Max Payne 3

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Max Payne 3 follows the titular Max Payne, a former detective turned hired gun, as he seeks to leave his past behind in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When a brush with the local criminal underworld threatens his new life, Max is once again plunged into a world of violence and intrigue. The game features a noir-inspired storyline, third-person shooter gameplay, and a variety of weapons and abilities to help Max on his quest for redemption.

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Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 24,801 reviews

story4,031 positive mentions

stability286 negative mentions

story
9,258 mentions
44 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of "Max Payne 3" is a dark and gritty narrative that follows the titular character, now a washed-up bodyguard in Brazil, as he navigates a world filled with corruption, betrayal, and violence. While some players appreciate the engaging storytelling and character development, many criticize it for being less compelling than its predecessors, with a more predictable plot and excessive cutscenes that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game offers a mix of intense action and a somewhat convoluted story, making it a polarizing entry in the series.
- “Max Payne 3 is by far one of the best third-person shooters with a rich, creative story from start to finish.”
- “The story of Max Payne is by far one of the greatest ever told.”
- “Max Payne 3 is a masterpiece of modern noir—a story of a broken man in a world that’s just as shattered.”
- “The story here is subpar.”
- “The story is confusing, but quite nice.”
- “The story is a bit wacky and 80s action movie, but that's what I signed up for.”
gameplay
5,321 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in *Max Payne 3* is widely praised for its refined mechanics, particularly the iconic bullet time and shoot-dodge features, which enhance the shooting experience and provide a cinematic feel. However, many players express frustration over the excessive and often unskippable cutscenes that disrupt the flow of gameplay, leading to a perception that there is more cinematic content than actual playtime. While the game introduces a cover system and maintains a high level of detail in its environments, some fans of the original titles feel that the gameplay has become more linear and less engaging compared to its predecessors. Overall, the shooting mechanics are considered top-notch, making it a standout title in the third-person shooter genre, despite its narrative shortcomings.
- “The gameplay is top notch, best shooting mechanics ever.”
- “Max Payne 3 perfects the bullet-time mechanics that the series is known for, turning every gunfight into a balletic massacre.”
- “The gameplay here is absolutely perfect, and is some of the most satisfying and fun gameplay you will ever see.”
- “The gameplay is boring.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, frustrating and extremely linear.”
- “The gameplay is a strange combination of cover based shooter and old school third person shooting, utilizing the 'bullet time' technique of slowing time to allow the player to fire off multiple shots while enemies respond in slow-motion.”
graphics
2,491 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Max Payne 3" have received widespread acclaim for their impressive quality, even years after its release. Many reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, detailed environments, and smooth animations, which contribute to an immersive experience. While some note that the graphics have aged and certain stylistic choices can be distracting, the overall consensus is that the game showcases exceptional graphical fidelity, making it a standout title in the action genre.
- “The graphics are stunning for a 2012 game, the gameplay is extremely satisfying, and Max is angrier than ever before.”
- “The graphics, gameplay, and animations all look and feel exceptionally well even more than a decade after its release.”
- “The graphics are absolutely amazing as well as sound! The graphics are very good even on low settings, but the game is optimized well enough to run smoothly on a year-old low/mid range laptop.”
- “The graphics are so bad in taste, it is not even functional, you get no feedback or visual cues that an enemy is dead especially in slow motion.”
- “The graphics are very Xbox 360 era; it’s very outdated.”
- “The graphics hold up surprisingly well, although obviously dated in some areas, sound design is great, voice acting pretty good for the most part and lines keeping in theme with the rest of the series.”
music
1,253 mentions
55 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in *Max Payne 3*, primarily composed by the band Health, is widely praised for its atmospheric and emotional depth, enhancing the game's narrative and gameplay experience. Tracks like "Tears" and "Dead" are highlighted for their ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly during key moments in the story, such as the airport shootout. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best in video game history, effectively complementing the game's dark themes and action sequences.
- “The music really is so intrinsic to the experience that I couldn’t imagine this game without it.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Health, complements the game's tone perfectly, adding to the overall atmosphere.”
- “I truly believe this to be one of the best soundtracks ever, in video games and otherwise.”
- “Max Payne 2: TFOMP had a lack of any music; it was too silent most of the time. In the second game, there wasn't really even any ambiance.”
- “The music in this game is not energetic enough.”
- “The music was muted very soon into the game.”
atmosphere
420 mentions
43 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Max Payne 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the dark, noir aesthetic of the first two games. While some appreciate the vibrant and varied settings of São Paulo, others feel that the game lacks the immersive, gritty atmosphere that defined the series. The soundtrack and sound design are frequently praised for enhancing the overall experience, but the absence of the original's melancholic tone and stylistic elements, such as comic book cutscenes, has left some fans disappointed.
