Max Payne 3's new environments (and plus-sized hero) previewed
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A lot of fans of the Max Payne series have been hesitant to get completely excited about Rockstar's third installment in the series, largely due to the unfamiliar setting of São Paulo, Brazil, and the obvious aesthetic changes undergone by the game's titular anti-hero. Perhaps their fears will be abated by a recent Game Informer preview of the title, which analyzes the big differences between the first two installments and the boldly redesigned threequel.
The preview mentions a few intriguing gameplay additions, including improved Bullet Time physics (thanks largely to the implementation of the Euphoria engine), and a cover system, which the game's devs promised would be optional. The article also explains the aforementioned aesthetic shifts. For instance, we learned that this older version of Max Payne isn't actually chubby. His beefier frame can be attributed to muscle, not obesity. That makes sense -- a diet consisting solely of whiskey and painkillers probably isn't loaded with saturated fats.
The preview mentions a few intriguing gameplay additions, including improved Bullet Time physics (thanks largely to the implementation of the Euphoria engine), and a cover system, which the game's devs promised would be optional. The article also explains the aforementioned aesthetic shifts. For instance, we learned that this older version of Max Payne isn't actually chubby. His beefier frame can be attributed to muscle, not obesity. That makes sense -- a diet consisting solely of whiskey and painkillers probably isn't loaded with saturated fats.
Reader Comments (82)
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 5:22PM Pure Black World Tendency said
This isn't Max Payne 3, these pics are from Uncharted 3: Among Thieves & Fat Bald Men.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 5:24PM ArchiGamer said
I wonder, if I comment will I fade away.........*awaits fading*
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 5:45PM Sly C said
yay! downvote party! HIT ME!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 7:10PM ch3burashka said
You're right, I was sceptical, and you're right, the Game Informer made me change my mind. Now I'm totally ready for this new installment of the Max Payne series, and I can't wait to see what the do with the story's direction.
Also, @whoever said on the podcast that WET is the natural expansion in terms of bullet time, I would like to disagree. True, WET does bullet time very nicely, but in Max Payne, bullet time wasn't a toy: it was a survival asset, especially in the first game. He is not supposed to be an overpowered murder machine, a point accentuated by the fact that he doesn't use medkits, he uses painkillers, AKA he is both full of lead and high as shit by the end, barely holding on to life. With more than 5(?) years between the MP2 and MP3, I am very anxious to see how they DO evolve the bullet time: in the Game Informer the spokesperson said there will be a mechanic in which MP will, on the verge of death, be able to plug a guy in bullet time and recover enough health to keep going, which sounds game-ier than I want Max Payne to be. A final thought, I hope they accomplish a dark, noire feel in a light setting better than Resident Evil 5.
Also, @whoever said on the podcast that WET is the natural expansion in terms of bullet time, I would like to disagree. True, WET does bullet time very nicely, but in Max Payne, bullet time wasn't a toy: it was a survival asset, especially in the first game. He is not supposed to be an overpowered murder machine, a point accentuated by the fact that he doesn't use medkits, he uses painkillers, AKA he is both full of lead and high as shit by the end, barely holding on to life. With more than 5(?) years between the MP2 and MP3, I am very anxious to see how they DO evolve the bullet time: in the Game Informer the spokesperson said there will be a mechanic in which MP will, on the verge of death, be able to plug a guy in bullet time and recover enough health to keep going, which sounds game-ier than I want Max Payne to be. A final thought, I hope they accomplish a dark, noire feel in a light setting better than Resident Evil 5.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 7:16PM ch3burashka said
Another thought: in the previous games, he had a badass coat in which he could kinda conceal his weapons, and taking shotguns out of said coat was slightly believable. How is he going to carry all those weapons this time? I assume they won't pull the GTA-magic-weapon-change thing (though it IS being developed by Rockstar...) so does that mean he'll have a limited assortment of weapons to carry?
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 11:29PM themisanthrope said
Actually... if max payne was close to death, if you stayed out of trouble long enough, he would recover health.
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Posted: Oct 4th 2009 12:27AM ch3burashka said
@Maskedrose:
Yes, that's correct, but the spokesperson says that if Max is gettin' dead during bullet time, he can counteract that by shooting people, thus recovering health, a feature not present in previous games. That's what feels game-y.
