How is Max Payne 2 in comparison with 1 and 3?

[Arkanthrall]

All 3 games have been well received, but I was wondering how similar Max Payne 2 is to the first one.
You see, I'm glad that I've played Max Payne 1 but I wouldn't want to play it again because I think it has quite a lot of defaults.
On the other hand, I've enjoyed Max Payne 3 a lot and I think the formula is much more refined with this last game.

So, how is Max Payne 2? Looking at the release date, I suppose it's similar to the first one. Has it aged well? I don't speak about the graphics, but about gameplay and so on.

[PCConsoleGamer]

Originally posted by Arkanthrall:

All 3 games have been well received, but I was wondering how similar Max Payne 2 is to the first one.
You see, I'm glad that I've played Max Payne 1 but I wouldn't want to play it again because I think it has quite a lot of defaults.
On the other hand, I've enjoyed Max Payne 3 a lot and I think the formula is much more refined with this last game.

So, how is Max Payne 2? Looking at the release date, I suppose it's similar to the first one. Has it aged well? I don't speak about the graphics, but about gameplay and so on.

Check it out for yoursef https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkBbLqgcQco

[Arkanthrall]

The trailer doesn't tell me that much. I know that it's a direct sequel to the first game. It might use the same engine also.
But I'm wondering how the gameplay, level design etc have evolved.

I know it might sound daft to hesitate to buy a game for such a cheap price when on sale, but I hate to not complete a game, so that's why I want to make sure I will enjoy it before buying it.

[PCConsoleGamer]

Originally posted by Arkanthrall:

The trailer doesn't tell me that much. I know that it's a direct sequel to the first game. It might use the same engine also.
But I'm wondering how the gameplay, level design etc have evolved.

I know it might sound daft to hesitate to buy a game for such a cheap price when on sale, but I hate to not complete a game, so that's why I want to make sure I will enjoy it before buying it.

There is a demo you can try out. Go here http://www.rockstargames.com/maxpayne2/mp2_home.html

[Arkanthrall]

Thank you for the link! That will be usefull.

[PCConsoleGamer]

Originally posted by Arkanthrall:

Thank you for the link! That will be usefull.

No problem

[Juldeenious]

Max Payne 2 is the best one from the trilogy. Solid gameplay atleast when using mouse + keyboard. Haven't played it with controller, but old trusty mouse won't let you down since controlling characters' aim feels smooth so crosshair is easy to operate. Gameplay is simple but lots of fun, and it don't even need to be a any kind of complicated game. It does it's job as 3rd person action noir very, very well. And you can also buy it for about 2$ at sale, which you wouldn't regret.

[Knights]

I've asked others but most will say MaxPayne 2 was the best of the bunch. MP1 should be played before hand just to get the idea who max payne is and how he was created. The 3rd could be skipped unless you like mulitplayer which is pretty fun. Didn't really enjoy the single player of it that much..

[Mno]

Max Payne 2 is the best. Max Payne is second best, and Max Payne 3 is garbage.

[Ezekiel]

I think each game is better than the last. I wish Rockstar made more games like Max Payne 3. Not a big fan of GTA.

[Racuch Zawodowiec]

I like all of the three but the third is definitely the hardest. As for 2, it's actually easy even on the hardest difficulty. The graphics are nice if you play on Fulld HD and with everything maxed out and texture sharphness maxed out. The noir is still perfect.

[dslartoo]

Max Payne 2 is much better than the first (and I've played the first dozens of times and enjoy it quite a bit). It features:

-- Improved graphics (better character models, motion capture for more realistic movement, improved textures, added Bullet Time effects)
-- Improved gameplay (Bullet Time regenerates slowly, increased movement speed as Max kills more enemies during Bullet Time, instant reload during Bullet Time, Shootdodge doesn't use up Bullet Time, improved level design without so many narrow corridors, Havok Physics engine support, more realistic projectile speeds)
-- Similar story type, same noir feel with twists and turns and "down and out" feeling
-- Great characters
-- Recurring musical theme from Finnish rock band Poets of the Fall
-- A better ending at the highest difficulty
-- Play as multiple characters

MP 1 is great. MP 2 is even better. MP3 is also awesome, but it's a different kind of story.

