Max Payne can be best described as a film-noir directed by John Woo. So what made Max Payne standout from other action games? To be fair calling it an “action game” would be like calling The Dark Knight a “superhero movie.” It may have the appearance of its expected style but it is layered with a deep metaphysics regarding the protagonists that it gives the audience a rich experience. Its success was followed by Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne in 2003 along with a feature film released in 2008 and an upcoming third game set to be released in mid 2012. Upon its release, Max Payne was highly praised by gamers and critics as it won multiple awards including a BAFTA award. Now with nothing to lose Payne embarks on a vendetta across New York in an attempt to bring down the Punchinello Mafia and prove his innocence.
To make matters worse, he has becomes the prime suspect in Agent Balder’s murder. Payne flees to a mobster hideout only to learn his cover has been blown. After foiling the attempted robbery, he is able to find Agent Balder only to see him gun down by a mysterious assassin. Upon his arrival, Payne stubbles onto an attempted bank robbery by mobsters working for Jack Lupino. Set in January of 2001 during one of the largest blizzards, Payne’s odyssey begins when he is asked to meet with DEA Agent Alex Balder at a subway station. A devoted cop whose world was rocked when a group of junkies murder his family, Payne has been working undercover trying to bring down the Punchinello Mafia, who are the largest distributor of a new designer drug called Valkyr. Gamers are introduced to Max Payne as he looks down on the edge of a skyscraper as he reflects back upon the events of the last three days. With the release of Max Payne 3 a few moths away, I would like to go back and examine how this game redefined a classic genre by adopting it with a new media. By taking the darkest and grittiest tone of the genre than blending the auteurism of John Woo, Rockstar presented one of the best works of neo-noir since Reservoir Dogs.
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