Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

 Xbox
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 80
  3. Negative: 5 out of 80
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  1. SimonT
    Jul 8, 2004
    7
    Max payne has all the looks and feel of a gritty cop film and boasts the excellent 'bullet time' but falls short in length as it easily finished in a few hours. not bad could be better.
  2. NikiM.
    Dec 29, 2003
    6
    I loved the original, an action packed game, just the right difficulty, great plot and just the right length. What do you get here? An action packed game, a litttle easier(?), a plot that's all over the place and its WAY TOO SHORT. Rockstar have created yet another stylish game that stands out with a strong story, if a little patchy, but this seemed a bit easier than the original and I loved the original, an action packed game, just the right difficulty, great plot and just the right length. What do you get here? An action packed game, a litttle easier(?), a plot that's all over the place and its WAY TOO SHORT. Rockstar have created yet another stylish game that stands out with a strong story, if a little patchy, but this seemed a bit easier than the original and definitely far too short. The level design is imaginitive but why not give us something to tax our brains a little? Payne's a detective, let us pretend we're a bit more Sherlock Holmes than John Rambo. Overall I felt really short changed by the length of this sequel. Simply not enough here to warrant buying it over the original.… Expand
  3. T.U.
    Nov 25, 2003
    7
    Shorter than I expected, you won't see too much replayability value in this game.
  4. JohnD.
    Nov 17, 2007
    6
    An excellent game, but after a while it gets boring.
  5. BundisD.
    Jan 19, 2004
    6
    Looks awesome, plays great, impressive and immersive plot. But... WAY too short. I finished the game in 4 days. Hardly a good value for $50. The only replay value available is to play the story again on a harder difficulty. Highly impressed with the quality of the game, but sadly disappointed in the quantity.
  6. memus
    May 13, 2022
    5
    Such a disappointment after the first game. Instead of a real sequel, it's an indoors GTA clone.

    Cons: - For some reason they replaced Sam Lake as Max Payne actor. The new one is bland. - The aspect ratio of comics is not right. - The level design in this one is weak. You come back to the same areas again and again, and they are gray lifeless corridors. Meh. - The music is too    Such a disappointment after the first game. Instead of a real sequel, it's an indoors GTA clone.

    Cons:
    - For some reason they replaced Sam Lake as Max Payne actor. The new one is bland.
    - The aspect ratio of comics is not right.
    - The level design in this one is weak. You come back to the same areas again and again, and they are gray lifeless corridors. Meh.
    - The music is too generic.
    - The story is predictable and weirdly cut. Love story with Mona looks laughable with this oldschool graphics. W/o insane Valhalla references it's just not crazy/dark enough.

    In a sense it's a bad prototype for Control game that will become great with Control.

    Pros:
    + We can see glimpses of Control: flamingos, weird ads, janitors.
    + Janitors were menacing.    … Expand
  7. frederik1478
    Nov 21, 2022
    6
    For me, this is a disappointing sequel the gameplay is different. I want to call it bit better but it doesn't have the same punch as the first one and I don't think it is as fun to play.

    I like the hints throughout the story so you can play the game again and see all of hints in the background. I don't really like the story and because the presentation is better than the original it    For me, this is a disappointing sequel the gameplay is different. I want to call it bit better but it doesn't have the same punch as the first one and I don't think it is as fun to play.

    I like the hints throughout the story so you can play the game again and see all of hints in the background.

    I don't really like the story and because the presentation is better than the original it doesn't have this charisma That original have it just the story is not as good and cutscenes make it seem more professional which is not good.

    But the voice acting is still amazing. I cannot say they did anything bad and this one and the Italian mod guys are so fun to listen to.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best Xbox Game of 2003
10
#10 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2003
40
#40 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Xbox Nation Magazine
    90
    Overwroght melodrama and third-person-persepctive gunplay make for an excellent mix. [Mar 2004, p.81]
  2. Eurogamer
    80
    As for its translation to Xbox, it's a revelation. Not only is it as visually faithful as anyone could reasonably expect, with no discernible compromises save for the resolution, but even the controls feel right.
    Read full review
  3. Gamestyle
    80
    On the first run through, chances are you'll encounter the end credits in a mere six, possibly seven, hours. Fortunately however, this shortlived interlude will be one of the most enjoyable of your gaming life.
    Read full review
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