With Max Payne 3, Rockstar does not want only to contribute to a series that thrilled players in the beginning of this century. As usual, American society nurtures much higher ambitions. It just wants to give life to shoot the film in the most sophisticated ever created. All the while respecting the DNA of Max Payne. Just that. To convince us of the validity of this statement that's seemingly pretentious enough, we were invited to go two levels of the single player campaign. The opportunity to see once again that Rockstar has a unique expertise and that this supposed claim masks a company's unwavering confidence in its abilities.
As a reminder, this third installment takes place in Brazil, specifically Sao Paulo. Haunted by his terrible past, ravaged by alcohol and drugs, Max decides to accept a job offer made by Raul Passos, a long-time acquaintance. The perfect opportunity to turn the page after leaving New York, a city forever linked to the events that destroyed his life. Now he will play the bodyguard in the largest city of Brazil on behalf of Rodrigo Branco, a wealthy industrialist. And by extension, for family members including his brothers, the playboy and politician Victor Marcelo. A task far from easy in a country, certainly in development, but where poverty continues to hit with full force with much of the population.
Max will also have to quickly get into the swing since shortly after his arrival, Fabiana, the pretty young woman "trophy" of his new employer is removed. After a meeting hastily arranged by the Branco family, it was decided that the best way to recover the victim remains to satisfy the kidnappers by paying them a hefty ransom. The place of the exchange: the football stadium of São Paulo Galatians.
As agreed, Max and Raul therefore find themselves in the middle of the lawn of this huge enclosure to provide money to the kidnappers. What nobody foresaw was that a third robber was going to invite to the party. It was later learned that this is the paramilitary group Preto. Heavily armed, he succeeds by using snipers to interfere in the exchange. Max is even found shot in the arm by a bullet. Bottom line, the filled bag was stolen and Fabiana is still captive. It was at this precise moment that the first level of the demonstration began. So we go into the skin of a wounded hero, hunted, who must rely on Raul to emerge alive from the situation.
After a few minutes to stagger in the aisles of the stadium and wondering if life is still worth living, care is provided to Max by his companion at galley. Ingestion of some painkillers completely rebuild our hero. You are now ready to retrieve Fabiana. Or money. Or both if possible. Follows a series of gunfights in the various rooms that make up the stadium and outside, in the stands. While being continuously connected with Raul, you will eliminate a host of enemies, including a sniper, not easy to dislodge from elsewhere.
The second level presentation, the docks of São Paulo, he remained a little more classic. Always looking to Fabiana, Max must visit tons of warehouses inhabited by members of the Comando Sombra gang. All with the arm still bandaged.
If you spend most of your time in Brazil, Rockstar still planned to return from time to time in the United States to explain the exact reason for the arrival of Max. The narrative is not linear. Flashbacks are interposed between two levels in São Paulo. As Rockstar never leaves anything to chance, the transitions between these scenes were particularly worked. This means no abrupt fade to black, no texts, not even load times from breaking the flow of the narrative! Everything follows logical and coherent. Visually, the difference between kinematic and phases of the game is imperceptible.
So sometimes it comes to whether or not one has control over his character. The developers have been content to offer a fun action game based on interesting mechanics of gameplay. But no. The ambition is much higher. The game has been polished like a precious stone which one would like to erase all imperfections. Besides the narration, Rockstar has tried to heal the staging, writing - especially the characters - the soundtrack but also the shields of his game can be found such joy with the voice of Max Payne history, that of James McCaffrey. Important because the monologues are numerous and particularly important in view of understanding the state of mind in which is the main character
Although still developing, Max Payne 3 is already showing well developed technically.
The RAGE engine (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine) is particularly impressive. A bit like what Uncharted offers, animations of Max are incredibly varied and particularly credible. They fit perfectly with the environment in which the character evolves. The sets are themselves extremely wealthy. At each break between shootings, one marvels at the water flowing over the ground, lighting effects, texture quality ... This contributes significantly to create a unique atmosphere, very dark. Thanks, also, to the soundtrack, the tension is palpable. It feels really facing what Brazil contains more black.
Obviously, all these efforts would be fruitless without the presence of a fun gameplay. Do not worry, Max Payne 3 is a really effective third person shooter. Besides the relatively conventional mechanical coverage including all games Rockstar have today, there are of course the bullet time. This feature popularized by the first episode of the series can slow down time. The challenge is raised, it will (re) learn to use it intelligently. It is almost impossible to get out of situations without them. Members of the spat Preto, equipped with bulletproof vests and heavy weapons, will do short work of Max if you go for it headlong. It's a bit less so with the lads of gang Comando Sombra who are more talkative, less organized and more importantly, less protected. But to defend themselves, slowing down time is not the only solution. You have a very wide range of movements ranging from simple roll in the ability to move his body to 360 ° when the ground is through the jump in any direction, it also slows time.
Side of the arsenal available to Max, there is the classic. We were able to use a shotgun and a small submachine gun in addition to the basic. The wheel to choose what one has in each hand has two spaces for a weapon and a light for a heavy weapon. In the heat of the moment, the mechanics of shooting proves infallible. One feels the weight of weapons carried and the damage they cause. The location of the damage will be also one of the factors to be involved in drawing because the men wearing bulletproof vests are for example only vulnerable in the legs. It should also be paid to completing the targets that are just wounded history to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
The health system is also an important place in the game searching levels, you'll get painkillers. These allow to heal. When you have mismanaged your stock and an enemy shooting at you while your health is already precarious and there is still a drug in reserve, you have a chance to rebuild. The action in slow motion during your long fall to hell. The reticle is moving slowly toward your executioner. If in a few seconds where time no longer follows its normal course, you manage to clear this opponent, you stay alive. If this is not the case, it is game over . Finally, for those who wonder if the target is necessarily assisted console, the answer is no. You can adjust the automation of targeting the options. And thus leave it all in "full manual".
IN CONCLUSION:
That Max Payne 3 offers a more enjoyable gameplay, expected. Especially considering the resumes of its developer. But such attention has been paid to all aspects of the game, this is in contrast to the great surprise. What is amazing is that Rockstar's propensity to tell stories, always exciting and mature, caring writing and staging of each production. Including those action-oriented ... Asked whether Max Payne 3 is the shooter and the most sophisticated film ever created, we are not yet able to answer. But what is certain is that the title runs great strides toward its goal.
GAME GENERAL INFO: Max Payne 3
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Studios
Genre: Action
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Classification: Not recommended for - 18 years
Official Website: www.rockstargames.com
Developer: Rockstar Studios
Genre: Action
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Classification: Not recommended for - 18 years
Official Website: www.rockstargames.com