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Yes, that's correct, but the spokesperson says that if Max is gettin' dead during bullet time, he can counteract that by shooting people, thus recovering health, a feature not present in previous games. That's what feels game-y.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 7:13PM Sly C said
woohoo!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 7:24PM (Unverified) said
It's São Paulo you ignorant. They speak portuguese not spanish in Brazil. Is it really that hard to do some research before saying something ?
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 7:52PM Ashkental said
It's São Paulo and it's Portuguese, thanks for going to Geography Class ;D
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 8:10PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Rockstar saw us all looking at games without colour and pointing, so decided to add colour :D Smart move, this is one game I wont have to turn the gamma to green for :D
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 9:18PM linebeginstoblur said
...for a Max Payne game? Have you played the other Max Payne games? It is NOT a game that needs bright greens and oranges. It's mostly white, black, and red, with some occasional brown. Of all games to be vivid and colorful, it just looks really out of place here.
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Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 8:13PM ArchiGamer said
NOO!!! I WANT TO LIVE!!!!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 9:10PM 8bitartist said
In this thread, we honor the great accomplishment of Andrew, who managed to have the first post in the comment section of Max Payne 3's new picture news thread. This momumental achievement will be remembered for decades to come. When reached for comment, Andrew said, "1st." Tears were brought to the eyes of children everywhere as they heard such memorable and inspiring words on this faithful day.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 9:15PM (Unverified) said
By "Recent preview" do you mean the cover story from 2 months ago, or is this actually a new one?
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 9:50PM ColorblindMonk said
"Tropical" is not the "new" environment anymore. Missed it by a year. Sorry.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 11:02PM Scratchcard said
Looks like a ghost town...
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 11:16PM Asdrubal said
It´s São Paulo, not Sao Paolo.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 11:27PM themisanthrope said
Just when I forgot about this horrible Max Payne game..
ugh.
Like all horrible things in my life.. it all started with the death of a good series... As I stepped out that door.. I realized I was past the point of no return.
ugh.
Like all horrible things in my life.. it all started with the death of a good series... As I stepped out that door.. I realized I was past the point of no return.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 12:34AM (Unverified) said
San Paoolo is wrong!!!!
The correct is Sao Paulo! :D
americans...
The correct is Sao Paulo! :D
americans...
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 2:18AM Vegeta has a ps3 said
Yeah I mean why actually make the game fresh and new when you can just make the same exact game over and over again. I'd totally pay $60 for that.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 3:40AM LemonParty said
Yeah, my main concern stems from the fact that Remedy isn't making this. I could care less about the setting if I knew it was in the original developers hands but since I know it's not, it is hard to get excited for the game.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 3:00AM Bedlight said
I came up with the best analogy for this game when I was on the shitter earlier. Max Payne 3 is like Fast & Furious 3, decent as it's own thing, but completely out of place when tacked onto the series.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 4:10AM EeK85 said
San Paolo, Joystiq? Really? That's Italian! If you're gonna commit stupid mistakes, at least do it "less wrong" and use the Spanish version (San Pablo).
On a second thought, don't commit any more stupid mistakes. kthxbye
On a second thought, don't commit any more stupid mistakes. kthxbye
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 3:27AM (Unverified) said
Modern Warfare 2 AND Max Payne both purposely portraying Brazil the stereotypical-negative way. I guess only Shadowrun (current-gen) made it worse.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 8:02AM (Unverified) said
It's called Sao Paulo, with a "U", not Paolo.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 9:10AM Twinnie said
It's not too late. If they just change the palm trees into hobos and make the enemies white it could be New York again.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 10:34AM (Unverified) said
Joystiq it's São Paulo, not San Paolo! Brazilians speek Portuguese, not spanish!
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 1:59PM (Unverified) said
Holy crap, Rockstar still represent São Paulo like a jungle-city, when it's the biggest city on the South Hemisphere.
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 5:54PM (Unverified) said
Oh C'mon! It's god damn Brazil, who gives a shit? You know, the place with all the naked chicks, giant snakes and monkeys all over the place! If this São Paulo is the biggest city on the Southern Hemisphere, it's probably built atop palmtrees!
(Não esquenta, tô zuando com eles... ^^)
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(Não esquenta, tô zuando com eles... ^^)
Posted: Oct 4th 2009 2:03PM DudemanJones said
Ya know, I keep getting this sneaking feeling that Rockstar hurried up and made some minor edits to Max's models when everyone and their grandmother started criticizing his new fat look.
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