[Jungwirth]

Originally posted by Anarchy Blues:

Max Payne 2 is the best. Max Payne is second best, and Max Payne 3 is garbage.

MP3 was very good i think.

I enjoy MP2 too but i was flashed from mp3, because it was my first max payne game.

[Mr. Rain]

MP2 is a really good balanced game between the two. The first one had a very wide-ranged formula with minor parkour elements that didn't work too well because of Max walking on a grid that didn't match too well with the parkour layouts.
In MP2 though, the movement feels a lot smoother and easier to control. So the minor-parkour elements within MP2 are a lot more manageable. Of course the devs realized this so now you have to fight enemies while parkouring! haha. But that's only for the earlier levels fortunately.

I was fortunate enough to play MP1 first so I kind of understand what the devs wanted the game to be. MP2 solidifies the forumla they had from MP1, while also adding some annoying rescue missions... Oh the humanity! I still did like MP2 but it didn't have the eerie feeling you get in MP1 of being a rampaging cop fueled on painkillers and Valkry.

So in my order, I would say MP1, then MP3, then MP2 with MP2 and MP3 being very close and MP1 being a mile ahead. MP3 turned to be more cinematic and the formula was refined yet again but they took out all the parkour elements which is fine I guess.

The main issue I think with MP2 is that it tried to do too much gameplay-wise. Adding rescue levels is never a good idea and I do feel the plot behind the game was rushed. It still ties in rather well with the previous game's story, but I do feel they could've expanded the story a little more than what they did. Instead they added more gameplay elements trying to make you do more within the levels. So it's definitely a very interesting game at the least and it's still enjoyable today. The game has aged but it's not that bad looking of a game comparing it to a lot of games that came out during that time.
MP3 pretty much just threw all the fancy stuff away that was trying to be implemented in MP1 & 2 and just give you a fun cinematic experience.

[cloister56]

Interesting. My view at the time was Max Payne 2 was a little disapointing. It's still a great game but Max Payne was revolutionary so maybe my expectations were too high. I seem to remember it is much shorter and there weren't the stand out moments like in MP1. The villains weren't as memorable either.
Now having said all that I haven't played Max Payne 2 in over 10 years. I'm just working my way through Max Payne and plan to continue on after that. So I thought I would post my view here prior to that and then update it after I've played it again.
Max Payne 3 was awesome, I would put it second at the moment. I prefer the old setting but a third game in a row set there might not have been as good. I do miss the goofy comic strips to carry the story. Overall it felt fresh but in keeping with Max Payne. I look forward to a hopeful Max Payne 4.

[Mr. Rain]

I agree, Max Payne 2 was a little underwhelming overall. I do like playing as Mona and it's a little odd that Rockstar didn't implement that in Max Payne 3 and play as Passos at times. I don't really know if Max Payne 2 is shorter. I do know that they re-use a few locations for MP2 whereas MP1 you were going to a new location in practically every level. Maybe that's why MP2 felt shorter? I have played it a few months ago and I can't really tell, truth be told I wasn't really paying attention to how long the game was.
There were a few moments in MP2 that kind of do stand-out but not really in the same way as the first. I do remember those MP1 moments a lot more than in MP2.

I do hope there will be a 4th installment of Max Payne. Currently, I'd prefer to just have a HD remaster of the previous 2 games before a 4th game. It would be amazing to go back to the gritty graphic-style from the first two games and maybe even add more levels or a level editor of some sort.

Looking forward to hear what you think about the games! Max Payne is my personal favorite video game of all time but I will admit that there are faults with the games, but faults that I can live with.