Edge's upcoming issue offers up a shed load of new details on Max Payne 3, after the mag got a first-hand look at Rockstar's take on the gritty, vengeful shooter.
Although headed by Rockstar Vancouver, Max Payne 3 is to be considered a "Rockstar Studios production," says Edge, since it's now a collaborative effort with talent from the entire Rockstar Fleet, including London, Toronto and New England on board,
The mag tells us that number 3 is set eight years after the events of the second game, with our anti-hero being out of the NYPD, now working as a private security contractor in Sγo Paulo
Edge likens the Max Payne 3 experience to Half-Life, describing "a feeling that you're not the hero, you're just one agent making your way through a violent and disordered world."
Bullet-time is again charged by killing enemies. Edge describes "a layer of beauty to match its gameplay impact. As with RDR, the level of graphical detail on offer delivers astonishing action moments - glass smashes, blood spurts, furniture collapses - but here it's fragmented and slowed to show off the fine physical elements."
Original Max Payne voice actor James McCafferty is also confirmed to be reprising his role on the game, and this time he'll be acting out the part in full motion capture.
Issue 227 of Edge goes on Sale on April 14. Order it here and have it delivered straight to your door
Comments
25 comments so far...
metallicorphan on 4 Apr '11 said:
couldn't get into the first game,actually loved the second and finished it....can't remember any of them though
frazzerr on 4 Apr '11 said:
finally some news on the game
, this games going to kick ass 
pmantis on 4 Apr '11 said:
I'm sure I'll buy this at some point, i kinda dug the first 2. Honestly i just want news on the next grand theft auto.
NoobDefence on 4 Apr '11 said:
Great both of these teams are marred by less than sturdy past work (GTA IV (PC) & Bully (Xbox360&PC)..it's not a resounding endorsement really.
Mark240473 on 4 Apr '11 said:
Max Payne 2 was a great game that I enjoyed immensely. It was really repayable too, due to the fun shooting mechanics and challenging set-pieces. It was the interesting story and atmosphere (the hospital part was superb) that held it all together though - something that I hope MP3 does too.
Codename21 on 4 Apr '11 said:
Franchise Dead!
Oooops, sorry, that should have been in Bullet Time;
Ffffffffrerrrraaaaannnncchhhhisssseeeee Ddddddeeeeeeeaaaaaaad!
I'm seriously thinking they've lost the plot with this one, what were they thinking in the design meeting?
"That Flavela Level In Modern Warfare was cool, how about we stick Max Payne in there?"
"But Boss, that'll never work....he's a New York Cop pushed to the edge in a Noire Setting..."
"May be we could call it Max Payne: Modern Warfare: The Story of Ghost?"
"Er, Thats a different franchise sir....."
"I don't care, make it so....."
Apologies, er, rant over....
trzarector on 4 Apr '11 said:
Can't understand all the negativity really....Rockstar are a great publisher/developer with some of the highest values in games publishing IMO. I remember this situation last year in regards to RDR and a lot of people saying basically it was going to be crap because of the troubled development!!! Well look what that title did...!
Me, I have really high hopes for Max Payne 3 and have been looking forward to it since announced. I think this is definitely right up Rockstar's street in terms of potential characters and using Brazil as the setting will be nuts.
Brazil is great for a game setting like this because of the high contrast in the rich (Copacabana) and poor(the favelas) and dont let me get started on the music aspect!!! I can see a lot of references coming in from films like City of God. If you need a taste of the dark side of Brazil watch this film!
So my advice is chill out people, you're dealing with a developer that more often than not really deliver's with their releases and I think this is going to be another BIG one!!!
Rockstar do you have any positions available I want to be on the team!!! lol
BLARRG on 4 Apr '11 said:
well seeing as max payne 3 was scheduled for original release in 2009, i f**king doubt it. And why is the franchise dead? because they dont release a s**t installment every year?
Codename21 on 4 Apr '11 said:
Ok, "Franchise is Dead" might have been a bit strong, but the point I was trying to make is that Max Payne has always been about a NY City Cop pushed to the edge and out for revenge....I don't see have moving the story to sunny sunny Brazil reflects that. MP2 was a strong follow up, this new setting seems like a cash in.
