Max Payne, the undercover DEA agent who went rogue after the murder of his family is going to make a comeback on the current-gen, Remedy games announced on their official site last April 6, 2022. According to their announcement, the acclaimed developer has entered an agreement with Rockstar Games to bring Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne as a single title for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. The Max Payne Remake will also be a typical AAA game.
For those new to the title, Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was considered the first titles to fully implement the bullet time effects in a video game. Additionally, both titles also came with excellent writing making them one of the most immersive third-person shooters of their time.
The Max Payne Trilogy
Launched in 2001 for PC and in 2002 for the Mac OS, Max Payne is unlike any third-person shooter during its time. The game follows the exploits of a former DEA undercover agent whose family was brutally killed by junkies. Three years after the incident, Max was able to infiltrate the syndicate responsible for the distribution of the substance used by the murderers of his family. Unfortunately, everything turns upside down when Max’s cover is blown and was framed for the death of his former colleague.
Aside from the bullet-time mechanics and the in-depth narrative, Max Payne also employs the use of graphic novel panels during cutscenes. This method combined with the game’s neo-noir artwork resulted in what most players refer to as one of the best games ever developed. Furthermore, the success of Max Payne resulted in ports for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in the same year. A Game Boy Advance version of the game was also launched in 2003.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is a direct sequel to the aforementioned game. This highly acclaimed title follows the main protagonist 2 years after the events of the first game. This sequel features Max who is now reinstated in his old job. Like the first game, Max Payne 2 comes with the same graphic novel panels and neo-noir design. Despite being criticized as a short game, Max Payne 2 packs a ton of improvements from the original. One of which is the gameplay or gunplay which is now more polished and the story arc more immersive. Max Payne 2 was launched in 2003 and despite its accolades, the game was considered to perform poorly in sales.
More Engaging than the Last Two
Although not related to the upcoming remake, Max Payne 3 is a title worth mentioning nonetheless. The third installment in the series takes place nine years after the events of the second game. Max Payne 3 showcased a now-retired protagonist as a private security contractor in South America. Compared to the first two entries, Max Payne 3 boasts a more in-depth narrative and more engaging gameplay with the newly added cover system that provides players a tactical advantage against enemies. The new feature however does not make the gameplay less challenging since the game also comes with a destructible environment. On top of that, the game is also the first to feature a multiplayer mode. Max Payne 3 was launched in 2012 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. And it’s currently the best version you shouldn’t miss out on. Not until the release of the Max Payne Remake!
Expect to Experience more Payne with the Max Payne Remake
Remedy’s latest announcement that involves combining the first two entries into a single title is great news, especially for those who felt that both titles are short. From the looks of it, the upcoming game will feature the classic elements found in the classic games. Additionally, Remedy will likely keep the neo-noir setting, the graphic novel cut-scenes, and the intense story. As for the improvements, the remakes will probably come with some of the elements found in Max Payne 3. One example is the cover system which is now a common feature of modern third-person shooters.
On top of that, the remake will probably boast stunning graphics, an explosive soundtrack, and more detailed environments. For the most part, the remake will also maintain its third-person perspective. Unless Remedy would like to go the Resident Evil 7 way wherein Capcom moved to the first-person perspective. Nevertheless, all of these are mere speculations, and Remedy’s awesome team will still have the last say. For now, all we can do is wait for new developments and updates from the developers and hope that the Max Payne remakes will be as awesome as the original games. So for more news and updates about the Max Payne Remake, make sure to stay tuned here at PlayPC.
