Max Payne

About

Max Payne is a thrilling single-player shooter game known for its intriguing story, sensational game mechanics, and atmospheric visuals. As a framed undercover cop, you'll fight your way through the gritty streets of New York during a blizzard, using Bullet Time to take down enemies in cinematic slow-motion. With a dark and twisted plot, stellar music, and some humor, Max Payne offers an unforgettable experience, despite its occasional bugs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,186 reviews

story892 positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

Max Payne is a classic third-person shooter that set the standard for the genre, featuring innovative bullet-time mechanics and a gripping noir story.
The game's storytelling through comic book-style cutscenes is unique and engaging, complemented by strong voice acting and memorable characters.
Despite its age, the gameplay remains fun and challenging, with satisfying gunplay and a dark atmosphere that immerses players in Max's tragic journey.

The Steam version is plagued with technical issues, including audio problems, crashes, and bugs that require extensive community patches to fix.
The game's difficulty can be frustrating, with enemies often acting as bullet sponges and cheap deaths occurring due to poor enemy placement and scripted events.
Players may find the graphics dated and the controls clunky, which can detract from the overall experience, especially for those unfamiliar with older games.

story
1,806 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The story of Max Payne is widely praised for its engaging and gritty narrative, which follows the titular character's quest for revenge after the tragic murder of his family. The game employs a unique storytelling method through comic book-style cutscenes and Max's introspective narration, creating a noir atmosphere that enhances the emotional weight of the plot. While some reviewers note that the story can feel clichéd or convoluted at times, the overall execution and character development are considered exceptional, making it a standout in the action genre.
- “The story is well written and amazingly performed, with the main character suffering throughout the game.”
- “The story is told at perfect pace and elegantly mixes elements of 'heroic bloodshed' action flicks, 80s and 90s US-made action movies, Norse mythology, and if you don’t care about it you can just ignore it.”
- “The game's story is gripping, with a noir-inspired narrative that keeps the player on the edge of their seat.”
- “The story is rather bland, the default and only difficulty you can play on at the start is actually rather difficult and forces you to save scum, the guns are unbalanced...the list goes on and on and there aren't that many redeeming qualities for this game.”
- “The story is quite clichéd mafia stuff but it is told in a charming way of comic-book novel cut-scenes and it doesn't take itself too seriously about it, giving me quite the giggles at times.”
- “The story is a bit convoluted, and at some points a bit hard to follow.”
gameplay
1,071 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The gameplay of Max Payne is characterized by its innovative bullet-time mechanic, which allows players to slow down time during intense gunfights, creating a cinematic experience reminiscent of action films. While the core mechanics remain engaging and fun, many players note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and somewhat clunky by modern standards, with some technical issues and a steep difficulty curve. Overall, despite its age, the gameplay is still considered solid and enjoyable, particularly for fans of the genre and those who appreciate its noir storytelling and unique style.
- “The shooting mechanics are smooth, and the bullet-time effect is still as satisfying as ever.”
- “The gameplay is unique and so satisfying, diving through the air as the world explodes around you and bullets whiz past you.”
- “The game's signature 'bullet time' mechanic, which allows the player to slow down time in combat, adds a unique and satisfying layer of strategy to the gameplay.”
- “There are a lot of compatibility issues, the gameplay loop is repetitive, the story is rather bland, the default and only difficulty you can play on at the start is actually rather difficult and forces you to save scum, the guns are unbalanced...the list goes on and on and there aren't that many redeeming qualities for this game.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and gets old pretty fast--very one dimensional: you go through the different set pieces, encountering bad guys and using the bullet time mechanic to gun them down.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating and stiff.”
graphics
522 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
62%
9%
The graphics of Max Payne, while groundbreaking for its time in 2001, are now widely regarded as dated and clunky, with many players noting that they show significant signs of age. Despite this, the game's unique comic book aesthetic and atmospheric art style continue to resonate, providing a nostalgic charm that many players appreciate. While some users recommend using mods to enhance the visuals, the consensus is that the engaging story and gameplay more than compensate for the outdated graphics.
- “The graphics were top-notch for their time, and the soundtrack was atmospheric and fitting.”
- “The game's graphics are also noteworthy, with a gritty, realistic art style that immerses the player in the game's dark and gritty world.”
- “For a game that came out in 2001, the graphics are pretty decent and yes there is a bug with the sound and there is a bug that sometimes comes into the game where you can't move, but there is a fix for it right here.”
