If it isnt broke why fix it?
This can either spell doom for a sequel or save it. I have nothing wrong not tweaking or changing radically game play mechanics for sequels if the original game play was fine to begin with. Example: Syphon Filter. Reviewers bitched about how 2 and 3 seemed nothing more but mission packs. My feelings, I was just pissed it never moved to ps2.
I have massive mixed feelings for Max Payne 2. This is really the first time that I actually disagree with the massive amounts of positive reviews this game is getting. That almost never happens with me. In fact, this is the only time I can remember that I disagree with something like this.
I want to get the positive things out of the way first, the presentation for the first partits excellent. The voice acting good, the graphic novel scenes great. The story is surprising and engaging. And the Half-Life 2 style physics is something that has to be seen to believe.
The rag-doll physics are not something that needs to be seen to be believed. While they are good, you still have guys getting stuck in walls and falling down in very weird positions. There seems to be quite a deal of clipping in this game, and its not uncommon to see enemies fall thru walls.
Graphics wise, its nothing spectacular. The models for Max and all the other characters are okay. The lip-syncing and facial expressions in game are poor. After playing such games like Silent Hill 3, my expectations on realistic human faces have gone ridiculously high. The actual textures thou, are awesome. The environments are extremely well detailed. Very nice.
And now comes the big problem, the huge gray area that I cant really decide upon.
Gameplay.
Essentially its the original Max Payne but shorter. People see you. They yell. DAMNIT! ITS PAYNE! They attack. They stand their ground, not exactly very bright A.I. here. And you shoot them, in slow motiondivingand they die.
Sometimes, you have to walk on beams. And do some jumping. But essentially its the same game but shorter. Levels are still beyond linear; you always know where to go next.
Bullet-Time 2.0 is a gimmick. It really is. Now sometimes, when Max enters bullet time he can go faster than his enemies. This is good for multiple enemies, but its easier to kill them all with a grenade. Which there is a lot of in this game.
When you reload in Bullet-Time 2.0 (the screen is cool yellow during bullet-time 2.0 O.o.O) Max does a spin movewhich is worthless.
Its supposed to be used, say if your surrounded be enemies and you want to see all of them. (The camera pans around you while you spin.) Never did I actually NEED to use this. Oh, but you do reload fasterand it looks kinda coolsorta
Automatic weapons are all the rage here. No grenade launcher. Instead you get a scope on your MP5nice
Allies are not used well in the game, most of the time you get them for like five seconds. And they either die or become invincible.
There is some nice change of paces to the Gameplay, but all of those changes have to do with constantly wasting enemies. Or sniping themorwell its just not new.
Max Payne was an original game, I liked it a lot. But Max Payne 2 is far from original. The only thing that is original here is its film noir love story. Which is like, 2 scenes in the game. Granted its not as lame as like calling Final Fantasy 8 a love story. (One scene among an entire game full of fighting, war, assassination, revengeeverything than a love story.) And its film noirso its pretty predictabledoes the game end sad and Max doesnt get the girl? Gee, I wonder.
The story is good still, and the dream sequences are still one of the best things about it. Being someone who enjoyed the first Max Payne and liked its narrative was happy hearing and reading Maxs over the top depressed story. Maxs use of metaphors is insane, a little bit of counseling and help is seriously needed for this guy.
I like how the game is able to make fun of it self. Its hard not too. The Bick Justice T.V. show is hilarious in the game. Its a poorly done 1970s ghetto version of essentially the story of the 1st game.
It was raining so much, its like all the angels in heaven decided to take a piss at the same time.
All of the T.V. shows from the first game make an appearanceYup, the pink flamingo is back
I liked Max Payne 2. Just beware, if you were bored of the game at the end of the first onethis may not be for you considering its essentially the same thing.
8/10
-vidiot-
Next up...Wind Waker or Metroid Prime.
This can either spell doom for a sequel or save it. I have nothing wrong not tweaking or changing radically game play mechanics for sequels if the original game play was fine to begin with. Example: Syphon Filter. Reviewers bitched about how 2 and 3 seemed nothing more but mission packs. My feelings, I was just pissed it never moved to ps2.
I have massive mixed feelings for Max Payne 2. This is really the first time that I actually disagree with the massive amounts of positive reviews this game is getting. That almost never happens with me. In fact, this is the only time I can remember that I disagree with something like this.
I want to get the positive things out of the way first, the presentation for the first partits excellent. The voice acting good, the graphic novel scenes great. The story is surprising and engaging. And the Half-Life 2 style physics is something that has to be seen to believe.
The rag-doll physics are not something that needs to be seen to be believed. While they are good, you still have guys getting stuck in walls and falling down in very weird positions. There seems to be quite a deal of clipping in this game, and its not uncommon to see enemies fall thru walls.
Graphics wise, its nothing spectacular. The models for Max and all the other characters are okay. The lip-syncing and facial expressions in game are poor. After playing such games like Silent Hill 3, my expectations on realistic human faces have gone ridiculously high. The actual textures thou, are awesome. The environments are extremely well detailed. Very nice.
And now comes the big problem, the huge gray area that I cant really decide upon.
Gameplay.
Essentially its the original Max Payne but shorter. People see you. They yell. DAMNIT! ITS PAYNE! They attack. They stand their ground, not exactly very bright A.I. here. And you shoot them, in slow motiondivingand they die.
Sometimes, you have to walk on beams. And do some jumping. But essentially its the same game but shorter. Levels are still beyond linear; you always know where to go next.
Bullet-Time 2.0 is a gimmick. It really is. Now sometimes, when Max enters bullet time he can go faster than his enemies. This is good for multiple enemies, but its easier to kill them all with a grenade. Which there is a lot of in this game.
When you reload in Bullet-Time 2.0 (the screen is cool yellow during bullet-time 2.0 O.o.O) Max does a spin movewhich is worthless.
Its supposed to be used, say if your surrounded be enemies and you want to see all of them. (The camera pans around you while you spin.) Never did I actually NEED to use this. Oh, but you do reload fasterand it looks kinda coolsorta
Automatic weapons are all the rage here. No grenade launcher. Instead you get a scope on your MP5nice
Allies are not used well in the game, most of the time you get them for like five seconds. And they either die or become invincible.
There is some nice change of paces to the Gameplay, but all of those changes have to do with constantly wasting enemies. Or sniping themorwell its just not new.
Max Payne was an original game, I liked it a lot. But Max Payne 2 is far from original. The only thing that is original here is its film noir love story. Which is like, 2 scenes in the game. Granted its not as lame as like calling Final Fantasy 8 a love story. (One scene among an entire game full of fighting, war, assassination, revengeeverything than a love story.) And its film noirso its pretty predictabledoes the game end sad and Max doesnt get the girl? Gee, I wonder.
The story is good still, and the dream sequences are still one of the best things about it. Being someone who enjoyed the first Max Payne and liked its narrative was happy hearing and reading Maxs over the top depressed story. Maxs use of metaphors is insane, a little bit of counseling and help is seriously needed for this guy.
I like how the game is able to make fun of it self. Its hard not too. The Bick Justice T.V. show is hilarious in the game. Its a poorly done 1970s ghetto version of essentially the story of the 1st game.
It was raining so much, its like all the angels in heaven decided to take a piss at the same time.
All of the T.V. shows from the first game make an appearanceYup, the pink flamingo is back
I liked Max Payne 2. Just beware, if you were bored of the game at the end of the first onethis may not be for you considering its essentially the same thing.
8/10
-vidiot-
Next up...Wind Waker or Metroid Prime.
not allowed
