Played through the first one, like, 20 times, maybe more. Half of it - in a row. I hated Max's new face and stupidly despised the sequel for it, but came to my senses later and started despising it for replacing the revenge plot with some banal love shenanigans. Then, I came to my senses again, realizing that it was a better fit, they couldn't just repeat the same premise, after all. And the gameplay was good. As for the third one, I was a little bit irritated with how often they took control over Max away from me to show their 'cinematics', but not too much. Anyway, I got too far on Hard, and around 7 hours in, the game became unbearably painful to play. I've swallowed a lot of one-shot headshots, but I couldn't make myself swallow my pride and switch to Normal, so I just stopped playing instead. Maybe I'll go back to it one day when I'm off the cooldown. Vented for a bit, sorry. Whew! Now that everyone knows but not necessarily cares what I think about the series, I can watch the video in peace.
That feeling when you walk into a new room for the first time and immediately get shot by a new weapon you didn’t know was in the game. Yeah…you will never play max payne for the first time again.
When I first heard Max calling the sex talking line just so he can speak to someone, I literally busted in tears. He is such a tragic character. He won against the bad guys but lost himself and lost the battle with life.
I can't believe The voice of Max Payne James McCaffrey have passed away........ I feel like New Remake of Max Payne ain't going to be the same without him in it..... RIP James McCaffrey for ours childhood........ 💔
@@gordonramsay6286AI wouldn't feel very right and that would piss a lot of people off. I think them reusing voice lines from the original would be a safer route.
I used to date a chick with the surname Payne and we would joke we would call our son Max, well 15 years later she had a baby and called him Maximilian, do not know if he has her surname tho 😅
@@augustcziesch5556 Indeed we did, what worked was going no contact as we did still have mutual feelings for each other but basicly grew apart and wanted different things in life. We have talked twice in 16 years just by bumping into each other randomly (we live in separate countries now), We just hope each other are happy and have a hug goodbye.
Rest in peace James McCaffrey 💔 I’m replaying through the series and just started the first one the other day and finding this out bummed me out so bad but now I wanna play em even more.
I loved a lot of things about the video, but most of all - how you've pointed out that it's poetic, yet no words are wasted. This is the vital point and a great skill that distinguishes good writing from mere graphomania.
Also: for context I lost my dad in like 2004 when I was 11 and when this game came out in 2012 I was barely a man who even knew how to grieve him and it was so sudden that the lyrics and his redemptive arc hit me like a ton of bricks.
@@godson200 yeah, he's killing the guy who killed someone he was supposed to protect. It's a mirror of him not being able to get revenge for his wife and daughter dying. It's a retread, but it just shows he hasn't really learned to move on.
@@Cixelated maybe yeah it is an mirror. But I kind of didn't feel max really cared about the brancos who he was supposed to defend and bodyguard. The emotion wasn't there. Yes there is a parallel to his wife but it just didn't give me the same feel. Max just didn't care. His boss died. People related to the boss who were kidnapped either died or were irrelevant(paasos gf). The emotion kind of went missing in this story And it could have been a lot better. Also when he figures out that dude is going to do organ harvesting he kills him by the end of that chapter. So that's that..but the final boss doesn't even mean that much to max. Typical of Max Payne tho. Even in the first game, Nicole Horne wasn't related at all untill the last 4-5 chapters. Max Payne always tends to have a good plotline near the starting and rather abrupt and not so linear endings with the main characters being introduced near the ending
@jamesesparza6893 I did as well I feel the same way as you, on one hand I'm interested to see how they'd handle him getting into another mad situation but on the other hand I like where MP3 left it and don't want them to ruin it.
@bipstymcbipste5641 Yea but was still tortured either way as he lost Mona, it completed the arc from Max Payne 100% with Woden etc but still didn't resolve anything with him as a character just left us wondering what would happen to him in the future, Max Payne 3 delved into what he'd been up to after two and was pretty much a strait drunk and pill addict still, doesn't seem like he resolved much tbh or found any sort of redemtion, MP3 had him go from shooting that wise guy and escaping New York to Brazil doing the jobs for the family and dealing with the events of MP3 and the whole conspiricy events that by the end of the game he gets that redemtion for himself, he's literally been through Hell three times by that point and barely survived, Max Payne 3 having some of the series rawest events, so it felt gratifying to see him finally at peace with himself, that's my take on it anyway, I think Max had killed so many people by that point he was fed up and tired and just wanted some peace.
@@biohazarduncovered He was already tormented with the ghosts of his past at the start of The Fall of Max Payne, what Rockstar did in 3 is basically the same schtick once more for no good narrative reason, other than to do another Max Payne video game, even though it wasn't really needed. The first two games complete his story and the ending for two, while bittersweet, has hope in the end for the main character with the whole "My wife's was dead, but it was alright" line in the comic panel. Sequel's main thematic crux is making Max face his trauma, to confront him with the ghost of his wife, his child and with everything he has done since their murder to pick up the pieces of his broken life and try to continue. The whole South America venture doesn't fit the noir aesthetic, nor does it add anything worthwhile to Max as a character or the series overall. It's just indicative of problems with the industry overall, we can never leave a good IP be, even if everything is settled, because if there's a money incentive to cash in on a cult classic, the industry will take it and try to profit off of it. And that's why I'm of the opinion that the third game was never needed, doesn't have a good reason to exist and that it is obsolete and should be ignored entirely. It is a good video game when taken in a general sense, it has competent design, it is a polished experience and has high production values, but does it really bring anything truly new and worthwhile to the title character and the series overall, does it build on past themes and see them coalesce in a memorable finale that ends it? I don't think so, it simply does what 2 did, but in South America, and since people can never get enough and consider their favorite games like they do their favorite beer in bars, they think it should be on constant demand whenever they want to have another one.
Love how you guys also included the Max Payne movie. I feel like no one else includes alternate media (if it exists for said IP) in their game series reviews/retrospectives
But legit, amazing work, and Synopsis of this legendary series. The movie... We don't talk about the movie. It's mind-blowing you've done a video on my favorite series, legacy of kain...then, one on my second favorite, max payne...now if your next video is on resident evil, you are absolutely my son without a doubt. Or stalking me... Either way, yolo amazing content, brother lol. Keep it up, and I look forward to more of your work!
