RIP James McCaffrey 1959-2023

Taking this game off from sale in most regions is a crime against God and humanity! Bring it back cowards!

A classic Alex Casey adventure

i cant buy why????????

Was too young to understand the story when I was sitting next to my father and watching him play this game.
Still, the bullet time felt like the coolest thing I had ever seen in games.
Did the 'bullet dodge' on my parents' bed, got scolded for scratching the timber floor afterwards.

Now I'm old enough to finally understand what the story is about.
The game feels even cooler with the story and the way it is told.
Getting too old to do bullet dodge on bed though.

What a shame.

Proof that games can be art.

One of the best videogames ever made. Smart narrative, flawless presentation, good characters, excellent dialogue. What's so good about Max Payne and makes it different than other videogames is that it could have been done in any other medium (a novel, a movie) and still be brilliant, this puts it above other games and proof that games just like other mediums can be art.

A classic, timeless masterpiece.

Thanks grandpa for gifting this game when I was a child.

If you don't bring it back until October, I will come Rockstar headquarter and tickle everyone

Game doesn't function on newer versions of windows. You have to modify the game with 3rd party files in order to get it to work since microsoft nerfed the ♥♥♥♥ out of compatibility mode. Steam doesn't give any warning about this and rockstar damn sure won't, so I will.

The game's sound is bugged due to Compatibility issues. I have provided the FIX at the bottom of this review and I do hope it helps.


Max Payne is the first title to the highly acclaimed Max Payne franchise. Originally developed by Remedy Games back in 2001, it has then received multiple awards for its story telling, gameplay and graphics from critics and gamers alike.

Max Payne is a third-person action game where the player takes the role of a hard-boiled, no non-sense New York City cop named, you guessed it, Max Payne, who is on a mission to avenge the death of his wife and infant daughter in the hands of vagrants who were high on a street drug named Valkyr. He sets of to find the people responsible for the production and distribution of Valkyr who he holds responsible for his family's death.

+ Story: - At first glance the story seems to be a cliché cop drama, and, yes I would agree, HOWEVER, it's the presentation, execution and overall delivery of the story that makes the original Max Payne a gem on action drama story telling.

+ Gameplay: - This was the fist game to incorporate the now popular 'Bullet Time' effect where time basically slows down allowing the player more accuracy for combat while at the same time adding theatrical spice to the gunplay. This might not be relevant to the current generation of gamers but back in 2001, it was one of the game's highest selling points.

+ Voice Acting: - Fantastic voice acting from the cast specially on the character of Max Payne with his dark humour and gritty personality.

+ Atmospheric: - The graphics for its time is top notch and delivers a very dark and depressing world that reflects the slowly changing personality of Max. From the dank and cold city streets to the surreal nightmarish realm of Max's dreams, the game stands tall on atmosphere and immersion.

- Bugged Sound for Windows Vista/7/possibly 8: - Being 13 years old, the game does suffer from compatibility issues. Gameplay wise, it functions well enough but users will encounter a bug that renders no audio in the game. (Note: LINK TO THE FIX IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS REVIEW)

- Replayability: - Linear story is FINE, its a good way to tell a narrative story in a directed pace but Linearity does sacrifice replayability at degree because after finishing the story there is little reason to play it through a second time around. Like a good action movie, it's best to be played again after some time has passed.

- Facial Animation: - Max has a permanent facial expression where the devs tried to give him a gritty look but they just ended up making him look smug and/or constipated expression through out the game. Good thing the Comic Book cut sences are there to save the day.

Max Payne is a GREAT GAME that started a great franchise. It brought us the mainstream Bullet Time effect that most action shooter gamers has come to incorporate and embrace as a core game mechanic. It showed us a perfect blend of action and storytelling in one single game without sacrificing gameplay and mechanics.

It is a fast paced brutal 3rd person shooter that fans of the genre should not miss out on. Sale or full price, this game is worth the money and worth the time.

Max Payne Sound Fix by DarkjeThe2nd:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=848215

YouTube Instructions on how to install and use the Fix by MrMario2011:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri2lWK_SKAc

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http://store.steampowered.com/curator/6861651-Miyumi%27s-Review-Corner/