- “The game's atmosphere effectively immerses players in its gritty world of crime and corruption.”
- “From the neon-lit streets of São Paulo to the seedy underbelly of its criminal underworld, every environment is meticulously detailed and dripping with atmosphere.”
- “The dark, moody atmosphere reminiscent of film noir captures the essence of classic storytelling and brings it to the gaming realm in a masterful way.”
- “While the game excels in gameplay and action, it lacks very much in atmosphere and does not allow you to have much freedom as the game has cutscenes much too frequently that drag you into situations, which can be annoying if you enjoy tackling situations with a more tactical and stealthy approach.”
- “The atmosphere isn't really noir like other games; in fact, there's a lot of sunshine and beach parties in this one instead of Max smoking a cigarette at 2 AM on a cold, dank rooftop while it's pouring rain.”
- “The once-pervading dark atmosphere takes a backseat, replaced by a distinct Rockstar flavor.”
replayability
339 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while the core gameplay is enjoyable and offers various challenges and collectibles, the abundance of unskippable cutscenes significantly detracts from the overall experience. Some reviewers highlight the potential for replayability through different difficulty levels and arcade modes, but the narrative-driven structure and frequent interruptions hinder repeated playthroughs for those less invested in the story. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the consensus is that the game could have benefited from more flexibility in its storytelling approach to enhance replay value.
- “However, the game is insanely replayable, and you will play the campaign multiple times, mainly due to the amazing gameplay.”
- “The storytelling is interesting and unique, the gunplay is incredibly solid and well-done with amazing replay value (tons of different ways to start, end and finish a fight, tons of different ways the exact same encounter can go, the advanced AI makes for a lot of dynamic situations).”
- “Max Payne 3 is highly replayable, with unlockable higher difficulties and fun challenge modes, like New York Minute.”
- “The main flaw of this amazing shooting gallery of super fun setpieces is that it's plagued by way too many unskippable cutscenes that kind of kill the replayability of the whole experience, especially in some of the favela levels that are basically an exposition dump.”
- “The only major problem is those damn unskippable cutscenes that severely dampen replayability.”
- “Loooooong unskippable cutscenes, for me this destroyed any joy of replayability, and I noticed that most of the game seems to be cutscenes which is a shame because the gameplay that there is is quite fun.”
stability
327 mentions
12 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users experienced issues related to the Rockstar Social Club integration, which added to the frustration of installation and gameplay. While some players noted that the game runs well on modern systems, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it difficult to recommend without reservations.
- “Worthy sequel to the franchise, looks great and runs great.”
- “The game runs great on today's hardware and still looks amazing.”
- “Max Payne 3 as a game itself is awesome, it looks fantastic, plays extremely well, story is solid, extremely fun, bug free (I didn't find any), the game is just awesome.”
- “Long story short, this game in its current state is a buggy broken mess.”
- “This game is so monstrously buggy.”
- “Game is totally buggy.”
humor
323 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the Max Payne series is characterized by a blend of dark, cynical wit and absurdity, with many players appreciating the protagonist's dry one-liners and self-deprecating commentary. While earlier entries in the series featured a more surreal and quirky humor, the third installment is noted for its more serious tone, though it still includes moments of levity through Max's sardonic observations and the occasional comedic glitch. Overall, the humor remains a significant aspect of the gameplay experience, providing a contrast to the darker themes of the narrative.
- “A challenging shooter, made infinitely more entertaining by the hilarious one-liners.”
- “Max's grizzled, gravelly narration is both hilarious and poignant, and he's a treat to listen to as he spouts off one-liners and cynical observations about the world around him.”
- “The writing is sharp, combining dark humor with moments of genuine poignancy, making you feel deeply connected to Max's struggles.”
- “And there are moments of alcoholism that are just so realistic and sad; man, it's not funny in those moments—especially if you have friends or family who've struggled with alcohol.”
- “Oh, and hope you like an absolutely irrepressible Max who never ever stops making horrifically unfunny or uninspired noir-style quips.”
- “Max Payne's narration is stupid, with so many bad jokes. I would not think Rockstar could be so unfunny.”
optimization
298 mentions
57 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The optimization of Max Payne 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems, while others report significant performance issues such as frame drops and graphical glitches. Despite some complaints about specific bugs and the game's handling of high settings, a substantial number of users highlight its overall solid performance and graphical fidelity, indicating that it is one of Rockstar's better-optimized titles for PC. However, some players still express frustration over inconsistent performance and the need for manual adjustments to achieve optimal gameplay.
- “The optimization makes this title nearly perfect; it runs really fluid and doesn't have significant loading times.”
- “Max Payne 3 is the most optimized Rockstar PC game that has ever come out.”
- “The game is so well optimized, the gameplay is so smooth...”