"Hey Dad. It's me, your favorite son." I always feel like he's gonna follow this up with some bad news, like someone in the family has fallen ill. Just finished Max 3. Great finale!
I love the way you articulate yourself. The way these retrospectives that integrate objectivity, visceral, thoughtful, and personal reaction and analysis that make these videos so captivating. I’m ringing the bell!!!
Max Payne Series is truly an example that shows that video games can have a magnificent narrative; the story and progression are developed so well that this character could easily be in a top 5 best video game character of all times... Or rather, it should be; for me, and I think that most people who actually enjoy games with good narratives (who unfortunately are not too many) will agree as well, the character of Max Payne in the last game was handled in a quite disappointing way. It's very different from the previous games, and not in very positive way as you say; to make it short, it feels like he's a copy of John McClane from Die Hard, but a depressive one, like a gloomy American Hero; and that's quite the opposite from before. So yeah, the game's fun, it's pretty good on its own, but it isn't a Max Payne game for me; I stay with Max Payne 2 ending... And the easter egg from Alan Wake.
This, just like the LoK retrospective and history, is absolutely incredible!! I can't imagine the amount of work you put into these videos, but it is VERY much appreciated. Keep it up, man!!
I didn’t know there was a Portuguese dubbing for this game! The PS2 version gave a choice between English, French, Spanish or French. Neither the 2 or 3 got dubbed in other languages though
@@Helsinki40268 we had Portuguese subtitles for MP3, I think is for the better that 3 didn't had a Portuguese dub for the English speaking characters because a major plot point is the fact that max is like a fish out of the water there because the language barrier
10:29 you got this part wrong. He doesn't call 911, the phone rings and he answers. On the line it's Nicole Horne asking "Is this the Payne residence?". She clearly does that to ensure that he's home and ready to see what's waiting for him.
If you can take the drug and not lose your shit. You feel no fear, no hesitation and no pain. If it normal takes two bullets to kill you. It now requires four bullets to kill you. If your wearing body armor you are unkillable.
2:06 That was something about Max Payne 3 that I really appreciated. The language barrier that they put up for max and the player (unless they happen to speak Portuguese) really gave the story some depth and it made the situation feel real a lot of games and movies just have everyone speak English or they’ll make it very obvious what is being said but Max Payne 3 leaves you in the dark just as much as Max is. It gives that fish out of water story they’re telling legitimacy
Max Payne 2 is my favorite for nostalgic reasons but I really liked the third as well. I thought he was going to die in the game, it made him feel irreparably broken but he found peace at the end. I thought it was a good was to finish the trilogy and I really liked the Hoboken levels. It was a nice trip down memory lane.
Hoboken was a treat, with the iconic jacket to boot. It was a nice tribute, Max Payne 3 was overall a great game with a lot of love and passion for the source material. Only issue was the classic rockstar on rails linearity that detracts.
Max payne 3 is my favorite of them all, to me it is highly underrated and overlooked, it felt like it got set up to fail coming out between Red dead and GTA V 🤦🏽♂️
Excellent work. Easily on par with your Legacy of Kain documentary. I think one of the best touches in Max Payne 3 is the fact that he starts the game addicted to painkillers - presumably a consequence of having to eat so many to survive the first two games. It's a really clever blending of a game mechanic and the storyline.
By far the best retrospective I have ever watched, all the references and quotes, all the attention to the detail, you mentioned everything that needed to be noted. It was such a great watch to tune into. This kinda content means so much to gamers like myself, so mad support for all your hard work and effects @YourFavoriteSon. One of the best stories we our blessed with in video game media but I digress. This is one incredible watch nothing but love for the Payne
i've watched the legacy of kain retrospective quite a few times - you really have something with these types of videos man, please keep your head up and keep making great content like that video and this one. i've really enjoyed your stuff!!
Amazing documentary man. I absolutely love this series, and I think its atmosphere and tone has never been matched by any other game or series since then. Max Payne 1 is one of the best games ever made no doubt, nailed it in almost all aspects for its time, and its engine was ahead of competing ones
Max Payne 2 already gave Max Payne the ending he deserved. The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel when you beat the game on Dead on arrival. That is the true ending. ☝🏻😎
Agreed. MP2 had a real ending "I had a dream of my wife. She was dead. But it was all right." That is the moment Max was looking for. He might not have been happy again, but he finally got over it. And then in MP3 he is completely miserable again, and his entire character is like MP2 never happened. I loved the gameplay of MP3, but the story was more of a "what if" spinoff.
That ending is so beautiful I love the part of the music theme that is playing when they are looking into each others eyes it's puts that knot in your throat depending how much special thing the game means to you
Thank you for making a video on this! Max Payne has held a special place in my heart and I think that you did an amazing job at covering everything. Its sad that Late Goodbye had to be copyrighted :(( The song and Poets of the Fall did an amazing job encapsulating the story. Flat out became a fan when I heard that song from them. Additionally, *big* kudos for dedicating your time to creating this video. Hopefully it gets the views it deserves! Edit: Thank you for opening my eyes to the deeper image of this series, especially with Max Payne 3 since its the only game that really gave me really complicated feelings because the different setting put me off at first. I ended up loving it eventually, and now I love it more. And yes, I concur that Max should really rest now. However, I wish they could just fix their ports because they all have problems in terms of trying to run for many people, including me. I really wanted to play Part 3 again but it sadly just broke out of nowhere for me :(( there was no fix I could find for it either
Kinda deep But did anyone else play the trilogy, and find maxes trails and issues kind of insightful? It made me feel that whatever life throws at me, I can deal with it as long as I have a good set of witty one liners haha
I played MP 1&2 and I've seen the movie, but being reminded of them right after each other I have to wonder: how do you make a movie that bad based on Max Payne? Even if it was its own thing, it's absolutely terrible. I seriously had to look up if Uwe Boll was involved just now. Shockingly he was not.
