! a story on kidnapping and being set up not better than the first two games story wise in my opinion but it is a classic third person shooter aswell people till play this one beating the runtime, I what play James bond bloodstone and the Bourne conspiracy there pretty much the same.
Yes, it was an absolute great game and I miss playing it for the first time
Yes, I have some very fond memories of it actually.
Also I just realized that 2012 was ten years ago and it's pretty depressing but oh well.
MP3 is missing the unique Remedy story telling and characters, that MP1 and 2 provide.
"Have no fear, Vlad is here!"
I think max Payne 3 is an example of resistance to change in a franchise
Games with a really fun combat system but a short playtime always make me wish we had a Level editor to build our own levels.
As a matter of fact i randomly just purchased and started playing MP 3 on Pc Through Steam. I am a huge fan of this game and it really still holds up well even after 10 long years. I have played MP 1 & 2 as well. They are definitely nostalgic classics but MP3 is hands down best.
I hope someone really comes down with a plan to make MP4 or atleast similar style games. 🥺
Fucking love this game, beat it 4 times. Wish it still had multiplayer 😢
I do. I play through this game dang near once a year and just finished it again 2 weeks ago
I think you got it right on the nose the first 2 are 50/50 cheesy action movie and really engaging revenge story
I played this game for the first time in the spring of 2022, as a 19 year old. It immediately became my new PERSONAL favorite game I've ever played. Dozens of hours later I finally beat it's Hardcore New York Minute challenge. It was worth every painstaking second I spent trying to complete. God, I love everything about this video game so very much. I'd give a finger or two to be able to play multiplayer in its prime / at all.
yes I do, Its good but not even close to what Max Payne 2 was.
Bro how are these many people so dense? Every time you post a video with a catchy title they take it so seriously, it’s just a fun video title.
I would lose my mind over these comments if I were you James :D
I believe the keywords being highlighted in cutscenes are actually a reference to Max Payne 1, where the cutscenes were actually comic pages
Yeeessss! Its my favourite game of all time! I have even completed it in NYM hardcore mode, i love it so much
i bought this game when it came out when i was about 11 or 12, didnt remember much just remember loving it. I just finished my 2nd playthrough on pc 5 minutes ago... man that soundtrack is a tearjerker for me.
I remember this game being the first one I played where the cutscenes blended into gameplay. Blew my mind.
I completely destroyed a relationship by becoming an absolute savage at Max Payne 3.
Lmao pretty based
People hated the restrictive, albeit realistic movement mechanics. I loved it. It made the shootdodge mechanic more interesting because now it came at a cost. Cost of getting back up, and in that time being vulnerable. I am glad though that Remedy is working on the remakes. I hope they use the movement system of Control and improve upon the weaknesses of the original games.
This was one of the first games that made me actually look out for games at E3. I thought the pre release gameplay breakdown was so cool I would literally screenshot scenes on my iPod just to go over all the detail in the shot and use as a screensaver or whatever. This was a good time James, I'm glad you took a look at this underrated gem (that's actually good after the patche....fuck get out of my system unity)😂
In my top 10 games of all time
I remember this game very, very well. “Say what you want about Americans, but we know capitalism. You buy something, you GET what you paid for.”
As a long time fan of the trilogy to me this is still one of the most underrated games of all time. I like to compare Max Payne 3 to the Big Lebowski, both are about long complicated stories where the hero is out of their element and does not understand or care to understand about anything that is happening. Max does not understand the politics, the language, or the people. The dude is wrapped up in a complicated money scheme that he also does not understand but also couldn't care less about. All Max Payne games following the 1st would change the gameplay in simple yet big changes that made them all unique and fun to return to but still retain to the slow motion formula, the 2nd game was a power fantasy while the 3rd is using the slow motion style of the 1st but with a bigger reliance than ever before on accuracy. That along with every gun being viable even late game for me makes Max Payne 3 the most satisfying game I've ever played. Never understood the hate towards the depature of New York to Brazil, I think it was absolutley needed. Where does Max Payne go after the events of 1 and 2, we met every character and most of them are dead we are done with that place so take Max to a different area. Like how Bioshock Infinite took us out of Rapture, we get a great variety of locations in the 3rd entry I never really understood some of the hate. Max Payne 3's use of music is honestly top tier even if you dislike this game, shit incorporates his dead baby's cries, to his dead family and friends telling him to let go in the lyrics of the airport shootout is nothing short of brilliant. Lastly great video but sooner than later do yourself a massive favor go play the first 2 games you won't regret it.
This really aged well
I do. Was so fun playing multiplayer
The very best 3rd person shooter multiplayer ever
Literally love Max Payne 3, it's incredible, and underrated massively, I had friends who had no idea about Games or Max Payne, but loved this game. It's perfect.
