Story

• You play as Max Payne, a member of the NYPD.
• The beginning starts by showing Max at the top of the building proclaiming, “They’re all dead! Every last one of them.”
• From there the story backs up two days to when Max comes home to learn that his wife and kid had been brutally murdered.  
• Narrated by Max, you relive the most desperate, dark, and trying times of Max’s life as he is hell bent on revenge and retribution.
• The story, which is now the main reason to play the game, is told in a very artistic comic book style.
• Cut scenes amount to still images complete with dialogue bubbles, storyboarding, and cell shading.
• All of the cut scenes are well narrated by Max in a very melodramatic way with the occasional story character adding situational voice acting.
• Overall the gritty film-noir inspired story is a blast to play through with twists and turns and satisfying revenge.

Gameplay

• The gameplay in Max Payne is now a bit dated, but it is still fun.
• Unfortunately there is no multiplayer, so it’s a strict single player experience.
• The game follows a pretty generic formula of entering an area, shoot everyone around, and repeat.
• On rare occasions you will be forced to sneak around or find your way out of a maze, but for the most part it’s all run and gun.
• Most enemies like to pop-up from around corners, behind closed doors, and any other place where they can have the element of surprise.
• The enemy AI is built to adjust but doesn't seem too complicated.
• The game uses a self adjusting skill level system that will alter the enemy AI to the skill of the player.
• I don’t know if it worked, but I felt that the game was neither too hard nor too easy.
• Enemies still seemed to lack a bit when it comes to finding cover.
• More often than not, once they spot you they will charge your position, allowing you to take cover or use the environment to your benefit.
• Later in the game, the enemies do become better shots forcing you to also be better with your aim.
• After beating the game once, new gameplay modes will unlock.
• “Hard-Boiled” is a more challenging version of the game.
• If you complete “Hard-Boiled” and still want a challenge, then “Dead on Arrival” is the mode for you.
• Here headshots are key.
• Also, saves are limited to seven per map.
• “New York Minute” is another type of challenge, where each level runs on a timer.
• Killing bad guys buys extra time.
• Regardless of how hard the game is, the Xbox version allows for saves anywhere in a given level. (Except for the previously mentioned “Dead on Arrival” mode).
• But what Max Payne is really known for, is the inclusion of “Bullet Time”.
• “Bullet Time” can be skillfully used to slow down time ala “The Matrix” to give Max an advantage.
• Use it to shoot while dodging, or when you blast through a door that obviously has enemies behind it.
• “Bullet Time” is an extremely fun and satisfying technique, that has been copied numerous times since.
• Besides having “Bullet Time”, the controls of the game are very smooth and accurate.
• The default settings are very good, but the game does allow for plenty of adjustments
• Aiming can be turned to manual or auto lock.
• Auto Weapon Change, always puts the best weapon in Max’s hand when picked up.
• Tips can be turned on to show how to use different items or weapons.
• The deadzone for the analog sticks can be adjusted so that you only look where you deliberately want to.
• Even the crosshairs can be turned off, resized or changed in color.
• The game features a decent list of hardware that Max can find and use.
• Berettas (Can dual wield)
• Desert Eagles
• Pump Action Shotguns
• Sawed-Off Shotguns
• Sniper Riffle
• Ingrams (Can dual wield)
• Grenades
• Molotov Cocktails
• Painkillers (restore health)
• Overall, there isn’t a lot of depth to the gameplay of Max Payne, but what is there is a fun filled, well paced action shooter.