I feel like Remedy took everything they did it in Max Payne and made it better. Much of the mechanics and the core of Max Payne is preserved, if not only altered. Controls feel much better (especially jumping) and gunplay feels as fun and satisfying, pretty much like the original game. Pacing of action is set very well, in a way that never leaves you over or underwhelmed.
The story is picked up from where it was left, and themes such as loss, grief, sorrow, trust and revenge are implemented into the noir-detective comicbook style storytelling. We can say Max is the lonely traumatized survivor who can't let go of the past, and so can't build a future. He's looking for revenge but he's tired, he's looking for love but he can't get over his dead family, he's looking to trust people but he's been hurt so much. Some quotes cut very deep and surely will get stuck with you, if you were drawn to the atmosphere of the game.