Remedy would have done it differently no doubt. But doesn't change the fact its a masterpiece.
Awesome review. This game doesn’t get enough love and I haven’t even played the first 2 MPs either. Wish you would have been able to give multiplayer a try, it’s a blast with friends. Glad to see people are still playing this in 22
Max Payne 3 is fucking awesome. I think it’s the best shooting mechanics in any rockstar game.
just finished it again for the first time in several years last month. i used to nonstop play the multiplayer to try and earn the bonuss they gave you for gta 5, wow that was so long ago.
I really enjoyed Max Payne 3 when it came out and still do. Sure the atmosphere and enviroments are very different from the previous entries, but I think the game was better for it. It has also aged extremely well
Played on xbox 360 and now replaying it on steam deck and it's as good as I remember,I wish it got the love that it deserved from reviewers and rockstar made number 4,there's so much more that max could get involved in....
LazerzZ: do you remember Max Payne 3?
Me: mate... I play it atleast 2 times a month. It was one of the reasons of why I bought a PS3 in 2014.
Just played Max Payne 3 today. It's certainly abit of a different third person shooter, what with Max needing to use medkits(pain killers) to heal. But it's also pretty solid. The one thing I'm afraid of though for gameplay is dual-wielding because Max would let go of his two handed gun just to do so.
Totally underrated game!
One of the best third shooters ever!!!
A remake would be so epic! 🤘
How LA Noire got a re-release baffles me. How did they decide upon that? My fave 3rd person havoc shooters are Max Payne 1 - 2 -3 and Kane and Lynch. Absolute benchmarks in their own respective game genre. We will never get any game like those, ever again. We can only hope!
Criminally underrated game
Iam downloading it right now to play it again after 10 years because of your video and i played max payne 2, too. I remember it even better and a lot darker than 3
This game multiplayer was a gem I use to try to play this when I was a kid but the multiplayer was so complex that I had to learn everything about bullet timing online n aiming
I’ve played this game for the first time in 2012 and fell in love with it. Although I never played the online multiplayer I’ve done beat this game four times within the timeframe this game has game came out. Sure the story kinda sucks but it’s about the run n gun and the bulletime gameplay that makes up for the negatives. The shootouts haven’t aged at all and is still fun to play 💯
The other two games may have been better storywise for me.
BTW at that time when "Max Payne" came out, it had in a way the same impact as "Stray" has today, as both came from an indie game developer and provided a very unique gameplay style and immersive story telling with very rememberable characters.
I love Max Payne, and I _worship_ Max Payne 2. I actually liked Max Payne 3 but I'm in a third corner... MP3 is a different interpretation of the series and ditches Noir romantic for hard realism concerning the story and kinda psychedelic shooting madness for an ultra-violent shootout simulator. I can absolutely appreciate both and also like how they continued Max himself. Completely losing the Film Noir smoke screen which was kinda his protection from hard reality, where he arrived in MP3.
Long story short: Different but awesome. Love the violence in this one and for me it's the best shootout simulator ever. Also great storytelling. I don't even mind that cutscenes aren't skippable, because whenever I replay I really also want the story, like when I'm rewatching a TV show. :D
Max payne is Michael de santa .. they have the same body and lines and speed and slow time abilities and both hava green eyes and both are 188cm
Max Payne 3 is an amazing game, and probably a masterpiece. I even think the story is good - it took me multiple playthroughs to catch all of it.
I hope there will be a Max Payne 4.
One of the best third person shooters ever.
Also sick ass soundtrack
I just finished the game and I have to say I haven't felt this engage to a game since yakuza like a dragon. I never played the other two games but I will definitely play the remasters when they release.
I love this Game so much. The music is fantastic and the locations too
Amazing TPS, Maxpayne 3 And the warriers are two of Rockstars most under looked games.
No offense, but it's really important to play the originals to fully explore Max's mind. In this game we see the downfall of the character, and how it reflects his previous self. In the original games (which I'll try not to spoil it's deeper parts), Max is much more stoic cop. Even though his wife and baby child were murdered, Max is cold headed, fully focused on his vengeance, making more smart moves but still fully revenge driven. But in the end, even though he gets his vengeance, by discovering who was the person who ordered the death of his wife and ending their life, Max ends up having most of his friends dead. He is alone, and ends up being alone and without nothing to do but focus on his job. That's when Max Payne 2 starts, where a character from the original character, one of two characters that survived apart from Max, Mona Sax appears. This story is focused on their romantic relationship, and how it help Max to deal with the death of his family. But, you guessed it, Mona also dies, along with some other people, leaving Max into a depression. The Max we see in 3 is drastically different from the original games, suffering from, what I can guess, surviver's guilt, being the only one who survived and wishing to have dies alongside his wife and child. Max regrets his past and due to his addiction to alcohol and probably painkillers, becomes stupider and more grumpy than his former self. Max Payne 3 is his journey to sobriety, trying to finally put an end to his pain once and for all.
