Gameplay
Max Payne 3 maintains the core elements of the game from its predecessor while bringing new environments and game play Mechanics. Aspects like painkillers, Shoot dodge, Dual-wield and the new cover based combat are greatly enhanced to even indulge any one new to the series.
Bullet-time as you call it defines Max’s signature’s move in taking down multiple enemies with deadly efficiency in a blink of eye. The Cover system is very well implemented and even allows him to blind-fire. The Aiming is not as smooth and requires you to enable auto-aim for better accuracy.
Shoot-dodge is another extension to bullet time where Max can leap into action and take out multiple enemies with head-shots. Although shoot-dodging in crowded smaller spaces could be a bit of bailey, in Open Space you will be the sharpshooter against hyper-aware and accurate enemies.
While the Enemy AI is smart enough to take cover and flank you they improve considerably as the game progresses making you a lot more careful if you leave your self-exposed. The obvious solution is to use cover, slow down time, throw a glance and take headshots.
The Guns vary from Hand guns, shotguns, SMG’s to assault rifles. You will also get access to a couple of launchers and Sniper rifles. You can dual wield most guns although you drop double handed weapons in the process. The lack of using grenades in Single player campaign is a disappointment.
You can also collect golden gun parts scattered around the levels as variant of every weapon to double your damage or ammo capacity.
Using pain killers is the key to surviving in most of the tight situations however you need use them wisely. The game also offers the LAST-STAND mechanic, which gives the player an edge of time after running low on health allowing Max to kill the enemy that wounded him in order to continue playing, however this mechanic is only usable if the player has at least one painkiller in his possession.
The only grudge I have is lack of complexity and difficulty in BOSS battles. Bosses are too easy to defeat and don’texhibit the kind of smartness to challenge Max. Once you are finished with the main story you also have the option to try out New York minute. In New York Minute the goal is to complete the levels as quickly as possible. Shooting enemies will give you additional time and the total time is printed upon completion of Part I, Part II and Part III. Again there is a Score attack mode where you aim for higher scores while re-playing the same campaign. Finally the Multiplayer is a real surprisefeaturing Death matches, Payne Killer and Gang War modes.
In Gang wars you’ll play four rounds, with different objectives that alter depending on what happens in each of them: from claiming territory to defusing bombs to assassinating a randomly selected leader of the opposing gang. This accumulates a point advantage going into the fifth and final round, which always takes the form of an all-out death match. Bursts, which function like perks, are central to this mode, and confer advantages to the members of your crew, from raising the caliber of your weapons to inducing paranoia in the opposing team, making friendlies appear as enemies. It’s also laudable to see a developer trying to innovate in the multiplayer space, rather than simply rehashing the mainstays. Max Payne’s multiplayer is definitely not an afterthought, and will certainly reward players with months of enjoyment.
