Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Review (Kobest)
I still remember that high school afternoon when I finally got the chance to install Max Payne 2 on our PC at home. Once you shoot the first bad guy and he falls backwards, bringing down some boxes and shelves with him, my jaw simply dropped at seeing (almost) proper physics implemented into an action game!
While it is not a groundbrakingly new sequel, Max Payne 2 improved on a lot things from the first one - the biggest for me being somewhat of a revamp for bullet time. Now, you don't necessarily have to rely on shootdodging a lot and this made the action more fluid in my opinion. Once you clear out a room with dual Ingrams, and then the camera flies around Max/Mona while they reload - it is such an awesome feeling!
So, does it still hold up 21 years after its release? Absolutely, and I guarantee that you will have a great time with it. The graphic novel, the noir atmosphere, the "fake" TV series, and the exceptional writing do elevate it above its competition, even today. It is also interesting to see how Remedy carried over some gameplay ideas from the Max Payne games to Control and Alan Wake. Oh, and "Late Goodbye" from Poets of the Fall is still a fantastic song!
Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to the Max Payne 1+2 Remake and I cannot wait to see what Remedy will do with the opportunity!