I also wanted to clear up the moments where there are certain words in the game that are remarked, and its because of the original games to. The original were narrated through comic panels, with actors composing the scene. The TVs were also something that the original team, Remedy, is really known for, to the point it apperead not only in Max Payne 1 & 2, but also in their other games like Alan Wake. If soemone is interested in a much more thorough analysis, I recommend the "Sad Max" video. He makes a great analysis that I could ever dream of to achieve here.
Yup, just replayed it in 2019 and remember the whole game quite clearly :)
As a long time fan of the series, i think Max Payne 3 is a great game, mechanically, probably one of the best third person shooters of all time, as for aesthetics, story telling, character arc, it's a very ... rockstar game, and it was done better by Remedy in the first two games, Max arc in 3 is almost the same as the one in 2 just with less depth. But all in all, its not offensive by any means, Max still great, the one liners are part of the character, and they are gorgeous to hear in 3, the combat is amazingly well done, and despite the more realistic tone, i like it very much.
P.S.: The remakes will be done by the original creators of the series, Remedy, so it will probably play much more like Control, not like Max Payne 3 (Which still great, and will fit Max's world, and style of the first two perfectly), also, i wish the remakes are being done to make Max fit in the Remedy shared universe.
“I never played max Payne 1-“
You poor, poor soul. It’s one of my favorites and most inspiring, next to SR1, Zelda OcTime/MajMsk.
It doesn’t compare to MP3’s gameplay, in some aspects. But the “feel” and story are of its time, which is where it’s charm really comes from. It was a work of passion, and that passion bleeds through. Don’t take a poop on it because it’s older.
I’ll have to give it a go, I’m a sucker for old games so perhaps I’ll really enjoy it
I used to play the multiplayer all the time
Roadhouse
4:31 Best line in the game.
Grew up playing the first couple of games, so when playing Max Payne 3 on the shit pc I had back then was quite a surprise. I really read into the depth of the game and how max struggled to keep pushing throughout the story with his drinking addiction, everything to the corruption between the broncos and how a cop with the highest body count ever dismantled it. So yeah, the games pretty fucking awesome.
I've only played Max Payne 2, and that was a year ago and on the original xbox. I don't remember much of the story but the gameplay looks the same to what you've shown in 3, except 3 has a more modern approach to it. However, 2 also had the comic book panels in the story telling and the narrations of Max. So I reckon you're right in saying 3 takes what made 1 and 2 and makes it better, but that's just at what you've said here.
Also, James, watch Die Hard. It's Alan Rickman's first and best performance. You'll have a great time with it
Can I make a request? I can? Cool, could you make a quick AC-Valhalla review or a short video of your opinions on it? I know what you think of Odyssey and I wholeheartedly agree, so it would be an interesting topic for me at least. I know its an older game but still. And thanks for the great content, I have been binging your videos, they are a joy to watch.
Love Max Payne 3, played it 3 times and I enjoyed it every time.
Yes I do but unfortunately something happened to my rockstar account and it won’t allow me to play it so now I live in Payne where I can’t play my favorite rockstar game
Hey Lazzerz you should play What remains of Edith Finch, its a really great experience, its the only game other than assassins creed revelations, red dead 2 and mgs 5 that made me cry.
He played it on a stream a while back and was… not a fan.
I know this makes me ignorant, but I just can't listen to someone talk about this game if they haven't played the first two. So much context, character development, and evolution of gameplay that you're just missing. It's like watching someone review Return Of The Jedi without them seeing ANH or ESB.
One of my favorite games of all time
Critical Nobody did a really good video on all the max payne games. He’s also someone who played the original max payne when it first came out. Max payne 3 did make max payne better in my opinion but it’s still an ok game
Max payne 3 best gameplay max payne 1-2 best story and Atmosphere.
"I've never played Max Payne 1 or 2"
That's not really forgivable. You really should've done that. They're phenomenal games, and they don't need remakes.
L4d vid l4d vid lmao good video James keep up this top tier quality
Nobody's life is so busy that they've never seen Die Hard!
Ah yes James, this is my jam, if there's a series of games that defined my childhood, it was Max Payne, Max Payne 2 is still one of my favorite games ever to this day. Here's my opinion:
Story:
The storytelling in this series is out of the ordinary, up to Max Payne 2 the story was told in a Noir Novel style (along with some cutscenes as well).
