Life On The Grid

Upon starting Max Payne 3, it’s immediately apparent that the production values have gone way up. It’s closer to a playable version of Micheal Mann’s Heat now than the grungy indie vibe it started with. The shooting and movement are now polished to near perfection.  They are also joined by proper cover mechanics similar to previous Rockstar third-person shooters like Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption.

I was also correct in remembering that the shoot dodges in this were way longer and more dramatic. You can now get ten seconds of air time if you do it right and Max leaps high into the air every time.  James McCaffery finally takes his rightful place as face, voice and motion capture for Max making the performance all the more believable and cohesive.

The only real problem I have with this entry is the cutscenes. While they are great there are just a few too many in each level and they go on just a bit longer than they should. A little more editing might have helped the pacing and stopped players from getting antsy to get back to the shooting.