This was an amazing video and I absolutely loved watching it. A little note on the endings of 2 however, I remember hearing somewhere that the ending where Mona survived is actually Canon. I don't really know if it's true but my sappy heart likes to think it is. Max has been through enough torment he deserves some brevity in the darkness. Either way, amazing work on the video my man and copyright be damned, it was still a good watch. Addendum: When you talked about what Late Goodbye meant to you it felt similar to how I felt about the game in general. My previous girlfriend took her own life about a year ago and I've been grieving ever since. When I played Max Payne 2, however, I really felt like I could put myself into Max's shoes, and it helped me with my own demons, and the final line about Max dreaming about his wife made me cry like a baby. I had the same feeling you did, just pertaining to my girlfriend. "If Max could get over losing his family, then I could get over my girlfriend." Just a thought I wanted to share. Thanks for listening son.
MP1 might be my favorite game ever, even after 2 and 3 added so many refinements gameplay wise. I love 1's tactical edge, bits of resource management, and how random enemies react. Every single playthrough is different, and loading levels for fun and experimentation is unedningly addictive. The narrative as well. I get the flack it's nightmare trip levels get from a game design perspective but they grip and immerse me so much. I get chills every time. Overall it's narrative, despite not being as deep as 2, never ceases to blow me away. And thank you for pointing out all the Norse references, I'd never noticed it all or made the connections. This is honestly the best MP retrospective on youtube.
Amazing video, really enjoyed the style haha, fit the topic perfectly. I loved the Max Payne games, they were/are so good. Great work, looking forward to the next video!
There is an AI upscaled texture pack for Max Payne 1 available if anyone is thinking of replaying that game, that's neat :) There are some sound issues with that game, but there's a quick patch for that too.
Thank you for making this, brother. Such a heartbreaking story that deserves to be told. Max's story still breaks my heart, both inside and out. I'm almost 40 now, and I still relate to the genuine sadness he feels for personal reasons. I'ma play it again now...
Did... Did you just refference my boy Take No Prisoners?! You earned yourself a sub for that alone. That you even know that game, since it was like a late 90's sleeper. I'm proud of you, son.
one of the biggest details that alot of people miss in max payne 3 is at the very end there is no monologue, almost as if max is finally living in the present and not the past.
Excellent review, son! I avoided MP3 due to reviews saying it was not a good Max Payne game. One of my biggest surprises ever happened when it became my favorite game of all time. Absolutely insane.
YourFavoriteSon- Nice parody of the graphic novel from 'Max Payne' at 48:05-49:02. It made me laugh when this video was first posted onto UA-cam in late-2021 & I still get a kick out of it, today...
"The Norse mythology references in Max Payne are subtle" and "the way weapons change the way you play was groundbreaking game design in 2001" are statements about the first game I _really_ have to disagree with. Max Payne practically beat you over the head with the references to Norse mythology, and ammunition supplies changing what weapons you used and pushing you towards certain playstyles had been a staple of FPS gameplay for, at least, as far back as Doom. What set the first game apart from its contemporaries was the bullet time mechanic helping the game emulate the style of Hong Kong action movies and The Matrix, and the way the game blended the noir genre with a mythological tale. Your theory about the "entire game being Ragnarock" isn't a theory, it's the the entire theme of the game. Max states at one point in the game that "There are only personal apocalypses" and, with all the connections to Norse mythology and Ragnarok, it's very clear that what's happening in the game is Max Payne's "personal apocalypse".
Fell asleep watching a Resident Evil video. Woke up at one point and I was midway in this video (from autoplay) and it had gotten into my dreams. Ended up watching the whole video later when I woke up, despite never playing a Max Payne game. Cheers mate, enjoyed it.
I think when a game reflects its themes and character development in gameplay and world building over the course of 3 games is nothing short of genius. Max Payne as a series is just different, it feels special. It feels like it crosses the thin line of gaming being engineered entertainment and artistic expression, it’s fucking great!!!
I got hyped after the Kain video that you would keep up with these long, retrospectives. It’s like an event for me now and I really hope we get many more of these.
I have been playing Alan Wake. Hearing you talk about Max Payne 1, I thought a bit heavy on the metaphors. And wouldn't ya know it, the Sheriff tells Alan Wake that she likes his writing, "a bit heavy on the metaphors but pretty good". And that fits so perfectly with Alan being a metaphor for the team of Remedy and the story being about writing.
Just found your channel thanks to the algorithm, love your content! I'm psyched you got picked up, gotta say tho I miss the hi dad intro x'3 I'd love to see some more of your video essay style content (like the more conceptual stuff like the anxiety vid) but honestly I just hope you are successful and happy with what you do
The hi dad will always be there in some form haha, and once I get some more time I'll probably be bringing back the video essays in some form, whether here or on patreon. Thanks for the support dad!
As a 8yr old kid in 2001 who threw a TV into a windowless storage basement at my mother's apt to play Max Payne until my eyes felt as if they were bleeding. Same with Max Payne 2 and waiting 2yrs after release of Max Payne 3 to finally get the chance to play it. I love this whole video, every bit of it was perfect for me. You took the feelings I felt about the series and put them into an explanation I understood and agreed with, thank you for the time you put into this.
Max Payne is seriously underrated!!! The storyline and everything is Oscar Worthy!!! Max Payne 1&2 we’re the best! Part 3 was ok, but it wasn’t on 1&2’s caliber
"... When Mona came into his life, he saw something. He saw the only woman that would ever fit the broken puzzle piece, that he had become. He saw someone, dysfunction, broken; just like him. He couldn't let that slip away..." 1:28:35 @YourFavoriteSon That was a damn good bit of noir dialogue bro! Found you last night, Sub'd!
Ok dude you need to do more videos when you can because this video was incredibly well articulated. Jesus man. I love this game. I have this game to this day. You speak as if you’re from this world, Max Payne. Well done sir.
