What to say about Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne? Let's break it down: GAMEPLAY - Extremely Entertaining. I haven't had this much fun in a 3rd person shooter since the original Tomb Raider. The levels are fresh and challenging without being at all frustrating. You have different objectives other than just staying alive and finding the exit. The cooperation levels actually feel like your AI partner is out there watching your back (and vice versa when its your turn to provide a key game character some protection). And what can I say: bullet time still rocks! GRAPHICS - Stunning. The textures are rich and realistic...right down to the skin blemishes. The facial modeling could be a little better as eye movement doesn't follow focus like in Unreal 2. Game physics, however, is extraordinary. When characters hit the ground their limbs bounce about and give the appearances of actual weight. And the motion capture sequences for the cinematic segments are simply amazing! VOICE ACTING - Superb. If Mona Sax sounds familiar, that's Wendy Hoopes who does the voice of Jane Lane from MTV's cartoon series Daria...good to see she's expanding her voice over work into the gaming industry. But by far the most amusing voice over work here is by Fred Berman who plays the memorable role of Vinnie Gognitti--the foul-mouthed, anime loving, mobster punk who adds much needed comical relief to the story ala Joe Pesci-style. MUSIC - Wonderful. Max's theme is performed superbly on cello by Perttu Kivilaakso. The recurring variations of the song "Late Goodbye" by Poets of the Fall throughout the game adds a nice touch. SOUND FX - Awesome. Everything from simple riccochet sounds to the loudest explosions--feels like you're right in the middle of a good John Woo movie. OVERALL IMPRESSION - Best Game of 2003. For those who claim the game plays out too fast, wake up and smell the gun powder. I've finished it three different times and have noticed subtle things I've missed in each instance. Watch the different shows on the in-game television sets. Pick up that ringing phone in the second to the last dream sequence. Use that computer surveylence terminal in the hospital. Complete the game three times at the three different difficulty levels for an alternate story ending. A game like this is like watching the first Matrix movie...you simply have to play it again to fully appreciate its genius.
