I finished Max Payne 2 today. I didn’t realize going into this how much Max Payne had setup for other Remedy Games, specifically Alan Wake. The in-game show Address Unknown has so much in Common with Alan Wake II such as the evil double, alternate reality New York, and the implication of a “Next Level”. it’s uncanny.

There was also the in game show Lords & Ladies, which i would be lying if i said i didn’t stop to watch every episode I saw.

I also liked how it had you switching back and forth between Max and Mona, and also had missions where you had to escort the other. It did it in the right quantity where you were being forced into a escort mission every 5 minutes. Having to cover Max with sniper fire as Mona was especially fun, and seeing how their stories met up was awesome.

The boss fight was also a lot of fun, i was expecting it to be a rehash of the first game’s, with the Spike crushing the boss and that’s the end, but actually being able to fight him was a fun experience, albeit a little hard because max was always two steps away from death.

The game had some really pretty reflections too. I assume this uses the old flip the world for the reflection trick, but it’s done really well, i honestly couldn’t tell if it was or not (though i don’t know what else it would be using)

  • shameless
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    182 days ago

    Congratulations on posting for 6 months! Thats amazing that you’ve been so consistent, I love your posts 🙂

    • MyNameIsAtticusOP
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      32 days ago

      I was thinking to myself Last Night while posting how crazy it was that I made it to six months. This feels like the most consistent thing in my day right now and I enjoy doing it

  • @EvilBit
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    132 days ago

    Max Payne 2 is one of my favorite games of all time on any platform. Great memories. I don’t like how Remedy went so far down the artsy unintelligible plotting road after that, but they’re still one of the best developers out there in my opinion.

  • Xanthrax
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    2 days ago

    Enjoy the rabbit hole! Don’t forget “Control” and “Quantam Break”!

    DO NOT PLAY ALAN WAKE 2’S DLC UNTIL YOU’VE PLAYED CONTROL! Not like a gatekeeping thing, but there’s A LOT of backstory and tie-ins. I think you’ll enjoy it.

    It’s like if the guy from Infamous worked at an SCP facility, but with unique lore and an emphasis on Maslow’s Jung’s (woops) interpretation of schemas/ the supernatural. It’s super fun.

    • MyNameIsAtticusOP
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      22 days ago

      Quantum Break is the Only Remedy game I have left to beat (Unless you want to count Death Rally lol). I have been putting it off for a while but I really should get to it soon

      • Xanthrax
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        22 days ago

        Oh, you’re all set. I haven’t played that one either. Where do you think they’ll go in the future?

        • MyNameIsAtticusOP
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          12 days ago

          I know Control 2, FBC: Firebreak, and the Max Payne 1 & 2 Remakes are planned/In Development. Even though Alan Wake II almost didn’t happen, with how successful it was i expect a sequel to at least be considered right now too

  • @[email protected]
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    42 days ago

    Address Unknown showed up in Max Payne 1 already, though it’s fleshed out here. It’s a loving parody of Twin Peaks, much like Alan Wake, so I’d say it’s less setting it up here and more them sneaking in what they love before they decided to make a whole game based on the concept.

    • MyNameIsAtticusOP
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      12 days ago

      Oh yeah. The Twin Peaks parody completely slipped my mind even though I knew it for Alan Wake. Still, seeing it was really fun

  • @[email protected]
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    22 days ago

    I thought Max Payne 2 was a big step down from the first game. I was disappointed with the changes they made to Max. I didn’t like any of the characterization as much and the plot/writing felt more generic compared to the dark charm of the first game. The whole bit with the guy in the mascot costume was just dumb.

    Still fun but the nowhere near as special as the original for me.

    • @runjun
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      32 days ago

      Hard disagree but to each their own. I LOVE Max Payne 2. I even love Max Payne 3. The filters were insane but the gameplay was solid and I actually played a ton of multiplayer.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 days ago

      I remember originally being disappointed how Mona survived a shot in the the head from the first game, then Max survives a shot in the head in the game and then if you beat the game on the hardest difficulty she survives yet again.

      Plus I prefered the looks of both Max and Mona in the first game.

      But I’ve grown to appreciate the second game on subsequent playthroughs.

    • Agent Karyo
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      22 days ago

      The original was definitely the best (haven’t played Max Payne 3 though), but I thought the sequel was solid enough.

      Every 2-3 years I do a replay of both games back to back. It’s almost like a single package for me.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 days ago

        I liked how the third one went in a completely different direction instead of rehashing what made Max Max yet again. It’s a bit of a shock at first but it makes sense, especially since a lot of time has passed.

        There’s even one or two turns in the story that play out very differently from how it would have played out in the first two games because the overarching theme is a bit different. You can tell it’s still Max though.

        • Agent Karyo
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          12 days ago

          I should honestly try the 3rd one. These days I don’t really play FPSs other than replaying HL1/HL2 (and their expansions) and Max Payne 1/2 usually in back to back sessions.

          I would of course play HL3 (still have to play HLA; I don’t have an index).

            • Agent Karyo
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              2 days ago

              Would love to try both. I wouldn’t even mind HL1 in VR (HL1 is my favourite in the series, other release are exemplary as well).

              • @[email protected]
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                32 days ago

                HL1 is fun, but a little bit jank. The HL2 VR mod feels like the game was made for VR.

                Manual reloading plays a big part. Ravenholm hits different when you need to load the shotgun shell-by-shell yourself instead of pressing a button.

                • Agent Karyo
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                  22 days ago

                  I am not sure I want to play Ravenholm in VR. 😆

                  You tried HL1 in VR too?