As some who loved the first Max Payne, when I played Max Payne 2 12-13 years ago, I came away disappointed. It's not that I hated it or even disliked it, MP2 just didn't click with me. However, going through it this weekend, I totally "got it" this time. I replayed MP1 in the beginning of the year and though I realized I had forgotten a good bit of that game, I still came away satisfied. Playing its sequel with the OG so fresh on my mind gave me great perspective on both games but especially the game I wasn't so crazy about.

Things I Really Liked This Time

Gameplay: I remember this being my 1st complaint looking back. It doesn't play like MP1 and it doesn't quite feel like it either. I just wanted the gameplay I loved and it wasn't scratching the same place. However, this time, having replayed MP1 so recently, that particular opinion was completely reversed. Why should MP2 play like MP1? Shouldn't it be a bit different, a bit evolved? The change in gameplay, the change in tactics was totally what I wanted. I didn't want something I just got out of a game I played again, I wanted something a little different and this game absolutely provides that. Having the shoot dodge now as a free maneuver is awesome and going into a room blind with the bullet time already triggered, running around shooting up everyone in sight is so badass. And that spin reload, so cool!

Story: I played these games when I was in middle school and early high school and the first game was easy to grasp, easy to care about, at the very least on the surface. Max's wife and baby were murdered and he will stop at nothing to avenge them. HELL YEAH. But MP2? He's into this Mona Sax lady and he's chasing her and chasing her. I couldn't care less back then. This time though, I found it way more appealing. Max thought Mona was dead and he lived with that guilt as he lived with the guilt of the death of his family. Finding out she was alive and getting a 2nd chance to protect someone he cared about causes him to chase after a ghost. Also, the structure is quite nice. Starting off and seeing most of the events as flashback gives it an additional layer. And I totally forgot you play as Mona, and see events unfold through her perspective at points.

Feel: MP1 felt alright when I replayed it in January. It took a bit for me to get totally comfortable and the shooting was a bit finicky but it was still totally enjoyable. MP2 however, still feels awesome. Movement feels grounded, aiming feels perfect, and the shooting feels damn satisfying. It feels like a modern game without cover which actually makes it quite unique in 2017 and I highly recommend people play it if you're in the mood.

Pacing: This is one of the most tightly paced retail titles I've ever played. MP1 wasn't a long game but a lot of the levels could've been trimmed here and there. MP2 doesn't have this issue. It's a bit shorter but the result is a hard-to-put-down thrill ride that makes you think about going back for seconds as you play it.

Presentation: Ok, the sound mixing is still a bit spotty and most of the visuals, except for a handful of the environments and fog effects, don't hold up to the current standards but the camera work is very inspired and still gives the game an engaging presentation.

Last Thoughts

Now that I've come around on MP2 fully, I see the Max Payne series as being one of a few franchises with a kickass trilogy, a rare distinction indeed. The only "problem" I have, intended or not, is that I never quite believe that the Max Payne from 2 is the Max Payne from 1 or that the Max Payne from 3 is the Max Payne from 2. I don't know if this is a trope within the genres they are working with but they seem like 3 different people playing the same character in different stories in completely different timelines. If this is the case, I'm actually into it but considering how well 1 and 2 both end and makes you think the book is closed, seeing him again doesn't feel quite right.

But Remedy so deftly does it again in their sophomore effort that not seeing a sequel to a game that actually needs a follow up, both narratively and mechanically like Alan Wake, is sad.