Max Payne 1 and 3 are Masterpieces. I didn't get a chance to ever play 2. I wasn't really a fan honestly.. The art style had changed so much and the voice actor was different.. But now I may go back and actually play and beat it.. Im pretty sure I will..But the coolest thing about 3 is.. You didn't necessarily have to had played the 1st 2 games to enjoy the 3rd installment.. The game was directed so well and narrative is so masterfully told thru the eyes of the protagonist. As you go through his journey with him on this roller-coaster ride. You literally took the words out of my mouth, when it came to change. Referring to Max Payne 3's cover system.. When it comes to Max not having a death wish anymore and now being concern about his safety. It provides a greater sense of realism. Shout out to the rock band Health "Tears" is such a banger I can literally put that song on repeat. Awsome review 👌👍 of all 3 games..
James McCaffrey did the voice of Max Payne in all three games but they did change the character model for him.in the first game they used the directors face for the model because there budget was so low.after it was a hit they could afford to get a model that looks more fitting for the character.its a shame u didn't play the second one because that's easily the best one.3 didn't quite feel like a Max Payne game.it had it's moments but just didn't fit what had already been established in the first two
I say a nice little video reminder about one of my favorite games and I took note of it, soon as I remembered it was released, I went to your channel, did a quick scan of what your about and instantly subbed. Nice
As a person who adores the Legacy of Kain franchise, and doesn't give a shit about Max Payne: Damn, this is good. Keep it up. You're on to something here, son.
Likewise, didnt care about max payne but loved the dmc and legacy pf cain videos so subbed. I love the longform videos and the presentation. Not to mention you have a smidge of keanu reaves vocal manerisms that make it so satisfying to listen to
This was enjoyable from beginning to end. I doubt there is or will be a more thoughtful and insightful video not just on Max Payne the games, but Max Payne the character. Thanks dude, it was a pleasure watching this.
What is your favorite Max Payne game Dad? 🔫🔫🔫
The Fall of Max Payne
@@learnedeldersofteemo8917 good answer 😎
I remember being completely blown away by the first one when I was a teenager, but I played 2 the most. Never played Max Payne 3
Played through the first one, like, 20 times, maybe more. Half of it - in a row. I hated Max's new face and stupidly despised the sequel for it, but came to my senses later and started despising it for replacing the revenge plot with some banal love shenanigans. Then, I came to my senses again, realizing that it was a better fit, they couldn't just repeat the same premise, after all. And the gameplay was good. As for the third one, I was a little bit irritated with how often they took control over Max away from me to show their 'cinematics', but not too much. Anyway, I got too far on Hard, and around 7 hours in, the game became unbearably painful to play. I've swallowed a lot of one-shot headshots, but I couldn't make myself swallow my pride and switch to Normal, so I just stopped playing instead. Maybe I'll go back to it one day when I'm off the cooldown. Vented for a bit, sorry. Whew! Now that everyone knows but not necessarily cares what I think about the series, I can watch the video in peace.
I gotta go with Max Payne 1. The game I think of whenever I hear pills rattle or wake up to a crying baby.
Rest in Peace, James McCaffery. A iconic performance, and a hell of a guy.
I can't believe he died it sad
Yeah hell of a guy, and hell of an actor
RIP James McCaffery.
I always loved that the difficulty spike in max Payne never came from bullet sponges but the enemies becoming better equipped and smarter
Amazing
Max payne 1 last levels are quite challenging
I wish I could play MP1 for the first time again. I blaze through Hard Boiled, side rolls are too good.
That feeling when you walk into a new room for the first time and immediately get shot by a new weapon you didn’t know was in the game. Yeah…you will never play max payne for the first time again.
@@d117z It's actually like shit your pants scary when out of nowhere you eat buckshot point blank, red flash and you're dead.
When I first heard Max calling the sex talking line just so he can speak to someone, I literally busted in tears. He is such a tragic character. He won against the bad guys but lost himself and lost the battle with life.
This nigga crying over a video game character😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yeah there's even comic books about his childhood, his life as a NYPD officer, how he met Michelle, and his baby name.
The vocalist for Poets of the Fall. Marko Saaresto is Vlad in the comic cutscenes for the first game. Him and Sam Lake are childhood friends.
Wow I didn't know that!
Thats pretty cool
I can't believe The voice of Max Payne James McCaffrey have passed away........ I feel like New Remake of Max Payne ain't going to be the same without him in it.....
RIP James McCaffrey for ours childhood........ 💔
@@gordonramsay6286AI wouldn't feel very right and that would piss a lot of people off. I think them reusing voice lines from the original would be a safer route.
Maybe he already recorded all the voice lines, i hope so anyway
@@Aidan-mt6cl I hope so too. He was the soul of Max imo so it just wouldn't hit the same without him for me at least. RIP James McCaffrey ❤
I used to date a chick with the surname Payne and we would joke we would call our son Max, well 15 years later she had a baby and called him Maximilian, do not know if he has her surname tho 😅
Lol that’s amazing
@@Ascension7707 Yeah still makes me laugh!
y’all must’ve split on good terms 🫣
@@augustcziesch5556 Indeed we did, what worked was going no contact as we did still have mutual feelings for each other but basicly grew apart and wanted different things in life. We have talked twice in 16 years just by bumping into each other randomly (we live in separate countries now), We just hope each other are happy and have a hug goodbye.
That’s a good story
Max Payne 2 still got one the coolest reload animations in gaming history
Very true
It’s the best max Payne
Rest in peace James McCaffrey 💔 I’m replaying through the series and just started the first one the other day and finding this out bummed me out so bad but now I wanna play em even more.
I loved a lot of things about the video, but most of all - how you've pointed out that it's poetic, yet no words are wasted. This is the vital point and a great skill that distinguishes good writing from mere graphomania.
Dude, you absolutely deserve more viewers. I appreciate the hell out of your effort here!
Thanks Dad!
Soon
Came here to say this.
Your retrospectives on this and LoK deserve a lot more attention. Very thorough and well written!
this, I'm shilling his channel online lol
True
Not gonna lie; I literally cried when TEARS came on in Max Payne 3 because I knew exactly what it meant to Max in that moment.
