Max Payne Video Game Series
Max Payne is a series of third-person perspective (TPP) action games. The series was started by the Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment. Currently, Rockstar Games takes care of its development.
The first Max Payne was released in 2001 on PC, and a little later also on Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameBoy Advance (as a special version) consoles. In 2002, Take-Two Interactive took over the rights to the franshise, commissioning Remedy Entertainment in cooperation with Rockstar Games to produce the sequel. Max Payne 2 was released in 2003, after which the series disappeared from the market for nearly a decade. The third installment, released in 2012, was produced independently by Rockstar Vancouver studio.
The series is distinguished by a dark plot, maintained in the style of noir stories. The titular character is a former New York police officer, who is trying to regain his good name and bring justice to the murderers of his loved ones. The developers of the series were inspired by Asian action movies, as well as Norse mythology (the game references, e.g.Ragnarok).
The gameplay combines elements of an action game and a shooter. The player observes events from a third-person perspective, with the camera generally behind the main character's back. The hallmark of the Max Payne series is the bullet-time, a spectacular slowdown of time in the style of the Matrix movies.
The first two installments of the series sold more than 7.5 million copies, which caught the attention of Hollywood filmmakers. The film adaptation rights were secured by 20th Century Fox. Eventually the film, directed by John Moore, was released in 2008, starting Mark Wahlberg in the lead role. The community centered around the game has also created several amateur movies related to the series (including Max Payne: Hero and Max Payne: The Beginning of the End).
Max Payne Series Evolution
2012
Max Payne 3
2007
Max Payne: Antologia
2003
Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne
2001
Max Payne
Max Payne Remake
Action
TBA
A refreshed version of the first two parts of the Max Payne shooter series, in which we play the titular character. The remake was developed by Remedy Entertainment studio and published by Rockstar Games.
Max Payne 3
Action
May 15, 2012
The third installment in a series of action-packed TPP shooters with persisting noir movie atmosphere. Max Payne 3 was developed by Rockstar Games, who took over the franchise from Remedy Entertainment. The game is set some years after the events presented in the second part of the series. Max Payne, an ex-officer of the New York Police, is forced to accept a job as a bodyguard for an influential family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Seemingly trivial job soon turns into a vicious struggle for survival. The creators of Max Payne 3 aimed to retain the atmosphere characteristic for the first two games. There is also the series’ trademark feature – bullet-time (slow-motion sequences). At the same time, combat mechanics was overhauled, focusing around a newly introduced cover system.
Max Payne: Antologia
Action
June 8, 2007
Max Payne: Anthology is a complete set of products, treating the fate of Max Payne, a talented detective of the New York Police Department. This package includes both the first and second part of the famous series of Finnish band Remedy Studios.
Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne
Action
October 15, 2003
A continuation of the extremely successful action game from 2001. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne is once again developed by the Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment with the help from the publisher Take-Two Interactive. The action takes place one year after events of the first installment. Max Payne is back in NYPD. Unfortunately, the dark past still haunts him – the life of the hero is threatened by Mona – a beautiful killer, who steals his heart. There are not many changes in gameplay – it still combines elements of a third-person perspective shooter and an adventure game. Once again the developers implemented Bullet Time mechanics, offering new movement possibilities (like the thrilling bullet dodging).
Max Payne
Action
July 26, 2001
Max Payne is a third-person perspective action game developed by the Finnish studio Remedy Entertainment. The protagonist is an undercover DEA agent whose task is to locate the source of Valkyr - a deadly new drug. Personally, Max is also seeking revenge against the murderers of his family. He falls victim to a conspiracy and gets accused of killing his supervisor. The creators were inspired by the crime stories from the 1940s and 1950s, Pulp novels, and the movie, The Matrix. The gameplay focuses on very dynamic sequences of spectacular shootings. An innovative gameplay mechanism is the bullet-time effect which allows the player to slow down the passage of time for a short while in order to perform quick movements, such as jumps or dodges.
Max Payne Series News
Sam Lake and Max Payne Voice Actors Reunite After 22 Years
After more than two decades, the cast of the famous Max Payne has met again. This time the team appeared in Alan Wake 2, where it is very difficult to find them.
video games
Maciej Gaffke
January 7, 2024
Actor James McCaffrey, Known as the Voice of Max Payne, Passed Away
James McCaffrey, the actor who lent his voice to Max Payne and Alex Casey from Alan Wake 2, has passed away.
video games
Hubert Sledziewski
December 18, 2023
Max Payne Remake One Step Closer; Remedy Seems Confident
Remedy updated the status of its new projects. There was no shortage of information about remakes of the first two installments of the Max Payne series.
video games
Kamil Kleszyk
October 31, 2023
Alan Wake 2 Development Nearing Conclusion, Remedy Confirms
The CEO of Remedy revealed that Alan Wake 2 has just entered the final stage of work. By the way, we also learned a bit about the status of the studio's other projects.
video games
Marcin Przała
April 26, 2023
500 Hours and 10 Years - Max Payne 3 is One of the Games of My Life
It's been 10 years since Max Payne 3 was released. And despite the passing of a decade, this game remains the best third-person shooter.
Opinions
Krzysiek Kalwasinski
May 24, 2022
Max Payne 1 and 2 Remakes Announced
Remedy has announced remakes of the first two installments of the Max Payne series. Development costs are to be covered by Rockstar Games.
video games
Michael Zegar
April 7, 2022
Max Payne 1 and 2 Remakes Announced
Remedy has announced remakes of the first two installments of the Max Payne series. Development costs are to be covered by Rockstar Games.
video games
Michael Zegar
April 7, 2022
Max Payne 1 and 2 Remakes Announced
Remedy has announced remakes of the first two installments of the Max Payne series. Development costs are to be covered by Rockstar Games.
video games
Michael Zegar
April 7, 2022
Max Payne Celebrates 20th Birthday; Devs Thanked Fans in Special Video
It's been 20 years since the release of the first Max Payne. The developers decided to celebrate this anniversary with a special video in which they thanked the fans.
video games
Przemyslaw Dygas
July 24, 2021