Maximum Payne and Action in a New York Minute! 😈🌃

Max Payne is a game that I believe stands the test of time, a great action game followed by its atmosphere in both Location and Characters. But like any classic game on Steam or PC, it’s got its issues, Which is getting the game to run in 2024 and Beyond! Thanks to the Max Payne 1 Complete FixPack - 2023 Edition (Which you can find a guide on Steam), the game ran flawlessly on Windows 11, with no issues whatsoever! It even fixes the notorious sound problems that often plagues this title for some reason. Very simple as modifications should go.

Going back to the game, Max Payne nails its tone. I was immediately drawn in by the comic book cutscenes! It works as part of its game’s identity and shows how carefully crafted each panel is. Every line of hard-boiled dialogue pulls you deeper into Max’s world, it often feels like a movie which I think puts it WAY ahead of its time. The story is delivered with a sharp edge that makes it hard not to get sucked in based on the tragic tale of Mr.Payne.

Gameplay wise, Max Payne delivers albeit some frustrating experiences. One of the best things is "Bullet Time". One of the best mechanics in all of gaming. This one mechanic that truly sets it apart for its time and how many developers feel inspired years after it came out. There’s nothing quite like diving in slow motion, guns blazing with a Shotgun, Dual Pistols or an AR, dealing a slow mo headshot or taking our a group of Grunts. It’s a mechanic that not only feels incredible but also serves as a perfect reflection of Max’s emotions as he is hard boiled and nothing can stand in his way. Every firefight becomes a cinematic spectacle which I really enjoyed from start to finish. There maybe times where the gameplay feels repetitive but as you progress the game adapts to your success or failure from its adaptive difficulty.

One of the slight frustrations I had with the game was a nasty habit of spawning grunts right around the corner or in a blind spot to where the camera can't even reach it ready to blow you away before you even have a chance to react. Once you die you have to start off to where the last save was which is usually the beginning of the level. These cheap shots can feel downright unfair and creates a fear of quick saving every time you finish a gunfight. It’s a bit of a love hate relationship; you appreciate the challenge, but those moments where you get blindsided can be downright frustrating. So player beware!

Overall, Max Payne is a game that delivers a very noire, high octane, action adventure game even if it stumbles occasionally along the way with repeated gameplay and frustrating blind side cheap shots. The story, the atmosphere, and the magnificent "Bullet Time" make it a game worth revisiting or even playing for a first time, especially with the modern fixes in place from fans that love the game.

Welcome to America! So this is what the dream feels like? This is the victory we longed for.

I have a lot of history with this game. From initially playing it as a friends house on the XB360 when I was 13, I was blown away by this game. It certainly did not feel like anything that GTA 3, Vice City or San Andreas had to offer. As a kid I used GTA IV as my playground and never really thought about the story. Then came along GTA the complete edition. I managed to persuade my father to buy me this game as I was 15. When I got this game on my PlayStation 3 I was able to really get into the story a lot more than I did at 13 but I felt like the story although being good, did not catch my attention as much as I still used GTA as more as a playground to do all the naughty things. I still remember some key elements in the game but I felt like it just came and went.

Coming to replay this in 2023, I felt like I have matured more and I am able to enjoy the story and its city elements, gone is the whole playground aspect of me trying to do all the whacky things this game offer. I believe GTA IV is the best Rockstar has to offer in terms of a gritty and dark GTA. I felt like I could "Relate" more to the Niko Bellic. Although he is a criminal he still had some tough choices to make. Flawed and sympathetic as he is violent. The other games do not offer this kind of character motivation than maybe GTA Vs Franklin. It really felt at times I was dealing with the consequences of my actions.

This is also a very DENSE & ALIVE city. I felt like anytime I went onto my next mission there was something always happening. This is certainly something that the other GTAs did not offer and was actually a HUGE improvement. Every Island felt connected as you were going through the story mode. it always felt seamless. Just hearing other people and their 2008 cellphones just reminds me of how much we really relied on those and used Internet cafes lol. The city certainly feels dated at times but there is a Charm to it and I love it.

As for Combat and Driving. Combat is probably at its peak here. Drawing inspiration from previous games that used Tactical Cover Mechanics. GTA IV is no different. Every bullet I took really felt like it was my own fault for not checking a corner or just to see how good I am going in guns blazing. There certainly was consequences. The physics engine they use here should also receive a mention because it felt real at time if you shot someone in their hand or body they would react to where they were shot be impaired for a bit before picking up their weapon and start firing. Certainly had fun with this mechanic. As for Driving, it certainly was some getting used to. You actually feel the weight of each car and its handling. I think they went a little too realistic here but it did not deter me from ever driving and if I did not want to drive I could always use the Fast Travel Taxi Mechanic. It's certainly a hit or miss from the folks I talk to about this game but I did not mind after the 1st act of this game.

Overall GTA IV is the blueprint that Rockstar used in all of its open world games during the Generation and you can see the inspirations even with the release of GTA V. I believe this game is the best the franchise has to offer in terms of Story and its Characters. Who can forget those Iconic Loading screens and mesmerizing music. I absolutely recommend this game if you have not played this in a while especially on Modern systems where you can push it to its limits like 60 FPS and cleaner graphics.