Max Payne 3 Logo
Rockstar Games has announced that Max Payne 3 will be released in March 2012 for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Further, they have prepared a few more screenshots, available in high definition on their website, here.
According to Rockstar, Max Payne 3 will take place in a new locale: San Paolo, Brazil. No longer a police officer, the titular protagonist now works as a private security guard for a wealthy executive and his family. As with the previous games, things quickly turn ugly (at least, from the player’s perspective): the executive becomes targeted by gang members, forcing Max into a desperate battle. Of course, the now older Max is still tortured by the events of the previous games: expect the battle to be with his own demons as much as the thugs.
Although there have not been many details released, some game features have received attention. Most unique for the series is the addition of a multiplayer element. As of this writing, Rockstar has not exactly been forthcoming with information regarding this element: Expect all the traditional multiplayer modes. What they did reveal, though, was that there would be a progressive leveling and reward system, as well as the opportunity to use different character load-outs during matches. Beyond that, Max Payne 3 will feature many of its traditional elements, including the classic bullet-time. Because the game will be on current generation systems, the developers are taking care to keep graphics detailed. While slowed down, players will be able to see the finer features of shattered glass and furniture. Rockstar Games also explained that players will now have an intuitive cover system at their disposal, but were quick to point out that it is merely an option: players will not be forced to use cover in order to progress.
One particular aspect Rockstar Games wanted to keep was the “feel” of the Max Payne series. The games have traditionally been in the noir style, set in a grim New York. Now, however, Max will be living in the at times vibrant San Paolo, Brazil. Fortunately, the VP of development Jeronimo Barrera already responded, explaining that noir is not just about a place and a color, but a style and feeling of bleak desperation. San Paolo is a city with the extremely rich living closely to the extremely poor, creating a lot of tension and a sharp contrast in atmosphere as the player moves about town.
Something thatwill not be the same, however, is Max himself: although his tortured personality will remain, his look and voice will be quite different. The older Max is visibly scarred by the events of the previous two games, more muscled, and at times bald. Further, voice actor James McCaffrey will not reprise his role as the protagonist, though his replacement has yet to be announced. Rockstar wants gamers to expect a lot out of Max Payne 3, as they plan to keep old audiences interested while simultaneously re-imagining the world for modern gamers.