Also: for context I lost my dad in like 2004 when I was 11 and when this game came out in 2012 I was barely a man who even knew how to grieve him and it was so sudden that the lyrics and his redemptive arc hit me like a ton of bricks.
I thought I was the only one, lost a lot in my life at the time I played it, something just clicked the song was perfectly placed in game and in life
But did the gunfight really mean anything to him?
@@godson200 yeah, he's killing the guy who killed someone he was supposed to protect. It's a mirror of him not being able to get revenge for his wife and daughter dying. It's a retread, but it just shows he hasn't really learned to move on.
@@Cixelated maybe yeah it is an mirror. But I kind of didn't feel max really cared about the brancos who he was supposed to defend and bodyguard. The emotion wasn't there. Yes there is a parallel to his wife but it just didn't give me the same feel.
Max just didn't care. His boss died. People related to the boss who were kidnapped either died or were irrelevant(paasos gf). The emotion kind of went missing in this story
And it could have been a lot better. Also when he figures out that dude is going to do organ harvesting he kills him by the end of that chapter. So that's that..but the final boss doesn't even mean that much to max. Typical of Max Payne tho. Even in the first game, Nicole Horne wasn't related at all untill the last 4-5 chapters.
Max Payne always tends to have a good plotline near the starting and rather abrupt and not so linear endings with the main characters being introduced near the ending
I'm glad they gave Max a good ending, he's been through so much, to see him actually walk off into the sunset was gratifying.
i heard they may be working on a max payne 4. Not sure how I feel about that.
@jamesesparza6893 I did as well I feel the same way as you, on one hand I'm interested to see how they'd handle him getting into another mad situation but on the other hand I like where MP3 left it and don't want them to ruin it.
Max Payne 2 was a good ending tho. He made peace with his past
@bipstymcbipste5641 Yea but was still tortured either way as he lost Mona, it completed the arc from Max Payne 100% with Woden etc but still didn't resolve anything with him as a character just left us wondering what would happen to him in the future, Max Payne 3 delved into what he'd been up to after two and was pretty much a strait drunk and pill addict still, doesn't seem like he resolved much tbh or found any sort of redemtion, MP3 had him go from shooting that wise guy and escaping New York to Brazil doing the jobs for the family and dealing with the events of MP3 and the whole conspiricy events that by the end of the game he gets that redemtion for himself, he's literally been through Hell three times by that point and barely survived, Max Payne 3 having some of the series rawest events, so it felt gratifying to see him finally at peace with himself, that's my take on it anyway, I think Max had killed so many people by that point he was fed up and tired and just wanted some peace.
@@biohazarduncovered He was already tormented with the ghosts of his past at the start of The Fall of Max Payne, what Rockstar did in 3 is basically the same schtick once more for no good narrative reason, other than to do another Max Payne video game, even though it wasn't really needed. The first two games complete his story and the ending for two, while bittersweet, has hope in the end for the main character with the whole "My wife's was dead, but it was alright" line in the comic panel. Sequel's main thematic crux is making Max face his trauma, to confront him with the ghost of his wife, his child and with everything he has done since their murder to pick up the pieces of his broken life and try to continue. The whole South America venture doesn't fit the noir aesthetic, nor does it add anything worthwhile to Max as a character or the series overall. It's just indicative of problems with the industry overall, we can never leave a good IP be, even if everything is settled, because if there's a money incentive to cash in on a cult classic, the industry will take it and try to profit off of it. And that's why I'm of the opinion that the third game was never needed, doesn't have a good reason to exist and that it is obsolete and should be ignored entirely. It is a good video game when taken in a general sense, it has competent design, it is a polished experience and has high production values, but does it really bring anything truly new and worthwhile to the title character and the series overall, does it build on past themes and see them coalesce in a memorable finale that ends it? I don't think so, it simply does what 2 did, but in South America, and since people can never get enough and consider their favorite games like they do their favorite beer in bars, they think it should be on constant demand whenever they want to have another one.
RIP James McCaffrey thanks for being there as max when no one else was 💖 your legacy will live in our hearts forever as Max.
Love how you guys also included the Max Payne movie. I feel like no one else includes alternate media (if it exists for said IP) in their game series reviews/retrospectives
Comprehensive is the name of the game
Civvie 11 reviewed it?
This game series has so much heart and soul that alot of games nowadays lack of. It's just non stop action, fun, and a amazing story
Max Payne was a passion project from start to finish. I really hope we go back to boundary pushing games someday, we've gotten really stagnant.
But legit, amazing work, and Synopsis of this legendary series. The movie... We don't talk about the movie. It's mind-blowing you've done a video on my favorite series, legacy of kain...then, one on my second favorite, max payne...now if your next video is on resident evil, you are absolutely my son without a doubt. Or stalking me... Either way, yolo amazing content, brother lol. Keep it up, and I look forward to more of your work!
"Hey Dad. It's me, your favorite son." I always feel like he's gonna follow this up with some bad news, like someone in the family has fallen ill.
Just finished Max 3. Great finale!
“Hey Dad, it’s me, your favorite son, uhhh mom died, I mean your first wife.”
Max Payne 2 is 1 of my favorite games of all time... The story, the twists and turns, the emotion. Just an awesome game. Great vid!
Thanks dad!
I love the way you articulate yourself. The way these retrospectives that integrate objectivity, visceral, thoughtful, and personal reaction and analysis that make these videos so captivating. I’m ringing the bell!!!
Max Payne Series is truly an example that shows that video games can have a magnificent narrative; the story and progression are developed so well that this character could easily be in a top 5 best video game character of all times... Or rather, it should be; for me, and I think that most people who actually enjoy games with good narratives (who unfortunately are not too many) will agree as well, the character of Max Payne in the last game was handled in a quite disappointing way. It's very different from the previous games, and not in very positive way as you say; to make it short, it feels like he's a copy of John McClane from Die Hard, but a depressive one, like a gloomy American Hero; and that's quite the opposite from before. So yeah, the game's fun, it's pretty good on its own, but it isn't a Max Payne game for me; I stay with Max Payne 2 ending... And the easter egg from Alan Wake.
