More Max Reviews

Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/tech/review/2001/08/24/max_payne/index.html

In the hit computer game Max Payne, death � la "The Matrix" comes with a cost: Your own tortured soul. Interwoven with a realistic, compelling story, a postmodernist's sense of ironic wit and, even more startling, a strong moral tone...Max Payne may be the one that finally advances the genre, and our expectations for it -- and in the process, it may be the game that finally forces the industry to grow up.

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Adrenaline Vault
http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=payne

Rating: 9/10 (Seal of Excellence award)

Taking a cue from The Matrix, Max Payne employs the stylized camera movement known as "Bullet-Time" where all action is slowed down to a point that you can actually see bullets whizzing through the air. This mode is not just for artistic license; players can trigger Bullet-Time to their advantage to perform incredible stunts and feats of agility, all while aiming and turning in real time to take down an uneven proportion of enemies.

As an action title borrowing elements from popular sources, Max Payne employs several instances of in-jokes that some players will be quick to recognize. There are a bunch of spoken and visual references to John Woo, Chow Yun Fat, The Professional, The Killer, and even Reservoir Dogs. Like in the spy game No One Lives Forever, some of the guards will talk among themselves while waiting for you to show up, quipping about action films, favorite actors, and even discussing the concept of Bullet-Time in length.

Max Payne is one of those memorable titles that people will be talking about for years to come. Its impressive graphics, gripping storyline, and fun use of Bullet-Time action elevates the game to the current standard that most others should aspire to.

MAX ON EXTENDED PLAY
1:30 PM [ Discuss this news story ]

Extended Play (formally known as GameSpot TV) is a weekly show that appears on the cable channel, TechTV. This weeks episode includes a review of Max Payne, showing a lot of footage from the game, though we have to say that whomever was playing the game to get this footage was a terrible player, and doesn't exactly show off the game well. But that's besides the point. The real point is that Extended Play, which not-to-often gives out high game scores, game Max Payne a perfect 5 of 5 stars review score.

You can check out their online site and review here, and while there you call look up the time of the next showing of Extended Play.

We noticed a few days ago, too, on The Screen Savers, another TechTV show, that the hosts were talking about Max Payne and calling the game "amazing" and talking about staying up most the night to play it.

Here's the link to the Extended Play online review along with a juicy quote:

http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,23008,3341809,00.html

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Anyone who has seen "The Matrix" could tell you what Bullet-Time is. However, in "Max Payne," you the gamer get to take control and truly be "the one." There is nothing better than blowing into a room full of bad guys, clicking a button, and flying through the air shooting the bad guys in slow motion. It looks and sounds beautiful. Graphically, "Max Payne" also delivers. Nothing looks better in slow motion than seeing the unhappy look on your adversary's face as you empty a clip into his torso. Faces are clear, clothing is crisp, and the texturing makes "Max Payne" look and feel like it's in the real New York City.

MAX TOPS AT GAME RANKINGS SITE
1:30 PM [ Discuss this news story ]

The site http://www.gamerankings.com has published their list of Top 10 games - Max is at the top of the list! Here's the Top 10 list from their site - or you can go there yourself, and build your own Top lists from their data. Check it out.

1.

Max Payne - PC - 91.6%
2.

NCAA Football 2002 - PS2 - 88.6%
3.

Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil - PS2 - 86.9%
4.

Desperados - PC - 80.9%
5.

Outrigger - DC - 78.1%
6.

Settlers IV - PC - 76.1%
7.

Soldier of Fortune - DC - 75.7%
8.

Battle Aisle: The Andosia War - PC - 74.7%
9.

Extermination - PS2 - 69.9%
10.

Virtua Athlete 2000 - DC - 58.7%

Posted by Joe Siegler on August 24, 2001 at 1:30 PM | Permalink
News Categories: Max Payne