- “Poorly optimized to the extent that the resolution drops to something like 480x760 for 'artistic' or 'stylistic' cut scenes.”
- “Just random frame drops in random moments; messing with graphics settings too much can kill performance or crash the game.”
- “The game felt poorly optimized for PC and Rockstar Social Club occasionally prevented me from playing the game due to my computer 'being offline'.”
emotional
168 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Max Payne 3" is characterized by a dark and intense narrative that explores themes of pain, loss, and self-destruction, resonating deeply with players. While the game features memorable characters and a haunting soundtrack that enhances its emotional beats, some reviews note a lack of emotional investment due to a more generic storyline compared to its predecessors. Overall, the game successfully delivers an emotionally charged experience, though opinions vary on its depth and character development.
- “The game doesn't just tell a story - it punches you in the emotional kidneys and asks, 'Are you feeling this?' and you will.”
- “Max Payne 3 features a hauntingly beautiful score that perfectly complements the on-screen action, ramping up the tension during intense moments and providing emotional resonance during quieter scenes.”
- “To watch a man go from the perfect life to such a tragic downfall was a heartbreaking experience to witness.”
- “Boring story with an unlikeable protagonist who is just swimming in self-pity and having inner monologues all the time.”
- “A sad and boring storyline.”
- “They succeeded but then put it into a boring story with a character who's hard to love when he's filled with so much self-loathing that it makes me want to shoot him.”
grinding
135 mentions
2 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that grinding in this game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players feeling it requires an excessive time commitment, likening it to needing "a second life." While some appreciate the engaging story and gunplay, the unskippable cutscenes and repetitive gameplay contribute to a sense of monotony, making the experience feel grindy and frustrating, especially during achievement hunting and multiplayer leveling. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a major drawback, overshadowing the game's strengths.
- “Even the achievements and grinds are challenging but not tedious.”
- “Some of them also add to the overall story and they aren't tedious to read through, as Max narrates the entire thing for you so you can continue on your journey whilst listening to his relatively entrancing voice.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is tedious and bad in single player: the cutscenes are frequent, intrusive in gameplay, and badly paced.”
- “Grinding through achievements is more hindered by hours of unskippable cutscenes than the level design and game AI.”
character development
51 mentions
41 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and authenticity of Max Payne's character, while others criticize it for neglecting the emotional weight and growth established in previous installments. Many players feel that the narrative fails to build on Max's past, resulting in a disjointed experience that lacks the impactful character arcs seen in earlier games. Overall, while there are moments of strong character development, particularly in Max's portrayal, the game is often seen as falling short of the expectations set by its predecessors.
- “The character development is exceptional, especially with Max himself, who is portrayed with depth and authenticity.”
- “The game showcases an incredible narrative, supported by strong character development and the iconic Max Payne narration.”
- “Max's character development is brilliant in MP3, and I felt more connected with him by the end of the game.”
- “He seems to have forgotten Mona and all of his character development in the last game...”
- “The story is not too deep and there is not much character development.”
- “Overall, buy it if you want something that looks like the screenshots, drags you through long-winded cutscenes but somehow has no character development or intrigue, and if you do not care about the original two games.”
monetization
26 mentions
15 % positive mentions
12 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over intrusive microtransactions, constant advertisements for DLCs, and the requirement to use Rockstar's social club for multiplayer features. Many feel that the game's legacy is tarnished by these practices, which detract from the overall enjoyment and immersion, leading to a perception of it being a cash grab rather than a well-developed title. Despite these issues, some players still appreciate the game's core experience, lamenting the shift in Rockstar's focus towards monetization over quality storytelling.
- “Even after years, I keep coming back to this classic. Must buy, no microtransactions, no bull... just playing good old fun.”
- “If it didn't have like 5 DLCs, I would rate it 10/10. Shame that Rockstar went the way of DLCs and microtransactions (GTA 5)... but still a very enjoyable game with good atmosphere. I enjoyed the campaign twice.”
- “I know Rockstar isn't exactly the crowned jewel of the gaming world anymore and they are committing some cardinal sins when it comes to microtransactions and story development in the present, but this is a diamond in the rough from a bygone era of gaming that I miss dearly.”
- “80% of achievements, all of the secrets and good scores in singleplayer, are focused only on multiplayer, for which you need to have Rockstar Social Club, and every time you'll start the game, it will pop up and remind you of it and all the DLC you can pay them for, even in singleplayer or if you just go back to the menu, most of the screen is reserved for Social Club info and ads.”
- “Much like SimCity or Dark Souls, you must be signed into their own online gaming service where if you sign up your information will be shared with whatever advertising agency they choose, it's not going to be up all the time so you can't log in to play, and where you'll be sure to constantly receive email updates regardless of whether you want them or not.”