Gotta disagree I think it’s logically the most realistic progression for max. Just wish it stayed in NY. But it was still great.
@@jtsmelik1574 yeah because who wouldn’t have a bit of depression after going through everything he went through!!
I disagree. It makes sense that Max would be in the place he's in after the first two games, and it's the best in the series.
Good to see ya winning, son
Thanks so much!
@@YourFavoriteSon1 of course! Keep it up
56:05 "What has Max Payne ever done, but bring Max Pain?" would've honestly been a better line at this point
This, just like the LoK retrospective and history, is absolutely incredible!! I can't imagine the amount of work you put into these videos, but it is VERY much appreciated. Keep it up, man!!
Fun fact, Max Payne 1 was one of the very first games fully dubbed in Brazilian Portuguese. 2 and 3 weren't dubbed, unfortunately.
I didn’t know there was a Portuguese dubbing for this game! The PS2 version gave a choice between English, French, Spanish or French. Neither the 2 or 3 got dubbed in other languages though
Kinda ironic that three takes place in Brazil
@@Helsinki40268Exactly.
@@Helsinki40268 we had Portuguese subtitles for MP3, I think is for the better that 3 didn't had a Portuguese dub for the English speaking characters because a major plot point is the fact that max is like a fish out of the water there because the language barrier
10:29 you got this part wrong. He doesn't call 911, the phone rings and he answers. On the line it's Nicole Horne asking "Is this the Payne residence?". She clearly does that to ensure that he's home and ready to see what's waiting for him.
You're gonna earn yourself a LOTTA subscribers in the future if you keep steering like this...Love your analytical lens Son
Facts! Impeccible research, and great narration I must say.
Yeah definitely feel like you're at the start of a big channel to come. Makes a dad proud
If you can take the drug and not lose your shit.
You feel no fear, no hesitation and no pain.
If it normal takes two bullets to kill you.
It now requires four bullets to kill you.
If your wearing body armor you are unkillable.
The HEALTH soundtrack really adds to the cinema of the game. I'm glad you mentioned it.
2:06 That was something about Max Payne 3 that I really appreciated. The language barrier that they put up for max and the player (unless they happen to speak Portuguese) really gave the story some depth and it made the situation feel real a lot of games and movies just have everyone speak English or they’ll make it very obvious what is being said but Max Payne 3 leaves you in the dark just as much as Max is. It gives that fish out of water story they’re telling legitimacy
It still amazes me how good max payne still looks 20 years later
Max Payne 2 is my favorite for nostalgic reasons but I really liked the third as well. I thought he was going to die in the game, it made him feel irreparably broken but he found peace at the end. I thought it was a good was to finish the trilogy and I really liked the Hoboken levels. It was a nice trip down memory lane.
Hoboken was a treat, with the iconic jacket to boot. It was a nice tribute, Max Payne 3 was overall a great game with a lot of love and passion for the source material. Only issue was the classic rockstar on rails linearity that detracts.
Max payne 3 is my favorite of them all, to me it is highly underrated and overlooked, it felt like it got set up to fail coming out between Red dead and GTA V 🤦🏽♂️
To me the third didn’t feel like Max Payne didn’t even look like him
@@karlo9572 ironic since James McCaffrey himself portrayed Max in mocap, likeness and, of course, voice.
Excellent work. Easily on par with your Legacy of Kain documentary.
I think one of the best touches in Max Payne 3 is the fact that he starts the game addicted to painkillers - presumably a consequence of having to eat so many to survive the first two games. It's a really clever blending of a game mechanic and the storyline.
This is just superb, you have made me care about a series of games I had previously not really cared about. Congratulations.
By far the best retrospective I have ever watched, all the references and quotes, all the attention to the detail, you mentioned everything that needed to be noted. It was such a great watch to tune into. This kinda content means so much to gamers like myself, so mad support for all your hard work and effects @YourFavoriteSon. One of the best stories we our blessed with in video game media but I digress. This is one incredible watch nothing but love for the Payne
Thanks dad!
@@YourFavoriteSon1 this whole project was amazing man, it deff hit hard and very relatable, so keep up the amazing vids man. :D
Such an awesome video! Your going to be the next big thing in this genre. Thank you for taking the time to go back and go over such an amazing series!
i've watched the legacy of kain retrospective quite a few times - you really have something with these types of videos man, please keep your head up and keep making great content like that video and this one. i've really enjoyed your stuff!!
Amazing documentary man. I absolutely love this series, and I think its atmosphere and tone has never been matched by any other game or series since then. Max Payne 1 is one of the best games ever made no doubt, nailed it in almost all aspects for its time, and its engine was ahead of competing ones
R.I.P JAMES MCCAFFREY AKA MAX PAYNE
Max Payne 2 already gave Max Payne the ending he deserved.
The proverbial light at the end of the tunnel when you beat the game on Dead on arrival.
That is the true ending.
☝🏻😎
When mona survives you feel complete happiness for the first time in the game.
Agreed. MP2 had a real ending "I had a dream of my wife. She was dead. But it was all right." That is the moment Max was looking for. He might not have been happy again, but he finally got over it. And then in MP3 he is completely miserable again, and his entire character is like MP2 never happened. I loved the gameplay of MP3, but the story was more of a "what if" spinoff.
That ending is so beautiful I love the part of the music theme that is playing when they are looking into each others eyes it's puts that knot in your throat depending how much special thing the game means to you
Max payne 3 was just a dream
Gotta say, I agree. After 2, his story was done. His arc was done.
Thank you for making a video on this! Max Payne has held a special place in my heart and I think that you did an amazing job at covering everything. Its sad that Late Goodbye had to be copyrighted :(( The song and Poets of the Fall did an amazing job encapsulating the story. Flat out became a fan when I heard that song from them. Additionally, *big* kudos for dedicating your time to creating this video. Hopefully it gets the views it deserves!