In my opinion I preferred 1 and 2 storytelling. If you're not aware Max Payne 3 was the departure of Remedy's involvement with the franchise, they sold the IP to Rockstar and were not involved in Max Payne 3, and this shows... like a lot... A good way to put it is, Max Payne 3 definetely feels like a spin off of the original games as if they've gone out of their way to give Max a holiday after the events of the second game. Don't get me wrong I still apreciate what they've done, it's just that the story barely revolves around Max, other than his fight with his inner self it doesn't hit close to home because none of those people feel close to Max, because they aren't, and that's what separates that "Die Hard" style kind of feel you mention from the previous games. If you haven't played them please do and you'll see what I mean.
Actually anything by Remedy is really amazing, if you haven't played Control or Alan Wake, please do as well you won't regret it, all of their games are "kind of" in the same universe, I won't elaborate not to spoil anything but the way they are connected is mind blowing, I don't understand how there aren't that many people talking about it.
Gameplay:
This is where the true evolution can be noticed, if there's anything that each game built upon the previous one that's gameplay. Max Payne 3 takes all credit where credit is due here, it's the best 3rd person shooter I've ever played, gameplay wise. Just a heads up, Max Payne 1 hasn't aged well in this department, let's just say I've played it after 2, and it was pain... It still deserves all credit, because for those of you who don't know, it was Max Payne that introduced the "bullet time" trope in videogames.
Also I absolutely agree on what you said about these style of shorter games, the replay value is astonishing, I've never felt compelled to replay a game that's 50+ hours long. The Max Payne series however, is my most played game ever.
I'm really looking forward for the remakes, glad to know Rockstar is teaming up with Remedy again, the potential is there.
its better gameplay wise than the older ones but thats kinda obvious considering the time between them, but the writing/voice acting entire noir style is miles better in 1 and 2 if not the best its ever been done.
From what you've shown in the video the game has alot of similarities to GTA V, but much more condensed and focused. The gunplay and general gameplay seems similarities, I guess it was "forgotten" because it was overshadowed by GTA V since that game has alot more to offer
Really nice game, although I do have 2 nitpicks:
1. The story doesn't have much to do with the first two games. Those two had these crazy conspiracies, an Illuminati style organisation, etc. And MP3 has... some gangs and organ smugglers, I guess. Standard stuff.
2. The game kinda suffers from the Vanquish syndrome. Where there are lots of cutscenes but most of them are only there for the sake of level transitions. While most of the cutscenes in MP1&2 were there to progress the story and develop the characters.
May Payne 3 is about Max unintentionally going on a journey of inner peace by saving another cop and his family from other gangs which ends his own sorrow of not saving the his wife, child and Mona.
@@petermj1098 One problem. He came to terms with the death of his wife & child (and Mona) and the end of Max Payne 2. So MP3 was just spinning its wheels.
@@ThePreciseClimber Max Payne 2 is still a sad ending and Max got a proper happy ending to his misery in 3. Dude it is realistic that Max still is in distraught and copes their deaths with alcohol.
I never played any Max Payne games as I saw the box art walking through GAME one day when I was about 9 and thought “meh” and that feeling carried on ever since but I’m willing to be persuaded otherwise. 😂
Or even later at 11-12 as it came out in 2012, lmfao my memory and ability to place dates is terrible 🤣
Man I forgot about this game. One of the reasons I didn't like it as much as first 2 was because they went with the bad ending from 2.
I loved that Max Payne game
This is one of the all time best games ever made easily
The only Max Payne I played as well. Loved the game play in this though. I always wanted another to release.
hello lazerzz, loved the video as always, have you ever tried sleeping dogs, such an underrated game, it does something very unique to other other open world games such as gta
I’m a big fan of Sleeping Dogs, I did want to make a retrospective this year, I may still do it!
@@LazerzZ love to hear that, keep up the great videos❤️
Honestly you should play the original or the second game before the remakes, they have an irreplaceable atmosphere and every encounter has that replay rhythm you seemed to enjoy.
Yeah, of course, we all remember. The story is tied to the first two games as a continuation in more of a deeply emotionally scarred kind of way than a story narrative way. If that makes any sense.
But first, I have to ask you...How is it possible that you haven't seen "Die Hard"??? Christmas at LazerzZ place must be very different to mine and most other people as well, I would imagine. It's the best Christmas movie there was ever made. But I digress.
If you play it on the hardest difficulty and if you can be creative enough, every round you fire is like a scene from a John Woo movie. And that was its intention.
Oh, you might want to look into some John Woo movies as well.
I had no idea that you were a Morman.