True, you CAN keep the core-mechanics of Bullet-Time and port it into any given game/situation, but I don't see why our (Anti-)Hero Max has to take a trip down to South America to avenge his family (again)
I think the setting is a serious jump in scenario that the story might not be able to handle or explain....For instance, you wouldn't send Dirty Harry to the the Pole to cap Polar Bears would you? ....Actually hold that thought, I've just had a great idea for a new game!
subform on 4 Apr '11 said:
I lol'd at the bullet time comment
splitter on 4 Apr '11 said:
No crappy dream sequences please - then I'll be a very happy bunny.
jtake9 on 4 Apr '11 said:
I hear they have a cure for constipation in the Jungle.
Moribundman on 4 Apr '11 said:
But Max Payne has always been about a NY City Cop pushed to the edge and out for revenge with crappy dream sequences...
Moribundman on 4 Apr '11 said:
But Max Payne has always been about a NY City Cop pushed to the edge and out for revenge with crappy dream sequences and Sam Lake's constipated grimace (except for Max Payne 2 which got someone less constipated in to do the acting)...
sweatyBallacks on 4 Apr '11 said:
I don't see how setting this in Brazil is a cash-in? Cash-in of what?
You lost me there bud.
I can't think of any games set in Brazil. And the only films I know set in Brazil are City of God. City of Men. And er...The Incredible Hulk (the first half)...
ronatola on 4 Apr '11 said:
I've had this game on pre-order with Bestbuy for over 1 YEAR now. Already paid for. I pre-orderd 1 week before the initial launch date.
They always send me a monthly email saying it's due Dec 31st 2011. Just a parking date I'm sure.
ukdruid on 4 Apr '11 said:
In all honesty wouldnt you want to get the hell out of NY after being in the events of the first 2 games? i know i sure as hell would.
its been a while since i've played the first 2 games but didnt he avenge his family in the first 2 games? so hes all out of vengence right now and just some broken and beaten down ex cop, before dismissing this new and sunny location lets wait and see what the story holds.
JD_Method on 4 Apr '11 said:
Good to hear James McCaffery is back doing the voice. I was worried Rockstar wasn't going to use him again.
Moribundman on 4 Apr '11 said:
Damn right. And Telltale/Doublefine/Lucas(shudder)arts need him on their roladex in case they ever get round to doing anything new with the Full Throttle Licence since Roy Conrad popped his clogs...
Codename21 on 4 Apr '11 said:
I meant cash-in as in trying to knock out a three-quel on a quite frankly random story - I've got nothing against Brazillians.
Also that aint Max in the screen shots - Beardy/Boozey/Angry is this generations idea of "edgy".
madnath619 on 4 Apr '11 said:
Rockstar Games... Funny as Hell,? it was the most horrible thing I could think of.
RandyTandy on 4 Apr '11 said:
This. Game. Will. Be. So. Good.
I've played the first two a million times and I'm playing through them again thanks to them working so great on my laptop.
This final comment was an exclamation mark on everything that had led to this point. I released my finger from the keyboard, and it was over.
Very_Silver_Ownz on 4 Apr '11 said:
The first Max Payne was amazing one of my fav games of all times. I hope this is just as good.
afterFran on 4 Apr '11 said:
Man Max Payne was incredible game, back in the day at least.. The story and noire setting still hold up today so here's hoping the third entry will be just as great! Man on Fire perhaps?
LordVonPS3 on 5 Apr '11 said:
Can't even be bothered to give Max Payne 3 the chance it might deserve I'm afraid... I didn't really bother too much with playing #2.
I'd love to see a HD XBL / PSN version of Max Payne on consoles if only because of its excellent story, it could be worth another run through, most definitely so for people who missed it. Max Payne was very much a more gritty, real-life version of Duke Nukem with a dollop of Die Hard to it. Okay, it did use 'bullet time' as a post-Matrix sales gimmick but then it was everything the dreadful Matrix PC game should have been and wasn't.
If you like any of those 3 and haven't played Max Payne then that's a pity.