Published by Developed by Released Official Site Platforms |
Genre Perspective Gameplay Setting Narrative |
Description
Two years have passed since Max Payne first embarked on his desperate quest for revenge. Returning to his former position as a detective in the New York City Police Department, Max is assigned to investigate a series of murders carried out by group of contract killers known as the Cleaners. Unexpectedly, Max encounters the enigmatic Mona Sax, whom he assumed dead. People from his past begin to return one by one, and Max gradually realizes that he did not know everything about the mysterious Circle and those who were involved in the murder of his family. Somebody out there is trying to kill Max, and he must find the answers before they succeed.Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a direct sequel to Max Payne. The game is very similar to its predecessor in gameplay concept and presentation, bringing back noir detective atmosphere, cinematic John Woo-style action, and cutscenes shaped like comic book panels.
The game is built on the same engine as the predecessor, with several additional special effects and enhancements, such as dynamic shadows and lighting, cubic mapped reflections, and high resolution textures. The Havok engine with ragdoll physics is used to enhance the interactivity with the game world: objects can be moved and destroyed, physically responding to the actions of the player character and opponents.
A new feature in the sequel is the possibility to use secondary weapons alongside regulars guns, namely melee strikes, grenades and Molotov cocktails. Certain characters will join Max and fight on his side from time to time. The player also controls Mona Sax during a few stages. The Bullet Time feature from the previous game has been upgraded to version 2.0, in which Max's speed in bullet time increases as he gets more kills consecutively.
During the first playthrough the game only offers one difficulty level. If the player struggles to succeed, the game will automatically lower the difficulty, reducing the effectiveness of enemy fire and increasing the amount of painkillers. Additional difficulty levels are unlocked when the player completes the game, as well as two new modes: New York Minute and Dead Man Walking. The first awards the player with a score for completing a level as quickly as possible, while the second has Max fighting endlessly respawning enemies.
Screenshots
Promo Images
Trailer
Alternate Titles
- "英雄本色2:马克思配恩之秋" -- Simplified Chinese spelling
Part of the Following Groups
- 3D Engine: MaxFX
- Gameplay feature: Time manipulation
- Green Pepper releases
- Max Payne series
- Physics Engine: Havok
- Setting: 2000s
- Setting: City - New York
- Software Pyramide releases
- Theme: Law enforcement
User Reviews
Is the glass half empty or is it half full? | Windows | Slug Camargo (589) |
Some guys just shouldn't bother with the dames... | Xbox | DarkBubble (376) |
Max is back and even more maudlin! | Windows | Scott Monster (1009) |
More Payne... | Windows | Sam Hardy (82) |
More than I hoped it would be. | Windows | Dave Schenet (138) |
Max Payne 2: Electric Boogaloo | Xbox | MasterMegid (902) |
One of my favorites! | Windows | reeZe Risowisch (11) |
Certainly a great game, but not necessarily better than the original. | Windows | kbmb (435) |
Yep, he fell alright... | Windows | SifouNaS (1326) |
The fall of Max Payne, indeed. | Windows | Ola Sverre Bauge (241) |
Critic Reviews
Withingames | Windows | Oct 27, 2003 | 5 out of 5 | 100 |
WomenGamers.com | Windows | Nov 03, 2003 | 9.875 out of 10 | 99 |
Gry OnLine | Windows | Nov 03, 2003 | 90 out of 100 | 90 |
GameSpot | Xbox | Nov 25, 2003 | 8.4 out of 10 | 84 |
Game Freaks 365 | Xbox | Dec 09, 2003 | 8.1 out of 10 | 81 |
G4 TV: X-Play | Windows | Apr 11, 2006 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
80 |
Gamigo | PlayStation 2 | Feb 13, 2004 | 7.7 out of 10 | 77 |
Game Chronicles | PlayStation 2 | Dec 17, 2003 | 7.3 out of 10 | 73 |
Clubic | Windows | Oct 29, 2003 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
60 |
Game Shark | Windows | Nov 05, 2003 | D+ | 33 |
Forums
Topic | # Posts | Last Post |
---|---|---|
Need help with retarded ending | 4 | Indra was here (20862) Jan 29, 2011 |
Please help to Max Payne Movie! | 2 | Ace of Sevens (4471) Nov 12, 2007 |
Trivia
1001 Video Games
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.Max Payne
Max Payne looks very different in comparison to the predecessor because this time a professional actor, Timothy Gibbs' was used as Payne's face instead of writer Sami Järvi.References
- Towards the end of the game, one of the police officers quotes one of Max's first lines from the first game; "They are all dead." In both instances, the police are arriving after the situation has been resolved.
- If you listen to the messages on Vinnie Gognitti's answering machine, you'll hear a threat from the "God Father." Someone did a an impression of the late Marlon Brando.
- First time Max walks around the police HQ, there are two cops in basement garage. The cops are modeled and named after 3D Realms leads and co-founders George Broussard and Scott Miller. Pay attention to their dialogue; it makes fun out of the long production time of Duke Nukem Forever, ending with 3D Realms' legendary release date slogan ("When it's done!").
- In the level "Dearest of All My Friends", Max and Vinnie escape in a delivery van which has the word "Deliverator" written on its side. According to Joe Siegler, it's a reference to Remedy's earlier racing game Death Rally, where "Deliverator" is the most powerful car in the game.
References to the game
May Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was parodied in an episode of "Die Redaktion" (The Editorial Team), a monthly comedy video produced by the German gaming magazine GameStar. It was published on the DVD of issue 06/2007.Awards
- 4Players
- 2003 – Best PC Story of the Year
- 2003 – Best PC Graphics of the Year
- 2003 – Best PC Successor of the Year
- GameSpy
- 2003 – #8 PC Game of the Year
- GameStar (Germany)
- February 13, 2004 - Best PC Action Game in 2003 (Readers' Vote)
- Issue 12/2008 - One of the "10 Coolest Levels" (For "A Linear Sequence of Scares". It is the highlight of the game because it is very different from the rest of the game, represents a silly image of Max' soul and offers many surprising script sequences.)
Related Web Sites
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (official website)
- Fall of Max Payne Walkthrough (Step by step strategy guide by Anton Forsander)
- Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (The official website)
- Wikipedia: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (Information about Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne at Wikipedia)
Windows Credits (324 people)
272 developers, 52 thanks
Project Lead:
Lead Game Design:
Written By:
Game Programming Lead:
Technology Programming Lead:
Graphic Design Lead:
Art Direction:
Programming:
Additional Programming:
Level Design ‑ Gameplay:
Level Design ‑ Art:
Additional Level Design:
Modeling:
Character Animation:
Texture Art: