Max Payne 3

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 994 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 736 out of 994
  2. Mixed: 155 out of 994
  3. Negative: 103 out of 994
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  1. LiquidGamer
    May 31, 2012
    7
    Even though the anticipation for this game will never live up to the actual product, I enjoyed playing Max Payne 3. What I did not enjoy was the length of the checkpoints. Talk about a game of headaches. If anything it is my own fault because I played on Free Aim, which makes things a lot more difficult, but if you want the achievements/trophies, you better turn it on Free Aim. MultiplayerEven though the anticipation for this game will never live up to the actual product, I enjoyed playing Max Payne 3. What I did not enjoy was the length of the checkpoints. Talk about a game of headaches. If anything it is my own fault because I played on Free Aim, which makes things a lot more difficult, but if you want the achievements/trophies, you better turn it on Free Aim. Multiplayer was chaotic, not as cinematic and glorious as advertised. A fun game, worth playing, great dialogue and action which is expected from Max, but wish the game had more of a RDR multiplayer. Listen to the full audio review on the podcast; http://liquidgamer.podbean.com/… Expand
  2. cgeeknetwork
    May 20, 2012
    7
    Max Payne is a title most have not heard in conversation for a long time. Max Payne 2 was released in 2003 and a sequel has been long sought after ever since.

    Max Payne 3 is the first in the franchise to not include the original developer Remedy Entertainment and instead, is fully developed in-house at Rockstar Games. Usually this type of shift is an unfortunate end for most series but    Max Payne is a title most have not heard in conversation for a long time. Max Payne 2 was released in 2003 and a sequel has been long sought after ever since.

    Max Payne 3 is the first in the franchise to not include the original developer Remedy Entertainment and instead, is fully developed in-house at Rockstar Games. Usually this type of shift is an unfortunate end for most series but Rockstar has a long history of making solid titles.

    Max Payne 3 takes place eight years after the second game and trades the dreary New York City locations for the upbeat tempo of Sao Paulo, Brazil. No longer an NYPD detective, Max is hired by Rodrigo Branco, a wealthy man with a lot of enemies. Read: a lot, it getâ    … Expand
  3. gargooletz
    Jun 15, 2012
    7
    Underwhelming. Great score, voice acting, nice graphics and fantastic animations but on the other hand... annoying ai, bad level design, mediocre multiplayer, unremarkable story and gameplay sometimes becomes just frustrating and not very fun.
  4. Ryanosaur2000
    Feb 17, 2013
    7
    It had been quite a while since I had played a shooter, so I thought I would pick one up. I decided to go for Max Payne 3 as I had been a fan of the first two games and it was currently on special offer. I was not sure what to expect from this installation, but I was glad to see that it largely lived up to it's predecessors. Just like in the first two games, Max is a fun character to playIt had been quite a while since I had played a shooter, so I thought I would pick one up. I decided to go for Max Payne 3 as I had been a fan of the first two games and it was currently on special offer. I was not sure what to expect from this installation, but I was glad to see that it largely lived up to it's predecessors. Just like in the first two games, Max is a fun character to play as cynical, jaded and with awful luck (and now with a serious drink/pills problem). Many bemoaned to move away from the film noir, graphic novel aspect of the first two, but it felt right to leave that behind in my opinion, as the game's setting would not suit that feel. For those who like their games at the cutting age technology-wise, maybe this is not for you the graphics are average and there are some technical issues at times. For the rest of us who are simply looking for a fun way so spend a few hours, you could do a lot worse than picking up Max Payne 3 and blowing away a few thousand terrorists, crooked cops and drug dealers.… Expand
  5. SxDxSxNightmare
    Aug 10, 2012
    7
    This is a very competent third person shooter with good slow motion and bullet time effects but the occasionally the story detracts from game play as cut-scenes can be to long and cannot be skipped.
  6. Neisenberg
    Aug 19, 2012
    7
    Rockstar did a great job with the franchise, everything works perfect and the game is fun to play. It is not, however, a good MAX PAYNE, and because of that I couldn't love it as much as I wanted to.
  7. drunkenmuse
    Nov 1, 2012
    7
    In terms of general production values the game is great - visuals and gameplay are both tight and the dialogue works quite well too. The main problem with the game (to me) is that the main character is someone who doesn't care about life and whose job it is to protect people so obnoxious that I don't care if they die, making the first hours a bit tedious. But lacking initiative to keepIn terms of general production values the game is great - visuals and gameplay are both tight and the dialogue works quite well too. The main problem with the game (to me) is that the main character is someone who doesn't care about life and whose job it is to protect people so obnoxious that I don't care if they die, making the first hours a bit tedious. But lacking initiative to keep playing based on story, it's still a tight action game for anyone who likes cover shooters and bullet time.… Expand
  8. Auritone
    Mar 14, 2013
    7
    So Max is back to deal out more death and violence while pumping painkillers and booze. But is it any good? Well, yes! As a matter of fact it's rather excellent and a very satisfying 3rd person shooter, which does justice to the Max Payne franchise. But that being said, I did have a few problems with it. First of all there's the constantly shaking camera and the lens flare, which sometimesSo Max is back to deal out more death and violence while pumping painkillers and booze. But is it any good? Well, yes! As a matter of fact it's rather excellent and a very satisfying 3rd person shooter, which does justice to the Max Payne franchise. But that being said, I did have a few problems with it. First of all there's the constantly shaking camera and the lens flare, which sometimes made me feel like Michael Bay and J. J. Abrams had decided to make a game together. Sorry, but I'm not a fan. When used to this extent it looses it's dramatic effect and feels more like a 4-year old jumping up and down flailing his arms while screaming, "Look at me, look at me, look at me, look at me!" It got so bad I actually had to stop playing at times, fearing a seizure.
    The second thing is the huge amount of cut scenes. Though they are very well made and does a good job of telling the story, they simply interrupt the action way too often. Just as a good firefight is going on and I was all psyched up BANG! another 3-5 minutes cut scene ripped me out of the game. It got to a stage where I literally shouted, "NO!" when it happened because it became detrimental to the gaming experience.
    But all said and done, Max Payne 3 is an excellent 3rd person shooter which is definitely worth a look, but be prepared for some really annoying interruptions.    … Expand
  9. Polish_Infidel
    Jun 30, 2013
    7
    A decent game, action-wise, however, I never cared for any of the plot lines of any of the Max Payne games and this game is no exception. But I didn't play this for the story line, rather for the action, which is good but is extremely repetitive. By the end of the game, I couldn't wait for it to be over. Multiplayer was mediocre but not bad. A solid buy at it's current price point ofA decent game, action-wise, however, I never cared for any of the plot lines of any of the Max Payne games and this game is no exception. But I didn't play this for the story line, rather for the action, which is good but is extremely repetitive. By the end of the game, I couldn't wait for it to be over. Multiplayer was mediocre but not bad. A solid buy at it's current price point of under $20 but I feel bad for people who bought this new for $60.… Expand
  10. M9ki
    Jul 10, 2013
    7
    I was very angry about this game it was so impressive and fun,but there was a bad bug that made me start the storyline all over again all dang over again... and after that happened i'm like screw this.It was a very good game besides that bug.
  11. Konstantinos
    Oct 13, 2013
    7
    Max Payne 3 is actually a good game. Gameplay is fantastic, unique and addictive. The story can make you see the pain of Max, for sure, but I didn't like it a lot, cause it's a simple story, that you will forget in about two days. I played the game too long and beat it three times (10 hours playthrough). Now, I'm going for hardcore mode, because gameplay is beautiful. Actually the gameplayMax Payne 3 is actually a good game. Gameplay is fantastic, unique and addictive. The story can make you see the pain of Max, for sure, but I didn't like it a lot, cause it's a simple story, that you will forget in about two days. I played the game too long and beat it three times (10 hours playthrough). Now, I'm going for hardcore mode, because gameplay is beautiful. Actually the gameplay saves this game and make it worth-buying, but story is frustrating for me, because it presents the legendary Max being a boozing bodyguard and involved in things, that don't concern a legend like him. After all, if you're a fan and liked the past two games, get thin one, cause you owe it to yourself. Otherwise, play the past two games and see after that if you want this one.… Expand
  12. Andremax
    Jul 15, 2018
    7
    This one has Rockstar's label of quality, although not being perfect. Ok, it's a linear game, but it's inevitable playing missing freedom gived by Rockstar's open world games, it's kinda make playing feeling stucked and lefted a few options what to do. About gameplay, it has GTA's shooting mechanicals, what is very good, making playability best thing about this game, counting to style ofThis one has Rockstar's label of quality, although not being perfect. Ok, it's a linear game, but it's inevitable playing missing freedom gived by Rockstar's open world games, it's kinda make playing feeling stucked and lefted a few options what to do. About gameplay, it has GTA's shooting mechanicals, what is very good, making playability best thing about this game, counting to style of hiding, that works well too. Story is interesting too, but not intriguing as seen in another producer games. Not really stain perfect Rockstar games library, but isn't amazing, much less bad, just a good game.… Expand
  13. harryjc
    Aug 17, 2014
    7
    You'er Max Payne, an ex-cop hired to be bodyguard to a rich family in Brazil. It's supposed to be a vacation for you, but it turns out to be everything but. Shoot your way through carnage and mayhem, trying to solve a puzzle you never suspected. Kill hundreds of bad guys in slow motion, and with an assortment of weapons.

    Lots of fun, however, can be frustrating at times. Sometimes the    You'er Max Payne, an ex-cop hired to be bodyguard to a rich family in Brazil. It's supposed to be a vacation for you, but it turns out to be everything but. Shoot your way through carnage and mayhem, trying to solve a puzzle you never suspected. Kill hundreds of bad guys in slow motion, and with an assortment of weapons.

    Lots of fun, however, can be frustrating at times. Sometimes the game gets repetitive, and then there are flaws in the combat system, and other errors that stop you from having a good, gun blasting time. All in all though still a good game. At least worth a rent. The story is very well done.

    You get two discs of Max Payne 3.    … Expand
  14. BSchwarz95
    Jul 9, 2018
    7
    After the emotionally intimate first chapters in this trilogy, we return to protagonist Max Payne as he's pretty much given up on life. He's a drunk bodyguard for a wealthy family when everything just seems to go wrong and he has to find it in himself to step up to the plate one last time and seize his chance for redemption. Gotta say, I played this game 5 years ago and loved it but afterAfter the emotionally intimate first chapters in this trilogy, we return to protagonist Max Payne as he's pretty much given up on life. He's a drunk bodyguard for a wealthy family when everything just seems to go wrong and he has to find it in himself to step up to the plate one last time and seize his chance for redemption. Gotta say, I played this game 5 years ago and loved it but after finally playing the first two, this one pales in comparison. I didn't care about the trials and tribulations that he went through and I felt as though this was an unnecessary final chapter in an otherwise perfect saga of games. The game was extraordinarily glitchy (NO textures aside from the backgrounds loaded in 2 separate missions so I just had to run around in circles avoiding invisible walls until prompted with a button-command or cutscene transition). The story felt like it dragged on and I got bored of it fairly quickly; all of the missions felt the same and after awhile, uninspired. If you haven't played the first two games, then this one could be a lot of fun but after playing the others, this ending disappointed me greatly. I'm giving it a 70% because I still had a good time and since this is a Rockstar game, I feel the need to explain why it's not a 100%.… Expand
  15. Yojimbo2015
    Jul 3, 2023
    7
    The granddaddy of bullet time returns with a similarly lead-riddled storyline involving a kidnapped Brazilian heiress. The blasting is pretty much non-stop to the point where it resembles a third person version of a shooting gallery game thanks to the linear structure and a total lack of variation in gameplay. Technically well done but those not so enamoured with shoot 'em ups will find itThe granddaddy of bullet time returns with a similarly lead-riddled storyline involving a kidnapped Brazilian heiress. The blasting is pretty much non-stop to the point where it resembles a third person version of a shooting gallery game thanks to the linear structure and a total lack of variation in gameplay. Technically well done but those not so enamoured with shoot 'em ups will find it very, very repetitive.… Expand
  16. RedXIII
    May 21, 2012
    6
    I loved the old max payne games, however this one was a disappointment. Though there is nothing technically wrong with it. It felt repetitive, and I felt like I had to force myself to finish it. The story is good, however the shooting/action is just the same bullet dodge/slow time, hide in cover, pop out rinse repeat. The online was also a distraction, at first it was a lot of fun, butI loved the old max payne games, however this one was a disappointment. Though there is nothing technically wrong with it. It felt repetitive, and I felt like I had to force myself to finish it. The story is good, however the shooting/action is just the same bullet dodge/slow time, hide in cover, pop out rinse repeat. The online was also a distraction, at first it was a lot of fun, but after a few hours it begins to feel stale as well. A fun little distraction for a few days, but ultimately lacks the depth needed to be a mainstay. However I didn't know why I was expecting anything different, Rockstar stayed true to the original games, and the gaming landscape has changed since then. A good story can't carry mediocre gameplay, and online is just a tacked on side note. Disappointment.… Expand
  17. drlowdon
    Feb 26, 2013
    6
    Whilst playing Max Payne 3 my opinion on the game changed almost minute to minute. One second I would find myself enjoying the action packed, if rather one note, gameplay the next I would be closing to turning off the game through pure frustration.

    Anyone that has played any of the previous titles in the series won’t really find any gameplay surprises here and the bullet-time mechanic,    Whilst playing Max Payne 3 my opinion on the game changed almost minute to minute. One second I would find myself enjoying the action packed, if rather one note, gameplay the next I would be closing to turning off the game through pure frustration.

    Anyone that has played any of the previous titles in the series won’t really find any gameplay surprises here and the bullet-time mechanic, while no longer as original as it was when the first game was released over a decade ago, can certainly still be great fun when you are able to get things right. The gunplay is also pretty solid but questionable design choices often make it seem as though the game is going out of its way to prevent the player enjoying themselves. Every so often the player will be handed back control following a cut scene to find themselves under heavy fire, if you don’t get your bearings quick enough you’re dead. A number of other sections will also see you killed pretty quickly if you go in all guns blazing leading to a frustrating amount of trial and error. On these occasions the game can become a generic, and rather average, cover based shooter forcing the player to pick of enemies one at a time. Try to imagine a slightly inferior imitation of Modern Warfare 2’s campaign (including the favela) and you’re not far off. Vest wearing bad guys that seem to be able to take three or four bullets to the chest and yet still continue to fire back at you only add further to the frustration. Having to repeat a section because you are killed by an enemy you assumed was already dead is not fun. Another of the games problems is that the gameplay doesn’t evolve at all from start to finish. I wasn’t expecting the freedom of an open world game but some choice in how to tackle certain missions would have been nice. Why could the bullet time mechanic not be used to help keep the player unnoticed by enemies for example?

    In terms of its characters and storyline this third outing is certainly aiming for a more serious tone. To be perfectly honest however this is another aspect of the game that doesn’t really work. Many of the cut-scenes are longer than necessary and simply end up intruding on the gameplay. Listening to Mr Payne spout increasing forced ‘film noir’ type metaphors is almost laughable on occasions and by the end of the game I wasn’t really paying much attention to what was going on.

    Thanks to some fantastically cinematic set pieces there is plenty of enjoyment to be had here but if this series is to attract me back for any sequels the developers need to get back to the drawing board and offer a bit more variety next time around.    … Expand
  18. BoabDreeps
    May 19, 2012
    6
    So often regarded as the gold standard of games developers, RockStar seems to be on a bit of a dip in recent years.
    GTA and Red Dead were stunning games, then along came L.A. Bore. It was terrible, but I forgave them and looked forward to Max Payne 3.
    But I'm disappointed again. Just like L.A. Noire, it's a demonstration of style over substance. It looks and sounds great, but it's so    So often regarded as the gold standard of games developers, RockStar seems to be on a bit of a dip in recent years.
    GTA and Red Dead were stunning games, then along came L.A. Bore. It was terrible, but I forgave them and looked forward to Max Payne 3.
    But I'm disappointed again. Just like L.A. Noire, it's a demonstration of style over substance. It looks and sounds great, but it's so linear it might as well be an on-rails shooter. Those are the moments that you actually get to PLAY the game, cos the majority of your time will be spent watching cut scenes. There were parts during these interludes where I was thinking: Hey! I could be in control of that bit!
    The controls are clunky. When you are in control, it doesn't quite feel like you are. It's somewhat disengaged.
    This is my opinion after reaching the end of "Chapter 4", so I suppose there is time for redemption.
    Quickly played team death match...uninspiring run and gun festival of repetition.

    Please RockStar, lift your game for GTA5. I need that to be great.    … Expand
  19. Xon
    Jul 10, 2012
    6
    MULTIPLAYER MAX PAYNE IN THE ASS

    The single player rocks. Perhaps it is because I live in Brazil that i can tell you visually and story-wise the game hits the nail on the head like I have never seen before in a game. I give the single player campaign 9/10. The single player is short but impressive so I bought the season pass. Man, do I rue the day i did that. First of all it is super    MULTIPLAYER MAX PAYNE IN THE ASS

    The single player rocks. Perhaps it is because I live in Brazil that i can tell you visually and story-wise the game hits the nail on the head like I have never seen before in a game. I give the single player campaign 9/10.

    The single player is short but impressive so I bought the season pass. Man, do I rue the day i did that. First of all it is super difficult for me to get into a game. I can play any game online, Diablo 3, Syndicate, BF3...you name it. With MP3 I spend half the time trying to connect but failing due to "connection errors" and "failed synchronization". Also, I only started to enjoy the game after reaching level 10. Started. I haven't yet had a fun game.

    At this moment I am still unable to enjoy the multiplayer. I have written R* about my connection issues who have not responded.

    I am a hard working father with precious, little free-time. When I sit down with an hour to indulge I definitely do not choose MP3 multiplayer since it will be only frustrating.

    What a shame.    … Expand
  20. Thorgal
    May 22, 2012
    6
    I think this game is highly overrated by professionals. By the score of >9 one would think this is an instant classice but it isnt't, it;s average and gets boring in the end. I am fond of Rockstar games I liked Red Dead Redemption a lot and also LA Noire, but this game has little development during the 14 chapters. Gameplay in chapters 1 and 14 dont differ. Story is really interesting andI think this game is highly overrated by professionals. By the score of >9 one would think this is an instant classice but it isnt't, it;s average and gets boring in the end. I am fond of Rockstar games I liked Red Dead Redemption a lot and also LA Noire, but this game has little development during the 14 chapters. Gameplay in chapters 1 and 14 dont differ. Story is really interesting and the first chapters are great to play but then it gets bored and some items which are nice in the first chapter gets really irritating. Like there is the overacted stupid boring voice of Max. Its just over the top American. One liners heard to often in games in the 80's and 90's. Then there are those words coming on the screen. They add nothing. First it looks cool but after 2 chapters they get boring and they add nothing to the story or experience. This game screams it wants to be cool and many people will fall for it, I also did the first chapters, but it fails deeply. Voice-acting is just really bad. Many reviewers are just blind by the trademark Rockstar I think. It must be the explanation for the high ratings. Its just 13 in a dozen game.… Expand
  21. rossifumi
    May 15, 2012
    6
    The game story is impressive the graphics beautiful and brings the expected level in 2012.
    I think the gameplay and controlls are very hard even on easy with free aim combo. (if you use hard lock the game become meaningless) Variety levels are fun although linear like a corridor with minimum freedom. The game atmosphere good but not like maxpayne 1 & 2.
    Authentic characters in very long    The game story is impressive the graphics beautiful and brings the expected level in 2012.
    I think the gameplay and controlls are very hard even on easy with free aim combo. (if you use hard lock the game become meaningless) Variety levels are fun although linear like a corridor with minimum freedom. The game atmosphere good but not like maxpayne 1 & 2.
    Authentic characters in very long and boring cutscenes......    … Expand
  22. shawncris
    May 16, 2012
    6
    Well, I am coming from the standpoint of loving the last two Max Payne games. I had high expectations for this one. Max Payne has style, sure, and it has decent graphics. It even has fantastic voice acting and amazing sound design. However, the most important part is what failed for me. The gun play is..I'll say it....atrocious. Its not sensitive enough at the start, and by the timeWell, I am coming from the standpoint of loving the last two Max Payne games. I had high expectations for this one. Max Payne has style, sure, and it has decent graphics. It even has fantastic voice acting and amazing sound design. However, the most important part is what failed for me. The gun play is..I'll say it....atrocious. Its not sensitive enough at the start, and by the time you've got the cursor going, it's swinging wildly in over aim. It's not lack of skill either, I have no problem with Halo or COD, or any other FPS for that matter. The reticle is TINY for the pistols, which are your go to weapon, similar to how the reticle was in RDR. And I hated it then. It's too small and its only on the screen when you are aiming, so in a pinch, it's easy to lose it in background art. The gunplay just isn't satisfying, it's either the wildly difficult free aim, or the haxorz auto aim, which takes all the fun out of it. I remember MP2 being way more fun and way more dynamic than this game. Anyway, that's my two cents. IMO, it's a rental at most.… Expand
  23. Cusseta
    May 21, 2012
    6
    I wanted to give this game a higher score. The story is good. The voice acting is exceptional. The sound design is excellent. Honestly, it's all pretty darn good except for one thing: The actual GAMEPLAY. More specifically, the shooting mechanics. Rockstar knows how to make an open-world game like no other developer, but the linearity of MP3 puts an emphasis on the gunplay which isI wanted to give this game a higher score. The story is good. The voice acting is exceptional. The sound design is excellent. Honestly, it's all pretty darn good except for one thing: The actual GAMEPLAY. More specifically, the shooting mechanics. Rockstar knows how to make an open-world game like no other developer, but the linearity of MP3 puts an emphasis on the gunplay which is the one thing Rockstar doesn't do exceptionally well. Don't get me wrong, I love linear games as well as open-world games, but my linear shooters need great shooting mechanics and this game just deliver in that department : /… Expand
  24. Dak_Hudson
    Jul 17, 2012
    6
    I really wanted to like this game, honest. I am a big fan of rockstar and their games (with my favorites being Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto 4), but this one just didn't cut it for me. On one hand, you have great visuals, with nearly all of your surroundings reacting to the many firefights you have throughout the game; Max has some of the most inventive skills I have everI really wanted to like this game, honest. I am a big fan of rockstar and their games (with my favorites being Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto 4), but this one just didn't cut it for me. On one hand, you have great visuals, with nearly all of your surroundings reacting to the many firefights you have throughout the game; Max has some of the most inventive skills I have ever seen in a third person shooter, and I would often dive into bullet-time just because I could. On the flip side, however, the controls can be quite a pain to deal with, as my character would often get caught on walls while performing bullet-time. I would get snagged behind cover, struggling to get my character out of the way of oncoming bullets or grenades. The story was fantastic, but how far can good story and great visuals carry a game with bad controls?… Expand
  25. Phil133
    Mar 3, 2013
    6
    While the game does have some good points to it, it gets beyond repetitive at times. Sometimes poor controls get in the way of the otherwise decent cover based shooting, but it is definitely nothing special. However as with most Rockstar games there are some moments that make the ride worth it
  26. beerbaron7
    Feb 24, 2013
    6
    Disappointing effort for Rockstar; by fair their weakest game of the current generation. It's incredibly short, even by modern standards (about 10 hours for a playthrough), linear to the point of being completely scripted at times, and the gameplay is extremely shallow. If it weren't for the story and great presentation this game would be a complete dud. My only hope is that they carryDisappointing effort for Rockstar; by fair their weakest game of the current generation. It's incredibly short, even by modern standards (about 10 hours for a playthrough), linear to the point of being completely scripted at times, and the gameplay is extremely shallow. If it weren't for the story and great presentation this game would be a complete dud. My only hope is that they carry over some of the gunplay/cover mechanics to GTA V.… Expand
  27. memus
    Jun 7, 2022
    6
    Eventually, the GTA and Max Payne sensibilities came together. It's the most cynical, gory and cinematic Max Payne to date. Also, that's why it feels really dated in 2022.

    Pros: * James McCaffrey now portrays Max not only in voice, but also in body. * You can shoot grenades mid-air. * Sao Paolo looks really dirty, levels are highly detailed and you get onto shoot outs all over the    Eventually, the GTA and Max Payne sensibilities came together. It's the most cynical, gory and cinematic Max Payne to date. Also, that's why it feels really dated in 2022.

    Pros:
    * James McCaffrey now portrays Max not only in voice, but also in body.
    * You can shoot grenades mid-air.
    * Sao Paolo looks really dirty, levels are highly detailed and you get onto shoot outs all over the sightseeing spots. In general, replacing NY cold with SP heat was a stroke of genius.
    * They don't translate Portuguese! That feels very authentic and helps to show Max as gringo.
    * I enjoyed the storyline here better then MP2 (yes, it's an unpopular opinion).

    Cons:
    * This game has more cutscenes than shootouts (ok, I'm exaggerating a little). But during the second play-through that becomes much more visible and annoying. That part didn't date well.
    * The over-the-top brutality entertained me 10 yrs ago (as I've never seen anything like that before), but now it feels overly gratuitous and not necessary. This game is a teenager take on what 'adult content' looks like.
    * Gameplay itself gets old faster then it should. W/o auto-aim the game is too hard. With auto-aim -- too easy. It had never found a difficulty balance for me that I could enjoy.
    * The resolution is too low. I played this on Series X, and the age shows in resolutions. Models and levels are cool. But any time you need to shoot smth in the distance, you start pixel hunting.
    * Achievements are unreasonable.    … Expand
  28. guiletheguiles
    Mar 29, 2023
    6
    Good to see you finally retire, Max! Especially in my country!

    Look, Max Payne 3 is a fine game. I had a lot of fun with it and loved finally concluding this trilogy. The gameplay was improved from the previous one, they managed to successfully change the environments and the game's tone. The writing is still pretty cool and Max is still a badass protagonist. Voice acting alone could    Good to see you finally retire, Max! Especially in my country!

    Look, Max Payne 3 is a fine game.

    I had a lot of fun with it and loved finally concluding this trilogy. The gameplay was improved from the previous one, they managed to successfully change the environments and the game's tone. The writing is still pretty cool and Max is still a badass protagonist. Voice acting alone could convince you to fall for this game, in fact. Even if it feels, at times, quite forced, with exaggerated plot points and murky point of views. But it IS supposed to be a moody noir game after all and they manage to sell this through storytelling, bloody set pieces and frenetic gunplay.

    I also really liked how they set this one in Brazil. Not only for the necessary change of pace that the game (and character) needed, but also from the perspective of someone who lives in a coastal city in São Paulo. They hyperbolize and dramatize the country's crime gangs A LOT, but they did it in an interesting way, nailing a few of the environments, from the rich to the poor ones, as well.

    What mostly **** this game up are problems from the past, though. The same things I hated back in the previous both games are still present. Somehow improved, sure, but still a mess. Clunky aiming, weird cover system, too edgy, mindless shooting endless enemies, repetitive level design, weak replay factor, Max Payne's life is made of thin paper and too many bullet-sponge-soldiers. I swear, you could shower someone in bullets but some **** just refused to fall. Felt like Gears of War, but without sense, because you fight humans here.

    Playing this game on harder difficulties must not be fun at all.

    I also felt like this game took longer than it should. Outstaying your welcome by doing the same flaws, repeating things over and over, just isn't good. Especially right at the end of a trilogy, with an actual cool story. It just kills the rhythm.

    So, yeah, I'm glad Max finally retired. It was a fun ride and I do recommend this game if you've played the other ones. But, honestly, I'm pretty much done here.

    Enjoy Bahia, Max!    … Expand
  29. janitorjenkins
    Jul 13, 2015
    6
    There is much to say as to why I don't like this game. For one, on harder difficulties in older Max Paynes, (1 and 2), it wasn't gut wrenchingly cheap to the point where an enemy (excluding the few and far between bosses) can take a headshot, their helmet simply fly off (and I know I hit them in the mouth where they're exposed) and they return fire and kill you. And the "minibosses withThere is much to say as to why I don't like this game. For one, on harder difficulties in older Max Paynes, (1 and 2), it wasn't gut wrenchingly cheap to the point where an enemy (excluding the few and far between bosses) can take a headshot, their helmet simply fly off (and I know I hit them in the mouth where they're exposed) and they return fire and kill you. And the "minibosses with shotguns" or whatever they decided to throw in here are absolute BS on hard. You could sit there with a submachine gun wailing on their heads with every round, yet I guarantee at some point they will get the upper hand and make you waste on of your health items just because Rockstar doesn't know **** about boss design. Yeah, after a few deaths the game will give you a break and give you some painkillers or whatever when it reloads your last autosave, but even then, it's usually barely enough and it feels like pure luck when you finally make it through. Why not just reduce the enemy count? Or hell, why not just make these "everything but a headshot only phases me" bulletsponge horse**** enemies take a few less shots to kill on the next reload? Also, who the **** is the guy going behind Max and locking every single door? Why? What's the purpose of this? When there's collectables involved, things like this in a game are even more frustrating.

    I don't understand why Max Payne needed a cover system, what this boils down to is, "wait for the enemy to reload and hit him in the head" or, "blindly fire an automatic gun into a hallway full of bad guys." It's redundant, Max Payne already had its own unique and entertaining system for avoiding fire and giving you an edge over the enemies, and yeah, it's still in here, but you waste half of your bar just from one leap, and it's bundled with an unecessary second wind mechanic. Or at least, it would've been uncessary if they toned down the hit-detecting AI that pin-point shot your head if you so much as one of Max's hairs pop out of cover.

    Then there's the story, yeah ok, MP1 Max gets revenge on people who wronged him, MP2, he gets his revenge on the remaining people. Here? They use the backstory of 1 and 2 to shoehorn him into some white knight role, not to mention at one point they make Max look like a total moron if you find a certain clue during one of the flashback sequences. Max might not be the smartest guy, but after finding that clue, it's like they didn't even try to develop Max anymore than, "clueless drunk beyond his prime who gets swept along for the ride," gee, sounds like another one of Rockstar's characters. I didn't really have a problem with the more serious tone of the game, it's just the way it's told, interrupting you every time after leaving behind a pile of dead bodies, that gets annoying.

    For all these faults, I will say the game is well optimized, sound is nice, and it looks great. However, if you're thinking of getting into Max Payne, only play the first two, and stay away from this.    … Expand
  30. PentV
    Sep 19, 2020
    6
    This game is average. This was developed completely by Rockstar and as hard as they try, they can't pull off the same quality as Remedy when it comes to writing. They also added cover mechanics which just completely ruin the core gameplay of Max Payne in my opinion.
  31. Agarwel
    May 18, 2012
    5
    Wow. This is very dificult game to rate. The gameplay is awesome. But it is very oftem (almost between each two rooms) interupted by the cutscene. And the cutscenes are terible. They are using "inovative" effect like color filter changes, shaking parts of the screen, doubole and triple vision, etc. And it is overused in such degree that it is literally pain to watch. I stopped the gameWow. This is very dificult game to rate. The gameplay is awesome. But it is very oftem (almost between each two rooms) interupted by the cutscene. And the cutscenes are terible. They are using "inovative" effect like color filter changes, shaking parts of the screen, doubole and triple vision, etc. And it is overused in such degree that it is literally pain to watch. I stopped the game after 2,5 chapters because I felt sick and get real headache. Never ahppened to me before. So how I can obejctivelly rate the gameplay with good score, if the overal desing does not allow me to enjoy the game? I hope for patch that will let me disable this, otherwise I will sell the game soon. Im not masochist to endure this for 10 hours or so :-(
    If you are considering the game, go and watch few cutscenes on the youtube or just the cutscene trailer. Now imagine whole game is like this. And the cutscenes are everywhere.    … Expand
  32. shadowdogg
    May 31, 2012
    5
    Some of the major playability issues which let this game down is the cut scenes which involuntary take over what your doing. The enemies can be tough so getting ammo is an important part of playing the game.

    However, on certain scenes if you kill all the enemies without picking up the ammo as you go along killing, you end up with no ammo on the next scene. This causes major frustrations    Some of the major playability issues which let this game down is the cut scenes which involuntary take over what your doing. The enemies can be tough so getting ammo is an important part of playing the game.

    However, on certain scenes if you kill all the enemies without picking up the ammo as you go along killing, you end up with no ammo on the next scene. This causes major frustrations and headaches as you die from having to go rambo style on your foe by slow motioning right into their face. You also get issues regarding areas locking themselves down to stop you going back. Yes, I can understand the problems this can cause but it is really not giving enough freedom to go back to reasonable close locations and you loose out on ammo.

    Certainly can't remember Max Payne 1 and 2 having such frustration moments and whilst it is ok, it certainly isn't up to my expectations and just begins to look like another generic shooting game with bullet time.    … Expand
  33. tombo
    May 18, 2012
    5
    In the superb Grand Theft series and Red Dead, I can easily forgive a mediocre shooting component
    because of their vast,open worlds with numerous, fun things to do. I found this effort by Rockstar to be
    Max Painful,i.e., too linear ; frustrating combat involving numb, dumb bad guys, and a yawn-inducing narrative. Incidentally, I bought Metroid Prime 3 the other day for less than ten bucks    In the superb Grand Theft series and Red Dead, I can easily forgive a mediocre shooting component
    because of their vast,open worlds with numerous, fun things to do. I found this effort by Rockstar to be
    Max Painful,i.e., too linear ; frustrating combat involving numb, dumb bad guys, and a yawn-inducing
    narrative. Incidentally, I bought Metroid Prime 3 the other day for less than ten bucks and am LOVING
    it!! Man, what a stellar, incredible game! Retro, I sure hope you're working on 4.    … Expand
  34. isdaron
    Jul 23, 2012
    5
    Boy, what a disappointment. I've been playing the Max Payne series, since it first came out on the PC - and this is arguably its worst iteration. While the first two titles of the series strongly depended on the style and elegance of sliding shooting through doors - now a bald, fattened version of Max Payne stumbles drunk through Brazilian favelas. I get it: It should add to the dark andBoy, what a disappointment. I've been playing the Max Payne series, since it first came out on the PC - and this is arguably its worst iteration. While the first two titles of the series strongly depended on the style and elegance of sliding shooting through doors - now a bald, fattened version of Max Payne stumbles drunk through Brazilian favelas. I get it: It should add to the dark and sad trauma he has been going through storywise - but the game lacks at every end: The controls on Xbox360 are frustrating. The shoot dodge movement is barely useful, as Max insists to bump into walls and doors whenever he's using it. He likes to get up under heavy fire or ignoring the safe side of a barricade. when dodging fire. To top it off - the writing is really, really bad. Why? Because I just don't care about Max as a character, nor about the people he's trying to save, nor that the game continuously demotivates me, by killing characters throughout the storyline I'm expected to safe.

    Stay away from this game.    … Expand
  35. XFistsClenchedX
    May 18, 2012
    5
    My review is primarily based on the multiplayer. I played the first couple chapters of the singleplayer game, but found it to be pretty boring. The multiplayer is pretty awful. The controls are very unresponsive. On occasion, when trying to roll, my character fails to roll at all. Taking cover takes too long as well -- not that taking cover is really useful. There seems to be no rhyme orMy review is primarily based on the multiplayer. I played the first couple chapters of the singleplayer game, but found it to be pretty boring. The multiplayer is pretty awful. The controls are very unresponsive. On occasion, when trying to roll, my character fails to roll at all. Taking cover takes too long as well -- not that taking cover is really useful. There seems to be no rhyme or reason behind what can kill you in multiplayer. For instance, when looking at where I had been shot after being killed, I discovered I had been killed by a single bullet to the forearm. ONE bullet in the FOREARM. The inaccuracy of a lot of the rifles is ridiculous. People can run around duel wielding submachineguns and hit me from long range, while my LMG with a good accuracy rating takes 40-50 bullets to kill something. The spawns are often terrible and some of the maps are pretty awful. I rented this game and feel like I wasted my money.… Expand
  36. TomRoller
    May 19, 2012
    5
    Rockstar mimics successful formula of the original series but eventually fails to capture the charm of the original. Gameplay suffers from shoddy controls and boring levels that offer few tactical choices during shoot-outs. Checkpoints repeatedly put you against a swarm of enemies with barely one cover around . The result is a static encounter or frequent death, the latter resulting inRockstar mimics successful formula of the original series but eventually fails to capture the charm of the original. Gameplay suffers from shoddy controls and boring levels that offer few tactical choices during shoot-outs. Checkpoints repeatedly put you against a swarm of enemies with barely one cover around . The result is a static encounter or frequent death, the latter resulting in tedious backtracking. If there are cutscenes tied to the checkpoint, you will see them again and again without chance to skip. Gone is the noir atmosphere and well-penned Marlowesque monologues. New Max is a boring character chasing McGuffins that are difficult to care about. Cutscenes try to evoke the comics-inspired look of the original. The ambitious effort falls short due to poor editing that creates comics panes with random placement at random angles, full of busy effects and senseless dialogue excerpts. An interesting idea ends up feeling pretentious and artificial. Despite the sub-par lighting of its in-house Rage engine Rockstar did a good job in making the game visually appealing. The art-direction is tight, cutscenes impress with high-quality mo-cap and Euphoria animation engine makes enemy reaction to your bullets nothing short of spectacular. Sadly, the work of programmers, artists and animators has been sabotaged by design and narrative teams. The result is a mediocre shooter that did not manage to replicate the original recipe. If you are not familiar with game's predecessors, give it a chance after price drop. Fans of Max Payne and Rockstar's previous work may find themselves thinking that despite the stellar reviews of his clothes this emperor is walking around bare naked. Collapse… Expand
  37. Demo_Derfocker
    May 28, 2012
    5
    What a disappointment, I was really looking forward to this game but it wasn't as good as I expected. Don't get me wrong is not a bad game, but its just as good as "reviewers" make it to be. First of all its incredibly frustrating, the check points doesn't make sense, they are either to far apart or even too close to each other. Worst of all at one point I finished a chapter and began theWhat a disappointment, I was really looking forward to this game but it wasn't as good as I expected. Don't get me wrong is not a bad game, but its just as good as "reviewers" make it to be. First of all its incredibly frustrating, the check points doesn't make sense, they are either to far apart or even too close to each other. Worst of all at one point I finished a chapter and began the other one, so I turn off the game and when I turn it on again I didn't started in the chapter that I started, It started in the last checkpoint of the last chapter, because as turns out the unskipable and long cut scenes don't count as a checkpoint so you have to wait till the scene is over and you start playing till you the new chapter officially began, even tough that at the beginning of the cut scene its says that you started a new Chapter. Secondly somethings just doesn't make sense in the game, like for a example at 1 time Max put a "home made" silencer in a gun, but that was just pointless because no matter what you do you are gonna face 2 guys and even if you use bullet time and kill them both with the silencer the other guys will magically hear it and go after you. Other thing that don"t make sense it's that when you are with your partner he tells you that he is gonna "cover you" but he only do for a couple of shots then he does nothing, even tough that he is gonna act like he still is covering you. Last but not least is the AI, Im all for smart AI but the AI is so smart to the point of being ridiculous, they never miss and they use cover way better than you, plus sometimes there are almost a dozen of them at the same time and when you are trying to kill the ones in front of you some of them will sneak beside you and shot you. I cant believe that this game got so many positive reviews and just a few "mixed ones" but on my opinion this game its only just average and a rental only.… Expand
  38. Mastabrad85
    Jun 12, 2012
    5
    An OK game. Unlike Payne I and II there is not a lot of sneak up and listen to the mobsters then bust through the door and nail them all in bullet time. For some reason the AI always knows where you are regardless of how sneaky you are as if they are alerted to your presence immediately upon entering an area. Payne is constantly talking about something which actually got annoying becauseAn OK game. Unlike Payne I and II there is not a lot of sneak up and listen to the mobsters then bust through the door and nail them all in bullet time. For some reason the AI always knows where you are regardless of how sneaky you are as if they are alerted to your presence immediately upon entering an area. Payne is constantly talking about something which actually got annoying because if your in a room for more than 5 seconds he is already telling you where you need to go. The enemies did not increase in difficulty much throughout the game either. Payne fought for women he loved, out of revenge in I and II. In II he has no emotional connection to the people he is trying to save other than they pay his bar tab. I love Max Payne and could not give a negative review but it was a pretty poorly made game overall.… Expand
  39. DanteTheCynic
    Dec 27, 2012
    5
    Rockstar undoubtedly had the best of intentions when making this game. However, while the gameplay is fine, albeit repetitive, the story doesn't make much sense, the multiplayer is just standard fair with a bullet time twist, and here are several immersion-breaking bugs, also with a few BIG game-breaking ones too, Max Payne 3 could've been something great, but instead it feels like anRockstar undoubtedly had the best of intentions when making this game. However, while the gameplay is fine, albeit repetitive, the story doesn't make much sense, the multiplayer is just standard fair with a bullet time twist, and here are several immersion-breaking bugs, also with a few BIG game-breaking ones too, Max Payne 3 could've been something great, but instead it feels like an unpolished, bland cash in.… Expand
  40. thelazerbeast
    Dec 11, 2012
    5
    No spoilers

    This is the first video game review I've written, and I am writing it because I felt compelled to do so. No game I've played recently has had such stark contrasts between the good and bad showcased within; being incredibly fun at times and unbearable in others. Although sometimes these alternated in such quick succession that it was making me feel as crazy as ol' Max    No spoilers

    This is the first video game review I've written, and I am writing it because I felt compelled to do so. No game I've played recently has had such stark contrasts between the good and bad showcased within; being incredibly fun at times and unbearable in others. Although sometimes these alternated in such quick succession that it was making me feel as crazy as ol' Max himself. I want to start by saying I like Max Payne the character; I like where his story goes in this game, and I like the "gritty action guy" narration and grisly slowed down "bullet-time" stuff. It might be cheesy but I want to be entertained and on a basic level this is really fun tough guy entertainment. Max doesn't have real superpowers or anything. He's just a hard-ass dude who wants to do his job and then get all boozed up. It's great! In terms of gameplay it's very similar to the first two installments I remember from PS2. It can be challenging (on Normal mode) to a casual gamer like myself at times, but once you figure out what you should be doing you can usually win through by simply being more precise and playing better. However. This game is broken. It may simply be the XBOX 360 version that has problems, but the problems made the game frustrating beyond belief. For example when Max goes into a "Last Stand Mode" that players of this generation of games are familiar with he needs to shoot the last person who shot him. Which one? Meh, you died. The camera is behind Max's fat head? You died. The dude ducked behind cover? You died. Out of bullets in your revolver? You died. If for some reason the restricted "Last Stand" camera won't let you aim at the dude? You are dead. It gets worse. If you shoot the dude in "Last Stand" (only one bullet required) Max recovers while on the ground, takes a painkiller, and then STANDS UP! Like in the middle of a firefight. So you take damage from whoever you were ducking behind cover from. Sometimes a lot of damage. Like enough to put you into "Last Stand."

    There are also Golden Guns in the game with parts (3) hidden throughout levels. Being a check behind the staircase person I found 2/3 parts of every gun. Not a single third piece, despite being curious. I thought I had explored the levels thouroughly, and just found it frustrating that in playing the game I didn't get to see what these guns did. Speaking of guns I found it just stupid that while there were in-game (non XBOX Live) achievements for kills with each type of weapon there was no system for achieving proficiency with a preferred gun. By the end of the game I had realized that it is better to simply take the gun with the highest ammo capacity because a shotgun and a .38 basically take the same amount of effort to dispatch an enemy. That's no fun. I want to get good at a weapon type. It just made the game duller where the system to have proficiency upgrades basically seemed in place, but was passed by.

    The absolute worst was the cover-glitch. This glitch occurred occasionally throughout the game, and consisted of Max ducking behind cover and then freezing. I could reload, switch weapons, pause and drop weapons, but could not stand or escape cover. So I had to let someone shoot me to put me in "Last Stand" or restart from the last checkpoint. This was annoying but bearable until it started to happen more and more often towards the end of the game where levels become much longer and more challenging, with more time between checkpoints. I could laugh at many of the problems the game had but this was just maddening, and just seemed like pure laziness on the part of the makers.

    It simply does not make sense for a top-tier game to have been released with this many problems. I spent 40-60% of playing time in this game replaying levels that had broken or killed me due to poorly made gameplay aspects, It was purely frustrating at many times when it should have been the most fun, and the overall experience was ruined. TL:DR - Overall experience of the game is ruined by poor programming, mechanics, and character control even though the story and general gameplay could be good. Lazy execution by the makers of the game. Very, very low replayability    … Expand
  41. peabuddie
    Aug 4, 2013
    5
    Unlike the first Max Payne (the only one I played) I found myself not having the slightest amount of empathy for this guy this time around. A self-analyzing, angst ridden, drug addicted alcoholic is boring and tedious in real life. Who thought that would be a good idea for gaming protagonist? Hmm? NO. There was no real motivation to drive Max forward. He should have gone home after theUnlike the first Max Payne (the only one I played) I found myself not having the slightest amount of empathy for this guy this time around. A self-analyzing, angst ridden, drug addicted alcoholic is boring and tedious in real life. Who thought that would be a good idea for gaming protagonist? Hmm? NO. There was no real motivation to drive Max forward. He should have gone home after the Panama debacle if he had a brain left in his alcohol soaked brain. The combat controls were at times unresponsive. He might get glued to cover, and not respond quickly enough to the (inconsistently) overpowered approaching enemies. All of it was clunky in general. The cut scenes ruined it for me. What is it with the direction of developers lately? Look at Tomb Raider and Resident Evil Six. Apparently THEY want to play the game FOR us. They have gotten so egocentric recently. I esp. can't stand a forced walk. Every door in the first third of the game is a freaking cut scene. Every cut scene starts you back with a handgun. Some reloads after death put you right out with no cover and again, holding a hand gun instead of that grenade launcher you had 5 secs ago. Occasionally after a big battle, it goes straight to cut scene. Need ammo? Want to grab an assault rifle, tough s***, WE want to show you what great movie makers we are! Aren't you impressed? NO. I am not.… Expand
  42. Andreasg
    Sep 22, 2013
    5
    I believe this is one of the worst games rockstar has developed... Here are the reasons..

    1)Extremely linear No choice.. no freedom.. You are directed exactly as the game wants it.. 2) The bullet time mechanic is cool, but after the first 1000 kills it gets boring and repetitive.. 3) The game repeats its self a lot!! Go into a room kill 100 enemies, go to the next room kill another    I believe this is one of the worst games rockstar has developed... Here are the reasons..

    1)Extremely linear No choice.. no freedom.. You are directed exactly as the game wants it..
    2) The bullet time mechanic is cool, but after the first 1000 kills it gets boring and repetitive..
    3) The game repeats its self a lot!! Go into a room kill 100 enemies, go to the next room kill another 100 it goes on for 10-12 hours..
    4)You can not skip cut scenes!! Which during your second playthough is an issue!
    5) way too much talking by max payne... almost non-stop!

    5/10     … Expand
  43. Goatlips
    Oct 16, 2018
    5
    Extremely One-Dimensional, Linear and Overrated.

    When it comes to Rockstar third-person games - if you like true story-led detection then LA Noire is far better (albeit repetitive and not that great either). If you like third-person gun battles with a great story, Red Dead Redemption is for you (a truly great game). Max Payne 3 feels like a very poor cross between those two games and    Extremely One-Dimensional, Linear and Overrated.

    When it comes to Rockstar third-person games - if you like true story-led detection then LA Noire is far better (albeit repetitive and not that great either). If you like third-person gun battles with a great story, Red Dead Redemption is for you (a truly great game).
    Max Payne 3 feels like a very poor cross between those two games and as a result can be compared to, and totally outclassed by, Resident Evil 4 (so, if you've never played it download yourself the HD version of that instead).

    Review score: 5/10

    This score may seem low, but is fair and truthful. If the content of this game had been polished to perfection the maximum score it could attain should still only be 7/10.
    Due to sheer lack of gameplay variety, content and its linearity any score of 7 or above is impossible, or Rockstar's best games, which are at least 10x bigger and better, would be due scores far greater than 10/10.    … Expand
  44. Extant
    Jun 4, 2012
    4
    Is the shooting fun? Yes. Are the graphics nice? Yes! Do I wish I could play for more than 30 seconds without being interrupted by cutscenes? YES! When I am playing, it is enjoyable, I think, but the action comes in such short bursts between cutscenes I can't get involved in the game. It's a perpetual game of "just the tip," never letting me go too long on my own. The first two Max PayneIs the shooting fun? Yes. Are the graphics nice? Yes! Do I wish I could play for more than 30 seconds without being interrupted by cutscenes? YES! When I am playing, it is enjoyable, I think, but the action comes in such short bursts between cutscenes I can't get involved in the game. It's a perpetual game of "just the tip," never letting me go too long on my own. The first two Max Payne games perfectly melded gameplay and storytelling, whereas this does so incredibly clunkily. I am taken totally out of the game, and can't enjoy what I think is actually pretty good gameplay. Not to mention the visual "style" of the cutscenes is so blatantly trying to be "cool" it makes me literally nauseous. The saving grace is that the multiplayer is quite robust and enjoyable (and not interrupted by cutscenes!), so I think that's where I'll be spending my $60 worth of time.… Expand
  45. SNESLIVE
    May 17, 2012
    4
    My thoughts in a nutshell: Clunky controls, terrible presentation, on-rail shooting segments that don't belong in a Max Payne game, bland story, bland characters, no use of subtitles for foreign language speaking characters, multiplayer that doesn't need to exist, and a failure to capture the Noir feel of the past games. This game should have been made by Remedy, not Rockstar.
  46. bugbear1
    May 16, 2012
    4
    ROCKSTAR has done a fine job of envisioning Max Payne for a new audience; unfortunately (for some of us), it is NOT the Max Payne of yore. While the gunplay is frenetic, the hit-detection and collision must be a bit off at times as headshots often fail to keep adversaries on the ground. Stylistically, Max Payne 3 is a visual tour de force but with incessant cutscene interruption,ROCKSTAR has done a fine job of envisioning Max Payne for a new audience; unfortunately (for some of us), it is NOT the Max Payne of yore. While the gunplay is frenetic, the hit-detection and collision must be a bit off at times as headshots often fail to keep adversaries on the ground. Stylistically, Max Payne 3 is a visual tour de force but with incessant cutscene interruption, gameplay takes a backseat. Other foibles, including Max often switching weapons after the conclusion of many cutscenes, forces the player to readjust and modify every approach. REMEDY, originally, made the player FEEL like Max Payne. (In fact, for this writer, the original Payne was the first game played from beginning to end in one melodramatic, grit-filled, approximate, 12.5 hour odyssey.) -THIS Max Payne game is not player-driven, has its own inertia and cadence, often forcing the player to "watch" much of the story instead of allowing the player to "become" part of the story. With future patches, any uneven gameplay may be smoothed-over, but this game is NOT "really" Max Payne. -It's a revisionist Max Payne for the new century, for a new audience, for a new aesthetic with a distinctly odd level of player-challenge and forced-variety. It may well be, that THIS Max Payne will be MORE about multiplayer or future DLC than any possible tense solo experience like its now-distant origins? BUT, categorically, wasn't the original Payne, a hardboiled noir experience that each player embraced which, in turn, contributed to rock-solid immersion, creating the iconic Max Payne experience? Wasn't the linear single-player trek of the original Max Payne, the film noir-like quality, the immersive gunplay and strong characterization wrapped within limited player-choice, the KEY to player-identification WITH the onscreen Max Payne? Sure, while it was an empowerment fantasy, the player BECAME Payne during the journey. With Max Payne 3, the player gets to "watch" a version of Payne, on rails, dynamically forged and sent headlong, careening into one fubar situation after another. Less player-driven and much more like a snowball rolling downhill at controlled speeds, this new Payne IS interesting but not very fun.… Expand
  47. EE061003
    Jun 24, 2012
    4
    Firstly to the haters.If anyone of you havent experienced or played max payne game before then to be literal YOU WONT LIKE THIS A BIT because max payne games have always been linear and in service of narrative cinematics while retaining dark atmosphere.I have been playing max payne since its original release 2001 and still do with lots of awesome mods created by fans specially for MaxFirstly to the haters.If anyone of you havent experienced or played max payne game before then to be literal YOU WONT LIKE THIS A BIT because max payne games have always been linear and in service of narrative cinematics while retaining dark atmosphere.I have been playing max payne since its original release 2001 and still do with lots of awesome mods created by fans specially for Max Payne 2.Max Payne 3 didnt feel like a max payne game at all to be honest and die hard fans might agree with that.ITS JUST A LINEAR AND OVERSCRIPTED GTA IV TO BE SPECIFIC.NOIR STYLE,DREAM SEQUENCES,DARK ATMOSPHERE,FEELING OFMAX PAYNE CHARACTER ALL ARE GONE.in the first two games we actually felt the resonance of the tensed situations and feel of a max as a character.To be Max Payne 3 is a sheer disappointment.Remedy will regret the loss of such iconic character by rockstar and its GTA fanbase.PROS:Terrific voice acting and level design,,great shoot outs CONS:Not in any way feels like a max payne game.even the story is cliched with predictable outcome,no dream sequences,no character feeling,Mona Sax is completely forgotten in the latest installment.Overall IF I WERE NEW TO MP SERIES THEN I WOULD HAVE RATED IT 9 BUT AS A DIE HARD FAN OF THE SERIES FOR A DECADE I AM DISAPPOINTED.SAME THING HAPPENED TO SPLINTER CELL SERIES WHEN CONVICTION WAS RELEASED AND NOW MAX PAYNE.START WORRYING ABOUT 47… Expand
  48. Jbrizzy
    May 29, 2012
    4
    DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!!, Rockstar really needs to get it together because i have not been satisfied with anything they have made( sans ballad of gay tony dlc) since they put out GTA San Andreas. Every title since then has been hyped up garbage hidden by beautiful graphics. In this game their are Cutscenes everywhere, it wouldnt have bothered me if the gamplay wasnt repetitive, but it isDONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!!, Rockstar really needs to get it together because i have not been satisfied with anything they have made( sans ballad of gay tony dlc) since they put out GTA San Andreas. Every title since then has been hyped up garbage hidden by beautiful graphics. In this game their are Cutscenes everywhere, it wouldnt have bothered me if the gamplay wasnt repetitive, but it is so yea. And the story really isnt that engaging sense majority of the time you will be watching cutscenes.There really arent that many weapons either , and finding the golden parts to them really doesnt change anything but their appearance. This game also is kind of like yet another call of duty clone. Last time i checked Max Payne didnt need cover, but ole well. I will say it was a good effort to make Max Payne relevent again, but the wait definitly wasnt worth it.… Expand
  49. Haus_Man
    May 24, 2012
    4
    Being a fan of both the Max Payne franchise and Rock Star Games I was excited to see these two come together. However, after playing the game I am very disappointed with the final product. Game play is extremely linear and interrupted by cut scene after cut scene. The game play does not have the Max Payne feel to it, and some how Bullet Time has become boring. I made the decision toBeing a fan of both the Max Payne franchise and Rock Star Games I was excited to see these two come together. However, after playing the game I am very disappointed with the final product. Game play is extremely linear and interrupted by cut scene after cut scene. The game play does not have the Max Payne feel to it, and some how Bullet Time has become boring. I made the decision to purchase this game based on all the reviews I read on this site and now regret it. This is my first review and also the first Max Payne/Rock Star title that i will not play through to the finish. Its just too boring. I give it a 4 for the voice acting and the graphics.… Expand
  50. kartana
    May 19, 2012
    3
    The problem with Max Payne 3 is, that it is not Max Payne. Cover: Max Payne doesn't need cover. The bullet time IS his cover. Taking cover is also way more effective than bullet time due to the narrow environments.
    Effects: the Kane & Lynch aesthetic is terribly distracting. Controls: clunky and unresponsive. Graphics: ok, but nothing special, the animations are awful especially in multiplayer.
  51. Bullfrog1983
    Jun 20, 2012
    3
    I played Max Payne 3 on hard - here is my response to that.

    Max Payne 3 like the character is a washed-up, painkiller addicted, whiskey-soaked piece of trash that bears no similarity to the previous two games. Gone is Max Payne's sly wit and slow brooding style of narration which is replaced by a long-winded chatterbox who never stops **** about how awful his situation is - even though    I played Max Payne 3 on hard - here is my response to that.

    Max Payne 3 like the character is a washed-up, painkiller addicted, whiskey-soaked piece of trash that bears no similarity to the previous two games. Gone is Max Payne's sly wit and slow brooding style of narration which is replaced by a long-winded chatterbox who never stops **** about how awful his situation is - even though Max could quit whenever he wanted and go home. At times during the game Max speaks to himself with more than one voice at once, causing a cluster **** of gibberish that is unrecognizable and quite annoying, especially when it spills over into a cut-scene.

    The cut-scenes in the game are a huge letdown, removing the comic book style (the coolest type of cut-scenes to date in video gaming in my opinion) and rubber stamping the game with Rockstar's patented Grand Theft Auto/Red Dead Redemption/L.A. Noire formula which is worsened by frequent buzzing/color dysphoria in the picture and the absence of player controlled subtitles. Another annoyance is scripted cut-scenes in the game where the game takes control away from the player to show what Max wants to look at. This is increasingly annoying as the game continues, most prominently when Max needs to cover his cop friend with a sniper rifle. The reason why it is so annoying at this point is there IS no reason for them to take control away from the player - the game is not automatically sniping for us, so why does it take control? When situations like this occur in the game it just causes anger, confusion, or annoyance.

    Enemies who used to be a dime-a-dozen thugs who go down after a single head-shot or shotgun blast are now zombie-like enemies who take two shotgun blasts to the chest and fall down ... only to rise again to shoot Max in the back for a quick kill. No matter how stealthy you are in Max Payne 3 your enemies will always know exactly where you are even if using a silenced weapon they will find you unless it is a scripted sequence in the game. The A.I. in Max Payne is really good at shooting through the invisible walls that sometimes block your bullets which increases their advantage over you with their zombie-like vitality. The A.I. is also surprisingly well designed, and many times as Max Payne I found myself surrounded on all sides and the Rockstar programmers deserve to be congratulated on that at least. An unfortunate part of the programming is the hit-box detection, which I will illustrated through an example: In a helicopter sequence where Max covers a woman - he has a laser-guided high powered rifle that takes out enemies in one shot, super easy right? Wrong. Three people witnessed my shooting and no one could believe it as the person I was covering got executed over and over again despite my gunfire going directly through the enemies chasing her, guided by the laser sight on the gun. I wasn't even going for head-shots mind you, direct shots to the chest without any flare or style. It just didn't hit. Some of the controls in the game are stupidly assigned like either of the two buttons dedicated to bullet time. Having a thumbstick used for something that important in the game is just unforgivable in design, and perhaps owning the first two on computer skews my perspective - but having one key for both slowing time and diving (if pressed while going in a direction) seemed a lot more intuitive than the controls of the game which often saw me diving over railings or into the water causing death which put me back to the last **** cut-scene that I saw 30 bad guys ago.

    Suffice it to say that Max Payne 3 is one tough whiny **** that just doesn't hit what it aims at.    … Expand
  52. StarlessBB
    May 15, 2012
    3
    This game is ABYSMAL. The story is bad, the textures are nonexistent, the voice acting is terrible, the writing is terrible, Max never shuts up, and dear god this game is visually offensive. During every cutscene (and during some gameplay) there are these blue scanlines that keep flashing on the screen and stupid popup words. All sorts of visually awful things, it's like Rockstar saw KaneThis game is ABYSMAL. The story is bad, the textures are nonexistent, the voice acting is terrible, the writing is terrible, Max never shuts up, and dear god this game is visually offensive. During every cutscene (and during some gameplay) there are these blue scanlines that keep flashing on the screen and stupid popup words. All sorts of visually awful things, it's like Rockstar saw Kane and Lynch 2 and said "this is what we want visually." The gameplay is ok, what little of it there is. This game does the whole MGS thing except even worse because every 4 minutes of gameplay (sometimes less) you run into a cutscene. I have NEVER in my life had gameplay interrupted more times than during Max Payne 3.
    all in all I can't recommend this game at all to anyone. It's pretty bad.    … Expand
  53. paddystudmuffin
    Aug 9, 2012
    3
    Very average game. Outstays its welcome by chapter 10 even though it's short which tells you that gameplay gets boring quick. A couple of good chapters tho. Definitely not a keeper.
  54. DatGamingCritic
    Nov 18, 2013
    3
    This game is ABYSMAL! It's so bad with is cut scenes every 2 flipping seconds. IGN gave this game something like a 7 or 8. But I suppose IGN give out 8,9 and 10 like motherf**kers. Sorry for the language. Needed to get that out. But MAX PAYNE 3 is not. I REAPAT not a good game. Reason... There cutscenes. To many. It's graphics are not anything special. It's meant to be sad. I just laughedThis game is ABYSMAL! It's so bad with is cut scenes every 2 flipping seconds. IGN gave this game something like a 7 or 8. But I suppose IGN give out 8,9 and 10 like motherf**kers. Sorry for the language. Needed to get that out. But MAX PAYNE 3 is not. I REAPAT not a good game. Reason... There cutscenes. To many. It's graphics are not anything special. It's meant to be sad. I just laughed at the sad parts. Reason... It is such a bad story it made me laugh. The gameplay (when there is some) is rubbish and so is the guns. They feel terrible. Not a good job Rockstar.

    Overall
    -Bad Story
    -Bad campaign
    -Not Much GamePlay Just Cut Scenes
    Score 18/100    … Expand
  55. Broyax
    Apr 17, 2017
    3
    Une suite fidèle à l'esprit Max Payne pour le meilleur et pour le pire... et surtout pour le pire. Toujours tout en anglais (ça fait chier) et toujours cette litanie pontifiante du Max qui a pris de la bouteille (!) dans cet épisode. L'alcoolo est encore plus assommant que d'habitude à l'ouvrir (!) sans arrêt pour un oui ou pour un non comme un vieux juke-box rayé.

    Max Payne 3 est plus    Une suite fidèle à l'esprit Max Payne pour le meilleur et pour le pire... et surtout pour le pire. Toujours tout en anglais (ça fait chier) et toujours cette litanie pontifiante du Max qui a pris de la bouteille (!) dans cet épisode. L'alcoolo est encore plus assommant que d'habitude à l'ouvrir (!) sans arrêt pour un oui ou pour un non comme un vieux juke-box rayé.

    Max Payne 3 est plus difficile que Max Payne 2, la faute à une imprécision terrible au pad, quels que soient les réglages (pourtant nombreux) ou quelles que soient les assistances activées. La disparition des sauvegardes manuelles n'améliore pas le tableau, un tableau déjà bien pitoyable comme peut l'être Max le tocard pleurnichard.

    Certes Rockstar a ajouté la visée à l'épaule et un système de couverture mais ça ne suffit pas, surtout que le réticule change de place (!) quand on épaule (c'est du n'importe quoi...). Bien sûr le "bullet time" est toujours bien fait et la réalisation générale est de haute volée mais on n'est pas non plus transporté par ce semblant de scénario griffonné sur deux feuilles de papier-cul.

    La suite de trop donc, d'autant que le second épisode n'était pas mirobolant, loin s'en faut.    … Expand
  56. foxmart
    Apr 5, 2021
    3
    I honestly would've rated this two or three points higher but I want to account for all the fanboys giving it a perfect 10 (some who admit they're giving it a higher than deserved score to make up for all the haters.. ironic).

    The game is not *terrible*, but like other low score reviews, I agree that the gameplay is not good either. The character actions are difficult to control    I honestly would've rated this two or three points higher but I want to account for all the fanboys giving it a perfect 10 (some who admit they're giving it a higher than deserved score to make up for all the haters.. ironic).

    The game is not *terrible*, but like other low score reviews, I agree that the gameplay is not good either. The character actions are difficult to control (movement, aiming, gun selection, etc), and just when you're feeling confident and getting the hang of things after successfully handling a shootout you get hit with yet another cutscene that immediately makes you lose control of Max. Then, just when you start to follow the story of that cutscene, you're put right in the middle of a bunch of enemies with no idea of precisely when you gain full control and take action.

    It feels like you're taking part in the story in a haphazard way, never really being able to fully enjoy a cutscene without feeling anxious that you could be put in a shootout any second, but then never really getting into the game as a player because you're also arbitrarily taken out of control just to go over another cutscene.

    It wouldn't be so bad (but it'd still be bad) if the story itself was good, but it's just mediocre at best, the dialogue gets tiresome, and overall it doesn't have that classic Max Payne feel like the original.    … Expand
  57. ROK8
    Jun 18, 2012
    2
    Sorry Max (or Rockstar) this game is just not fun to play! The controls are very awkward and the flow or balance of the game is not great. Yes, the story, graphics and certainly the voices are great, but playing the same sequence over and over because you missed the targets because you did not see tiny, tiny trigger pixel, or run out of bullet time is just boring. To give context I am aSorry Max (or Rockstar) this game is just not fun to play! The controls are very awkward and the flow or balance of the game is not great. Yes, the story, graphics and certainly the voices are great, but playing the same sequence over and over because you missed the targets because you did not see tiny, tiny trigger pixel, or run out of bullet time is just boring. To give context I am a great fan of the series and the ground breaking impact it has had. This installment is just not nearly as good. Had I not pre-ordered and played as trial version first I would not have bought the game. Sorry.… Expand
  58. osprey
    Jul 21, 2012
    2
    Another ROCKSTAR disappointment. I keep hoping for another Red Dead experience from them and get games that fall short by a mile. This game failed to engage me and even irritated me. I wanted a film noire type mystery shooter maybe like Condemned with atmosphere and good writing and acting and challenging shooting but got none of this in this game. It comes across like a bad acid tripAnother ROCKSTAR disappointment. I keep hoping for another Red Dead experience from them and get games that fall short by a mile. This game failed to engage me and even irritated me. I wanted a film noire type mystery shooter maybe like Condemned with atmosphere and good writing and acting and challenging shooting but got none of this in this game. It comes across like a bad acid trip and isn't even a fun one. ROCKSTAR I know you can do much better please deliver next time.… Expand
  59. ganmai
    Jun 2, 2012
    2
    Although the visuals are certainly impressive, and the game earns points for me for its focus on story, it has one horrible, glaring flaw: it is un-necessarily HARD.

    This may be an appealing characteristic for some; if you like that aspect of the game, then please, by all means ignore this review. However, if you are like me, and believe that the primary characteristic of any video Game    Although the visuals are certainly impressive, and the game earns points for me for its focus on story, it has one horrible, glaring flaw: it is un-necessarily HARD.

    This may be an appealing characteristic for some; if you like that aspect of the game, then please, by all means ignore this review. However, if you are like me, and believe that the primary characteristic of any video Game should be that it is Fun, then do not waste your time with this game.

    I am not a bad gamer. I would fancy to say that I am pretty good. Yet somehow, even playing this on the Easiest difficulty, with basically automatic aiming, I found myself dying at least six times on each sequence. This is not fun.

    Having had an absolute blast with GTA4, Red Dead Redemption, and L.A. Noire, I am severely disappointed in Rockstar's latest offering.    … Expand
  60. WaffleFox
    Mar 11, 2013
    2
    When I started this game I just loved the bullet time mode. It was so cool to see the bullet's in slow motion as they pierce your enemies. Seeing the bullet from it's point of view when shooting the last enemy in the area was also very satisfying. However that's the only entertainment available. It didn't take long for bullet time to become a necessity rather than a cool addition. InWhen I started this game I just loved the bullet time mode. It was so cool to see the bullet's in slow motion as they pierce your enemies. Seeing the bullet from it's point of view when shooting the last enemy in the area was also very satisfying. However that's the only entertainment available. It didn't take long for bullet time to become a necessity rather than a cool addition. In just about every fight it is needed to survive as you will die in a few shots. Not only that but healing items are hidden throughout the game, you have to search for them as if they are skulls in Halo. The bosses are very plain and boring. Not going to say what they are but they are all basically the same thing. At the end of cutscenes you are forced into the open, regardless if you are behind cover or not. Just about everytime this happens, baddies are already shooting at you, causing you to lose unnecessary health. The music, oh gosh the music...this is the only game to give me a headache because of the music. My head was pounding so much that I had to shut off the music completely. It's not music, it's just noise. All I heard for the music was the same sound over and over again and some person singing. Ugh, this game is just terrible in my opinion. Beat it and never played it again.… Expand
  61. StupidName
    Jun 18, 2014
    1
    This game is awful, pure and simple. I'd rate it higher if it was a movie. Because basically that's what you're getting. Enjoy having a five minute cut scene to start your level that you can't skip? This game is for you. Enjoy having a cut scene mid level that you can't skip? You're really going to love this game.
  62. moifoi
    Jun 10, 2012
    1
    This game is 80% cutscenes, 10% will to play, and 10% gameplay, and 100% crap story.
    This game was the fall of rockstar. Graphics don't make a game, stick the gameplay.
  63. JabbaTheSlush
    Jun 2, 2012
    1
    After a bit this playing the same Rockstar game over and over gets old. Grand Theft: Auto, Horse, Facial Expressions and Slow Motion. They are making the same product over and over. Trivial story, amazing polish but it is like polishing a turd, and the now famous "awesome multiplayer" (gaming media uses this when they want to say the game is crap and it is hard to evaluate what oneAfter a bit this playing the same Rockstar game over and over gets old. Grand Theft: Auto, Horse, Facial Expressions and Slow Motion. They are making the same product over and over. Trivial story, amazing polish but it is like polishing a turd, and the now famous "awesome multiplayer" (gaming media uses this when they want to say the game is crap and it is hard to evaluate what one person's take on multiplayer is to the next) that will entertain for two weeks max. Pass. Wait for games, not products.… Expand
  64. FatherDoom
    May 15, 2012
    1
    Why do I keep getting interrupted during gameplay for a cutscene. There is no way to become immersed if if every two minutes I'm stopped to watch cuts for sometimes longer than I just played. The gameplay is frustrating, the gun mechanics are not great, and the bullet time is way too short.
  65. raahsnavj
    May 17, 2012
    1
    7 Planned DLC's already for this game. When did it become okay to hold back content in hopes that you could get more from the consumer later? Sure it isn't exactly new to the industry, Diablo 2 wasn't even finished in the original packaging, you had to get the expansion to finish it out. But now they hold your game hostage in the hopes you will continue to play the game well after you are7 Planned DLC's already for this game. When did it become okay to hold back content in hopes that you could get more from the consumer later? Sure it isn't exactly new to the industry, Diablo 2 wasn't even finished in the original packaging, you had to get the expansion to finish it out. But now they hold your game hostage in the hopes you will continue to play the game well after you are done with it because of all the extra story-bits they left behind.

    Urg, this industry is sad.    … Expand
  66. Munchies
    May 19, 2012
    1
    Clunky, awkward controls. Overlong, graphically dubious cutscenes.
    Migraine and fit inducing effects.
    I will never trust another critic score/review again.
    This game is complete bollocks.
  67. Raizulee1
    Apr 22, 2013
    1
    This game is one of the most overrated games I ever play and let me explain why I think this game is overrated.
    1st: The targeting reticule is the worst I seen in all shooter games, and the shooting mechanics can be bad at times with it unbalance shooting mechanics.
    2nd: Max moves so slow and sluggish and even worst when you on a prone position while moving from the floor to cover and    This game is one of the most overrated games I ever play and let me explain why I think this game is overrated.
    1st: The targeting reticule is the worst I seen in all shooter games, and the shooting mechanics can be bad at times with it unbalance shooting mechanics.
    2nd: Max moves so slow and sluggish and even worst when you on a prone position while moving from the floor to cover and get shot while doing it. This makes the game less fun to play and even annoyingly frustrating at times.
    3rd: There is so many unskipable cutscenes (which destroy its replayability completely) and even the cutscene it's self wasn't that good of a cutscene and some cutscene can be cheesy and lame at times.
    4th: Max narrative are too much and can be annoying at time and half of those narrative are lame and unnecessary.
    5th: Glitch encounter on the Xbox 360 version from Max get stuck on cover to game freezing in the cutscenes.
    6th: Lighting distortion and highlighting unwanted words on screen can be very annoying.
    7th: Story is good but some of the plotlines are lame, unoriginal and predictable.
    8th: Why Max never killed the guy who shot Fabiana and let him go?
    9th: Boring and Unbalance multiplayer.
    10th: The game is generic and very linear.    … Expand
  68. alien5
    Jun 10, 2012
    0
    One of the worst shooters I've played in a while, but let me break it down:

    The good: The story has some interesting twists and turns, and creates a nice setting for Max to develop as a character. Also the game as a whole is relatively polished and the graphics are decent. The bad: Everything else. I enjoy the comic noir thing, and loved the first two games, but Max just whines    One of the worst shooters I've played in a while, but let me break it down:

    The good: The story has some interesting twists and turns, and creates a nice setting for Max to develop as a character. Also the game as a whole is relatively polished and the graphics are decent.

    The bad: Everything else. I enjoy the comic noir thing, and loved the first two games, but Max just whines throughout the whole game. He spend the entire game pitying himself and killing people. He doesn't progress, he just whines and whines and whines and goes on about how things couldn't get any worse but they will anyways. Terrible character writing for Max, not to mention the helpless women who scream after every gunshot no matter how many they hear. Most importantly, though, the gunplay is terrible. Bullet time works, technically, but you're not given enough, and bullets travel slower than people move. The time from when you fire to when the bullet hits the enemy is enough time for them to jerk enough to turn a headshot into a near-zero-damage shoulder graze and the enemies react inhumanely quick.

    The "level design" looks nice, but scene after scene after scene you're thrown into a bunch of enemies, which should be fun, but time after time you're given no cover, or insufficient cover, and left to deplete your bullet time while getting hit anyways. Nearly every bit of cover you get you'll get hit around, which makes careful play pointless and virtually as functional as charging in with no care whatsoever. Random headshots kill you, and the longer you try and actually play carefully the more likely someone is to score one on you. Enemies fire accurately through tons of environmental obstacles you can barely see them through, and ALL of your progress is entirely linear giving you no freedom in approach. This game succeeds at little aside from having a solid budget.    … Expand
  69. HarpLeaf
    Jun 20, 2012
    0
    Fantastically done. its fun, graphics are wonderful, story is very good and long singleplayer and multilayer experience. might truly be the best third person shooter out there. no joke. Great buy, worth every penny.
  70. Neth3rtwist
    May 21, 2012
    0
    This isnt the Max Payne I remember. Something is just off and what I remember from the computer game ten years back was not improved upon. The dark, bizarre, cold feeling that I was left with is simply not here this go around.
  71. Tzipi
    May 22, 2012
    0
    I want to say that I specially created an account here just to post this review. Being a Max Payne fan all my life, I had some very big expectations from this sequel...till I found it's not gonna be made by Remedy as it was before.
    Ok, Rockstar dudes made some incredible games which I have played about all, so I had some mixed feelings but I was a little confident that they will not screw    I want to say that I specially created an account here just to post this review. Being a Max Payne fan all my life, I had some very big expectations from this sequel...till I found it's not gonna be made by Remedy as it was before.
    Ok, Rockstar dudes made some incredible games which I have played about all, so I had some mixed feelings but I was a little confident that they will not screw things up. Well they did.
    Finishing this game was torturous, really. I will now tell you shorty the story:
    Cinematics - Gun Fight - Cinematics - Gun Fight - Cinematics - Gun Fight and the show goes on. There is nothing interesting about this game, not even the graphics and their famous in-house engine. I didn't ask that, I just wanted an incredible story like the first games had. As I said, the story is horrible. All you are gonna do is killing some guys in São Paulo and a few hundreds in New York only to find that you are leaving that cold winter place that everybody acclaimed in the previous games. Trying not to make any spoilers I will just say that the story isn't what you would expect (if you're a Max Payne fan) and that bitter taste of the 1 and 2 drama stories just isn't there.
    Even though I would have to say much more about the crappy story I will go to the next part that I hated, the cinematics. Ok, it's 2012, don't do them noir style like we've all loved before but at least don't combine this two genres. Why the hell do we need to have words coming up on the screen? I'm not from an English speeking country and I never fell the need of something like that in any game. In Splinter Cell Conviction it was pretty cool but only there...
    Another thing that I hated was the fact that they changed everything. They changed Max's appearance (both physically and clothing style), they changed the interesting Mona Sax( that I hoped it would return as in Max Payne 2 playing the hardest difficulty she wouldn't die) with some guy that talks only with "bro" and doesn't seem interesting AND they even changed the painkillers. Why would they do that?
    The AI is pretty dumb and there are a lot of bugs while in some moments there are only two options:

    A) Hide behind a single spot while 10 guys jump you.
    B) Go like a freaking mad man murdering them Rambo-style.

    Testing them both I realised that the B) option is the one that the developers wanted us to do, being the most effective.

    I won't waste much time as I've seen that most negative reviews are rated not helpful even though they're mostly right. I don't know what did Rockstar say to those "critics" but they are not saying the truth and they are acting like this is the first game they played.
    In the end I just want to say that any hardcore fans like me, even though they've seen this review, they will play the game just to know how Rockstar killed Max. Shame on you Rockstar, shame on you.    … Expand
  72. gamer187
    May 26, 2012
    0
    Disappointing on 360 poor controls poor story line and cut scenes destroy game-play throw away multi player Rockstar need to rebuild there programming and gameplay huge let down not worth a rent really 3rd person COD clone gone wrong.
  73. METACRITTER
    Jun 3, 2012
    0
    A rail shooter written by a child with a knack for the hackneyed. I wondered how Rockstar was going to fudge this up and now I know. Horrible narration by a whiney Max Payne in a setting that doesn't make sense, we find ourselves surrounded by characters cast in a such a bad light that they are utterly unlikable.

    Then there is the game engine. if I die I quickly restart and replay the    A rail shooter written by a child with a knack for the hackneyed. I wondered how Rockstar was going to fudge this up and now I know. Horrible narration by a whiney Max Payne in a setting that doesn't make sense, we find ourselves surrounded by characters cast in a such a bad light that they are utterly unlikable.

    Then there is the game engine. if I die I quickly restart and replay the same segment over. I leap through the air using bullet time to take out my enemies and to show how innovative it is I fall asleep before I hit the floor.

    Then there is a cutscene where Max Payne searches for a complaint while the camera flahses strange colors like I spilled water on my PC. Now a **** viewfinder over a boring environment. Why are we here. Who are these people. Who cares. I don't.    … Expand
  74. Chris1982
    Oct 8, 2013
    0
    Maxe Payne 3 killed every good aspect that it's predecessors had.

    The story is an absolute disgrace, it's as if you're playing a 3rd person shooter that's based on a very bad Chuck Norris B-movie. What's left of the character Max Payne is an alcoholic mess who just can't shut up for less then 5 minutes. The ongoing self pityness of Max Payne made me sick and irritated. The amount    Maxe Payne 3 killed every good aspect that it's predecessors had.

    The story is an absolute disgrace, it's as if you're playing a 3rd person shooter that's based on a very bad Chuck Norris B-movie.

    What's left of the character Max Payne is an alcoholic mess who just can't shut up for less then 5 minutes.
    The ongoing self pityness of Max Payne made me sick and irritated.

    The amount of cut-scenes is absolutely frustrating, there's not even 3 minutes of gameplay without a cut-scene.

    The graphics are a huge disappointment and the fact that it's running at 30fps makes it even more regrettable.
    The controls are stiff and the bullet time makes no sense anymore.

    Don't buy this game it's a waste of money, time and a good mood.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2012
7
#7 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2012
16
#16 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 80 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 80
  3. Negative: 1 out of 80
  1. Hyper Magazine
    Jul 8, 2012
    90
    A compelling, down and dirty bullet basket populated by real characters and visceral gunplay. [July 2012, p.55]
  2. TeamXbox
    Jun 26, 2012
    90
    The presentation is top-notch, the game feels like you want it to never end while you're playing it, and the multiplayer gives it longevity that will stick around for a good while.
    Read full review
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 20, 2012
    87
    Max Payne 3 is a great action-movie experience with life-like characters that Rockstar is famous for. It does fall a bit flat on the actual action part, however. The controls on consoles are confusing and hard to get used to. Still very much worth a play-thru. It's also one of the best looking console games in the current generation. [June 2012]
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