For the most concise review of all time: If you liked Max Payne, you’ll like Max Payne 2.
That might seem like a redundant thing to say for a sequel, I mean that it almost feels like DLC for the original game. You will probably feel exactly the same about both of them. I read a review that called this game just as much an epilogue as it is a sequel. I agree with this is a few ways:
One, the first game was already short, but this one is even shorter, to the point you can beat it in one sitting if you’re motivated enough. It feels more like more like wrapping up loose ends rather than branching out into new territory.
Secondly, it looks and feels almost identical to the first game, but more polished. It is similar enough that you might as well read my Max Payne review to get my opinion on gameplay and presentation.
The main gameplay difference is that instead of shitty platforming sections in the nightmare sequences, we get a couple escort missions. Said nightmare sections stand out a bit less (it’s hard to top the “funny as hell” part of the first game) but I’m still glad they kept them. They feel just as much of the series’ identity as the graphic novel cutscenes. Sadly, Sam Lake’s beautiful face has been replaced in the gameplay and graphic novel sections, but it makes sense since they were able to get animated face models. Locales are a bit more varied than the first game. I could actually understand what Payne was saying during gameplay because they added subtitles. Story was less distinctive than the first but still pretty solid. The TV shows you can catch are a nice bonus and are actually pretty detailed.
That might seem like a redundant thing to say for a sequel, I mean that it almost feels like DLC for the original game. You will probably feel exactly the same about both of them. I read a review that called this game just as much an epilogue as it is a sequel. I agree with this is a few ways:
One, the first game was already short, but this one is even shorter, to the point you can beat it in one sitting if you’re motivated enough. It feels more like more like wrapping up loose ends rather than branching out into new territory.
Secondly, it looks and feels almost identical to the first game, but more polished. It is similar enough that you might as well read my Max Payne review to get my opinion on gameplay and presentation.
The main gameplay difference is that instead of shitty platforming sections in the nightmare sequences, we get a couple escort missions. Said nightmare sections stand out a bit less (it’s hard to top the “funny as hell” part of the first game) but I’m still glad they kept them. They feel just as much of the series’ identity as the graphic novel cutscenes. Sadly, Sam Lake’s beautiful face has been replaced in the gameplay and graphic novel sections, but it makes sense since they were able to get animated face models. Locales are a bit more varied than the first game. I could actually understand what Payne was saying during gameplay because they added subtitles. Story was less distinctive than the first but still pretty solid. The TV shows you can catch are a nice bonus and are actually pretty detailed.