Edit: Thank you for opening my eyes to the deeper image of this series, especially with Max Payne 3 since its the only game that really gave me really complicated feelings because the different setting put me off at first. I ended up loving it eventually, and now I love it more. And yes, I concur that Max should really rest now. However, I wish they could just fix their ports because they all have problems in terms of trying to run for many people, including me. I really wanted to play Part 3 again but it sadly just broke out of nowhere for me :(( there was no fix I could find for it either
Man, you couldn't have picked a better series to cover. You are my favorite son after all
Kinda deep
But did anyone else play the trilogy, and find maxes trails and issues kind of insightful?
It made me feel that whatever life throws at me, I can deal with it as long as I have a good set of witty one liners haha
Rip 🙏🏽 James McCaffrey
RIP James McCaffery
Hey son! Been awhile since me and your mother have seen ya but glad you stopped by today. We love ya and keep doing what you are doing 👏 🧡
I played MP 1&2 and I've seen the movie, but being reminded of them right after each other I have to wonder: how do you make a movie that bad based on Max Payne? Even if it was its own thing, it's absolutely terrible. I seriously had to look up if Uwe Boll was involved just now. Shockingly he was not.
A surprisingly faithful adaptation from Uwe Bill was his Postal (2007) movie
UA-cam has recommended me a string of Max Payne retrospectives, and yours is by far the best.
"You'll walk with a limp" is great line.
This was an amazing video and I absolutely loved watching it. A little note on the endings of 2 however, I remember hearing somewhere that the ending where Mona survived is actually Canon. I don't really know if it's true but my sappy heart likes to think it is. Max has been through enough torment he deserves some brevity in the darkness. Either way, amazing work on the video my man and copyright be damned, it was still a good watch.
Addendum: When you talked about what Late Goodbye meant to you it felt similar to how I felt about the game in general. My previous girlfriend took her own life about a year ago and I've been grieving ever since. When I played Max Payne 2, however, I really felt like I could put myself into Max's shoes, and it helped me with my own demons, and the final line about Max dreaming about his wife made me cry like a baby. I had the same feeling you did, just pertaining to my girlfriend. "If Max could get over losing his family, then I could get over my girlfriend." Just a thought I wanted to share. Thanks for listening son.
Excellent work these games have always meant a lot to me and you did then justice! Looking forward to more of your content.
MP1 might be my favorite game ever, even after 2 and 3 added so many refinements gameplay wise. I love 1's tactical edge, bits of resource management, and how random enemies react. Every single playthrough is different, and loading levels for fun and experimentation is unedningly addictive. The narrative as well. I get the flack it's nightmare trip levels get from a game design perspective but they grip and immerse me so much. I get chills every time. Overall it's narrative, despite not being as deep as 2, never ceases to blow me away.
And thank you for pointing out all the Norse references, I'd never noticed it all or made the connections. This is honestly the best MP retrospective on youtube.
This is great, you have a new sub. I don’t know of many 20 year old games that have aged this well, in the case of the first MP.
Amazing video, really enjoyed the style haha, fit the topic perfectly. I loved the Max Payne games, they were/are so good. Great work, looking forward to the next video!
I see absolutely huge growth in the future for this channel.
" "Nothing is cliche when it is happening to you." I could unpack that line for an hour." " - pure gold
Very good stuff, just finished your LOK retro, and as a hard core fan of LOK, you did it justice my man. Keep these up !
cool videos dude, especially the last few, good work in general. audio balance and levels are nice, the voice work u do is solid. keep it up.
There is an AI upscaled texture pack for Max Payne 1 available if anyone is thinking of replaying that game, that's neat :) There are some sound issues with that game, but there's a quick patch for that too.
Thank you for making this, brother. Such a heartbreaking story that deserves to be told. Max's story still breaks my heart, both inside and out. I'm almost 40 now, and I still relate to the genuine sadness he feels for personal reasons. I'ma play it again now...
Did... Did you just refference my boy Take No Prisoners?! You earned yourself a sub for that alone. That you even know that game, since it was like a late 90's sleeper. I'm proud of you, son.
one of the biggest details that alot of people miss in max payne 3 is at the very end there is no monologue, almost as if max is finally living in the present and not the past.
Replayed Max Payne a couple of weeks ago, It’s a very melancholic experience that deserves its flowers, It’s definitely a classic.
Excellent review, son!
I avoided MP3 due to reviews saying it was not a good Max Payne game. One of my biggest surprises ever happened when it became my favorite game of all time.
Absolutely insane.
Great job son, couldn't believe this was a small channel untill i double checked. Good luck with your journey. This one was awesome
Not for long 😎
YourFavoriteSon- Nice parody of the graphic novel from 'Max Payne' at 48:05-49:02.
It made me laugh when this video was first posted onto UA-cam in late-2021 & I still get a kick out of it, today...
Brilliant job on the video, throughly enjoyed the review of this classic series, keep it up 👍
Seriously bro, well done on this video. I really appreciate the hard work you’ve put into this. 10/10 🙏🏾🔥
"The Norse mythology references in Max Payne are subtle" and "the way weapons change the way you play was groundbreaking game design in 2001" are statements about the first game I _really_ have to disagree with. Max Payne practically beat you over the head with the references to Norse mythology, and ammunition supplies changing what weapons you used and pushing you towards certain playstyles had been a staple of FPS gameplay for, at least, as far back as Doom. What set the first game apart from its contemporaries was the bullet time mechanic helping the game emulate the style of Hong Kong action movies and The Matrix, and the way the game blended the noir genre with a mythological tale.
Your theory about the "entire game being Ragnarock" isn't a theory, it's the the entire theme of the game. Max states at one point in the game that "There are only personal apocalypses" and, with all the connections to Norse mythology and Ragnarok, it's very clear that what's happening in the game is Max Payne's "personal apocalypse".
Fell asleep watching a Resident Evil video. Woke up at one point and I was midway in this video (from autoplay) and it had gotten into my dreams. Ended up watching the whole video later when I woke up, despite never playing a Max Payne game. Cheers mate, enjoyed it.
I think when a game reflects its themes and character development in gameplay and world building over the course of 3 games is nothing short of genius.
