Max Payne Review

Finnish neo-noir excellence

My blog post “Games Aren’t Movies” made me think about games that combine great gameplay with an exceptional narrative. One of the games that came to my mind is today’s topic: Max Payne. Developed by the Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment, Max Payne is a third-person shooter with heavy neo-noir influences. The game was released in July 2001 for PC and also ported to the PlayStation 2 as well as the original Xbox.

Setting

The game is set in New York in the year 2001. We assume the role of the titular Max Payne, an undercover cop who is trying to find the source of the designer drug Valkyr. Max is highly invested in the case, as his wife and baby daughter were killed by violent Valkyr junkies back in 1998. Since their death, Max has worked for the DEA but so far hasn’t achieved any breakthrough in the case.

The case picks up steam after Max meets up with his handler, Alex Balder, in a metro station. Not only is the station infested with gangsters, but Max also witnesses Alex getting shot …