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MAX PAYNE
Rockstar Games
Xbox video game, $49.99
Max Payne is an excellent third person shooter/action game for the Xbox video game system. The gameÕs storyline focuses upon undercover New York cop, Max Payne. MaxÕs wife and daughter were brutally murdered three years ago. He is determined to avenge their deaths but this task has become increasingly more difficult for him since being framed for the death of a fellow police officer. Undaunted, Max wonÕt let anyone stand in his way. This single player game offers support for the following accessories: arcade stick, memory unit, and system link. There are a total of four gameplay modes: Fugitive (easiest), Hard-Boiled (more challenging), Dead on Arrival (most challenging), and New York Minute (race against the clock). The Fugitive mode must be completed before these other modes become accessible.
This game has three special features that set it apart from the average action game, these features being Bullet Time, Self Adjusting Difficulty, and Quick Save. Bullet Time slows down the action all around Max while still enabling him to aim his weapons in real-time. Not only is it cinematic, Bullet Time is very effective in aiding Max to defeat his numerous enemies. Self-adjusting difficulty tailors the game to an individualÕs skill level. As such, the game remains challenging, but never impossible, while advancing through the various chapters. Finally, the quick save feature can be employed at any time during gameplay. If Max should die, this allows play to restart at the most recent quick save point, rather than requiring long stretches to be replayed. These three special features, coupled with its strong audio and visual qualities, are why we highly recommend Max Payne as a purchase for the Xbox system.
The game is presented in a fullscreen version (for 4:3 monitors). The overall video quality is excellent. Graphics are very impressive with realistic characters, weapons, and environments. Each of the weapons have their own signature look when fired and the environments are highly interactive as televisions can be turned on/off, toilets can be flushed, etc. The gameÕs overall colors are rich and dark with fully saturated hues. There is deep contrast and no major artifact flaws that we could observe other than the occasional polygonal clipping when Max came into contact with certain objects.
Video Rating: 9 out of 10
Max Payne offers audio in real-time Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround. Character dialogue is intelligible and natural sounding. The rear channels are actively utilized and there is even use of split rear effects. The LFE channelÕs action is limited to explosions and sequences where music is present.
Audio Rating: 9 out of 10
Overall, the tactile sound effects for this game are above average. The type of tactile effects that can be experienced range from light to moderate impacts and these occur with gunshots, explosions, and music.