- “The graphics feel really dated, as expected, for a 22-year-old game, but gameplay-wise, it's awesome and engaging even for today's standards.”
- “The graphics, the model rendering, the sound, the movement, everything is bugged to an unbearable degree.”
- “The graphics are terrible compared to what we have today, but the story is fantastic!”
music
255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
2%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the mood, with standout tracks composed by Kärtsy Hatakka and Kimmo Kajasto. However, many players report significant audio issues, particularly with the Steam version, where music and sound effects often fail to play, necessitating fan-made patches to restore functionality. Despite these problems, when the music does work, it is described as memorable and fitting for the game's dark, neo-noir setting.
- “The music is also top-notch, perfectly capturing the mood of each scene.”
- “Great soundtrack, composed by the Finnish musicians Kärtsy Hatakka and Kimmo Kajasto!”
- “The soundtrack is brilliant, the graphics contain a ton of detail and a lot of these you still won't find in games today.”
- “I believe I had sound issues playing the game, like most of the music was missing, but fixes might exist online; I didn't bother to look for them.”
- “The steam version has sound compatibility issues and there is no sound to either cut scenes or background music, even though the sound works with everything else, for example, bullet fire and NPC dialogues.”
- “The audio cuts in and out, the music plays 'when it feels like it', occasionally the audio breaks and you're treated to a cacophonous screech of broken sound bytes...”
atmosphere
222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gritty, and immersive qualities, effectively capturing a neo-noir aesthetic that enhances the storytelling and gameplay. Despite some dated graphics and occasional voice acting issues, the combination of atmospheric sound design, compelling narrative, and unique comic book-style cutscenes creates a memorable experience that resonates with players. Overall, the game's ability to evoke a sense of dread and emotional depth through its setting and tone is considered one of its standout features.
- “Despite its age, it manages to deliver the dark, depressing atmosphere perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is incredible, the sound work makes you feel the cold snow in noir New York.”
- “There are a lot of misspellings and grammatical errors, and mostly, the voice acting of some characters feels like a 'British trying to speak with a French accent', which really kills the atmosphere of the game sometimes and makes it not serious.”
- “Despite this game having dated visuals, I still felt a sense of dread and despair when exploring this version of New York: hearing the freezing winds howl as they blew across the city, seeing homeless people huddled around small barrel fires, drug addicts muttering to themselves while in a crazed stupor, etc. All of these elements and many more make the atmosphere in this game unforgettable.”
- “The atmosphere is really heavy and well done, and probably the best part of this game.”
stability
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and audio issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players recommend using mods and patches to address these problems, as the game is often described as a "buggy mess" that can be nearly unplayable without them. Overall, while the core gameplay and story are appreciated, the technical issues make it a frustrating experience for many, especially on modern hardware.
- “After a patch that I found on the Steam forums, the game runs great.”
- “It's a great game and it runs great, other than the sound which you need to download a mod to fix.”
- “Runs great on older PCs.”
- “This game is a terrible buggy port.”
- “The game is a buggy broken mess on Steam; Max gets stuck on walls (a lot), the sound barely works, and the game loves to crash. How do you mess up this hard, Rockstar?”
- “The game's glitches go beyond funny clipping or texture issues; they are actually game-breaking and leave the game in a nearly unplayable state.”
humor
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of intentional and unintentional comedic elements, including hilariously exaggerated facial expressions, cheesy dialogue, and absurd situations that evoke laughter. Players appreciate the game's dark, self-aware humor, which often parodies the film noir genre while maintaining a serious narrative. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the gameplay experience, making it both entertaining and memorable.
- “Even the imperfections (hilarious face textures, low-poly models, etc.) bring a sense of soul to the game.”
- “The writing is hilariously cheesy, the gameplay holds up well for a 21-year-old game, and the visuals are lovingly jank.”
- “Max Payne not only has a dry, brilliant sense of humor, with hilarious jokes and references to hard-boiled detective movies and media, but it's also, on its own, a great crime story.”
optimization
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
51%
21%
The game's optimization for modern systems is severely lacking, requiring multiple community patches and fixes to function properly, particularly on Windows 10. Users report unpredictable performance, frequent crashes, and significant audio issues, making it challenging to play without extensive troubleshooting. Overall, the game is considered poorly optimized for anything beyond Windows XP, leading to frustration among players trying to enjoy this classic title.
- “The game arrives absurdly unoptimized for Windows 10 and requires several patches and mods to even work properly, and once it does work it may constantly freeze or crash for no discernible reason.”
