Publisher: GodGames
Game Site: Max Payne Web Site
Availability: Now

Someone once asked in our general games forum: "What game would you pay a hundred dollars for?" It's an interesting question, if you think about it. Today, new games are set at a standard range of $40.00 to $50.00, and we can't imagine a game that is priced by how much we'd play and enjoy it. Some replied to the post with general statements like "No game is worth a hundred bucks" or "Any game by Sid Meier." Others came up with specific answers like "Half Life" or "Starcraft." One response, in particular rang, most resoundingly: "There are many games that are hundred dollar concepts, but not hundred dollar executions." Indeed. How many times have we become absolutely smitten with a game that sounds unbelievable when we read the preview only to find that the graphics, concept and story are totally lacking or unoriginal? How many of you rushed out to buy Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun? Or who wanted to be the first to get John Romero's Daikatana? These disappointing scenarios are exactly the reason why I was afraid to install Max Payne.

The hype surrounding Max Payne has been enormous. Coded by Remedy, the game promised to revisit the frequently overlooked basics of game design: character driven stories, non-stop action, sharp style and outstanding visuals. Having the 3D Realms' name associated with it cranked up the hype machine even more. Many gamers fondly remember Duke Nukem 3D, a game that embodied those forgotten basics. Max Payne reminded people that 3D Realms didn't abandon their fans and gave gamers something to tide them over until the release of the Duke Nukem Forever. Max had some big shoes to fill, though, and even bigger expectations to live up to.

Although you wouldn't guess it by his name, Max Payne's history is tragic. He was a respected officer in the New York police force until one day he came back from work to find his home invaded and his wife and baby daughter murdered by assailants hyped up on the drug, Valkyr. Max, having "nothing to lose," goes on a vengeance spree and slowly uncovers a conspiracy involving a wide assortment of criminal and corporate entities.

As far as action stories go, Max Payne is about as deep as they come. As the story progresses, you can really see how far-reaching the conspiracy is. It keeps a good pace, and doesn't throw too much at the gamer all at once. Granted, it's not RPG quality. But through its graphic novel cut scenes and solid character formation, it does a good job of conveying a story of revenge and helping the gamers understand Max's warped psyche.

Unfortunately, Max's character isn't as well written as the rest of the story. His dialogue isn't terribly bad. But Max serves as the game's narrator, so his lines could stand to be taken down a couple of notches. Max is supposed to be a hardened, street savvy New York cop. But when we hear him say lines like, "The cops arrived singing in the off-key harmony of a manic depressive choir," or "Who was I to talk, a brooding underdog avenger against an empire of evil, out to right a grave injustice," it has the effect of a duck mooing. They just come out sounding more like a melodramatic English teacher rather than a to-the-point cop.