Max Payne as a series is just different, it feels special. It feels like it crosses the thin line of gaming being engineered entertainment and artistic expression, it’s fucking great!!!
Couldn't agree more dad!
I got hyped after the Kain video that you would keep up with these long, retrospectives. It’s like an event for me now and I really hope we get many more of these.
you keep putting out content like this and your bound to explode. Great video!!!
the legacy of kain video was superb, but a MAX PAYNE video? yeah you have earned my sub! great work man!
Amazing work that you put here. I frickin’ love MP3
2:29:16 Son, your Max Payne statue is missing a glock in his right hand.
Wow! I just discovered your legacy of Kain and Max Payne video. Keep up the great job on these obscure video game retrospectives.
I have been playing Alan Wake. Hearing you talk about Max Payne 1, I thought a bit heavy on the metaphors. And wouldn't ya know it, the Sheriff tells Alan Wake that she likes his writing, "a bit heavy on the metaphors but pretty good". And that fits so perfectly with Alan being a metaphor for the team of Remedy and the story being about writing.
Holy shit, another banger my dude. Keep the good work
I love Max Payne and this guys commentary so much, Im on my 5th rewatch of this and it still punches like a boxer in his prime.
This came up so I subbed. Your take on legacy of kain was awesome. I'll watch it again, most probably another 5 times. Thanks
Just finished his lok retrospective and it was pure gold
@@martinpadilla5224 indeed, it certainly is.
Got all the way though a couple of videos, your work is awesome, keep it up dude!
Son, we're proud of you. Stay awesome, and keep doing what you're doing.
Cheers!
I enjoy all of these cause I’m terrified of actually playing but want to experience the play through, the story and the retrospectives - thank youuuu
Just found your channel thanks to the algorithm, love your content! I'm psyched you got picked up, gotta say tho I miss the hi dad intro x'3 I'd love to see some more of your video essay style content (like the more conceptual stuff like the anxiety vid) but honestly I just hope you are successful and happy with what you do
The hi dad will always be there in some form haha, and once I get some more time I'll probably be bringing back the video essays in some form, whether here or on patreon. Thanks for the support dad!
As a 8yr old kid in 2001 who threw a TV into a windowless storage basement at my mother's apt to play Max Payne until my eyes felt as if they were bleeding. Same with Max Payne 2 and waiting 2yrs after release of Max Payne 3 to finally get the chance to play it. I love this whole video, every bit of it was perfect for me. You took the feelings I felt about the series and put them into an explanation I understood and agreed with, thank you for the time you put into this.
Nice
Max Payne is seriously underrated!!! The storyline and everything is Oscar Worthy!!! Max Payne 1&2 we’re the best! Part 3 was ok, but it wasn’t on 1&2’s caliber
"... When Mona came into his life, he saw something. He saw the only woman that would ever fit the broken puzzle piece, that he had become. He saw someone, dysfunction, broken; just like him. He couldn't let that slip away..."
1:28:35
@YourFavoriteSon That was a damn good bit of noir dialogue bro! Found you last night, Sub'd!
Another banger. Good job son. Proud of you.
It was avgn but now I fall asleep to your videos. Trust me it's a great honor
Dad: "Are you winning son?"
Son: *does awesome videos about very beloved franchises of mine*
Dad: "I'm very proud of you"
My dude, your channel its the best,hands down. I hope you continue growing you deserve it
Rip James Mcaffery
Ok dude you need to do more videos when you can because this video was incredibly well articulated. Jesus man. I love this game. I have this game to this day. You speak as if you’re from this world, Max Payne. Well done sir.
Thanks! Next one is on the way.
@@YourFavoriteSon1 well sir you earned yourself another subscriber. Thank you.
Max Payne 1 and 3 are Masterpieces. I didn't get a chance to ever play 2. I wasn't really a fan honestly.. The art style had changed so much and the voice actor was different.. But now I may go back and actually play and beat it.. Im pretty sure I will..But the coolest thing about 3 is.. You didn't necessarily have to had played the 1st 2 games to enjoy the 3rd installment.. The game was directed so well and narrative is so masterfully told thru the eyes of the protagonist. As you go through his journey with him on this roller-coaster ride. You literally took the words out of my mouth, when it came to change. Referring to Max Payne 3's cover system.. When it comes to Max not having a death wish anymore and now being concern about his safety. It provides a greater sense of realism. Shout out to the rock band Health
"Tears" is such a banger I can literally put that song on repeat.
Awsome review 👌👍 of all 3 games..
James McCaffrey did the voice of Max Payne in all three games but they did change the character model for him.in the first game they used the directors face for the model because there budget was so low.after it was a hit they could afford to get a model that looks more fitting for the character.its a shame u didn't play the second one because that's easily the best one.3 didn't quite feel like a Max Payne game.it had it's moments but just didn't fit what had already been established in the first two
The only flaw of MP2 is being too short. Game's amazing just like the other two
I say a nice little video reminder about one of my favorite games and I took note of it, soon as I remembered it was released, I went to your channel, did a quick scan of what your about and instantly subbed. Nice
As a person who adores the Legacy of Kain franchise, and doesn't give a shit about Max Payne:
Damn, this is good.
Keep it up. You're on to something here, son.
Glad you enjoyed the format! I hope to perfect it in the future.
Likewise, didnt care about max payne but loved the dmc and legacy pf cain videos so subbed. I love the longform videos and the presentation. Not to mention you have a smidge of keanu reaves vocal manerisms that make it so satisfying to listen to
@@farguc I can't say I've ever gotten the kenau reeves compliment, but I'll take it 😂
Quickly becoming my fav long form content creator.
I love that song tears. I actually play that whole part mostly in infinite bullet time while gunning down everyone. Lol. It's just cinematic lol
This was enjoyable from beginning to end. I doubt there is or will be a more thoughtful and insightful video not just on Max Payne the games, but Max Payne the character. Thanks dude, it was a pleasure watching this.
Goddamn beautiful. Thank you for your hard work on this magnificent series!