- “Note: the game won't run well out of the box on modern machines and the Steam distribution package wasn't optimized whatsoever, as usual, but all required fixes and instructions for tweaks are available in Steam guides.”
- “Is a major pain in the ass to set up the game until it runs smoothly, but once you get that done, prepare for a great, action-packed game.”
- “The game arrives absurdly unoptimized for Windows 10 and requires several patches and mods to even work properly (most infamously is the sound issue the game is packaged with) and once it does work it may constantly freeze or crash for no discernible reason.”
- “I really wanted to travel back in time and re-enjoy this awesome game, but since Rockstar gave zero thought to optimization, this game is unplayable for me.”
- “The game is not optimized for PC and is tricky to get running properly on modern computers.”
replayability
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
51%
14%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the variety of game modes and difficulty levels that enhance replay value, while others find it lacking, especially after completing the story. Some users highlight the potential for modding to improve the experience, suggesting that with the right tweaks, the game can offer significant replayability. Overall, opinions range from high praise for its fun mechanics to criticism of its linearity and limited replay incentives.
- “The game also offers a variety of game modes and difficulty levels, providing a great deal of replayability.”
- “I would've never expected to pour 40+ hours into this game but it's so damn replayable.”
- “With 3 difficulty settings and a time trial mode, there's enough replayability here.”
- “But it has almost no replayability as long as it wasn't one of your childhood games.”
- “I rate this game as 'meh', replayability is nil.”
- “Not very replayable after beating the story, but it's a solid couple hours of entertainment.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by Max's profound journey from a justice-seeking detective to a grief-stricken man consumed by revenge, creating a gripping narrative that resonates deeply with players. The neo-noir atmosphere, combined with powerful storytelling, immersive sound design, and intense gameplay, evokes a range of feelings, making it a memorable and emotionally charged experience. Many reviewers emphasize the game's ability to deliver heart-wrenching moments and a cinematic quality that draws players into its dark, emotional world.
- “Max's journey from a detective seeking justice to a broken man seeking revenge is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you on the edge of your seat.”
- “One of the most riveting, heart-wrenching narratives I have ever experienced.”
- “Overall this game has great shooting mechanics, immersive dark noir atmosphere, and a simple but well-executed revenge story that is capable of delivering emotional punches to the player.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
30%
65%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, often requiring players to repeatedly replay sections to overcome challenges, which can feel unbalanced and overly punishing. While some players appreciate the challenge and the need to improve skills, many find the experience repetitive and exhausting, leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment, making it a significant point of contention among reviewers.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you're a normal human, this is a tedious, poorly balanced, overly frustrating piece of garbage.”
- “Do you like save scumming, replaying the same sections over and over to memorize where enemies are so you won't die in this tedious and poorly designed way?”
- “However, minute for minute, level for level, I found the game very tedious for its low threshold for failure and forced usage of trial-and-error.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some reviews praise the strong narrative and engaging enemy dialogue that enhance the overall experience, others criticize the character designs as flat and generic. The depth of the story and character arcs is highlighted as a key strength, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, despite some visual shortcomings. Overall, the character development is seen as a vital element that elevates the game, even if the designs themselves may not impress.
- “Max Payne is such a great game with its seriously dark and grim story, fantastic bullet time, and character development. The enemies have very interesting and creative dialogue; nothing in this game feels out of place.”
- “The story and the strong character development are what make this game stand out. Without these key elements being 100% top-notch, I would warn people to steer clear, but I just can't say that about such a great franchise.”
- “All aspects, from the character designs to the voiceover, make it feel like you are watching one of the great 1900s movies about gangs, which adds a nice touch to the environment and the storyline.”
- “What I didn't like here are the characters and character development.”
- “The story and the strong character development are what makes this review stay strong. Without these key elements being 100% top notch, this game would be one I would warn people to steer clear from.”
- “The character designs for the enemies, however, may feel generic at first.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by its charming and immersive approach, incorporating unique in-game advertisements and TV shows that enhance the overall experience. Players are encouraged to embrace this quirky style, which reflects the game's creative world-building.