Max Payne

Max Payne is a neo-noir third-person shooter video game series developed by Remedy Entertainment (Max Payne and Max Payne 2) and Rockstar Studios (Max Payne 3). The series is named after its protagonist, Max Payne, a New York City police detective turned vigilante after his family was murdered by drug addicts. The series' first and second installments were written by Sam Lake, while Max Payne 3 was primarily written by Rockstar Games' Dan Houser.

This article is about the video game series. For other uses, see Max Payne (disambiguation).

Max Payne
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Developer(s)Remedy Entertainment (2001–2003; 2022–present)
Rockstar Studios (2012)
Publisher(s)Gathering of Developers (2001, PC)
Rockstar Games
Writer(s)Sam Lake (1–2)
Dan Houser (3)
Michael Unsworth (3)
Rupert Humphries (3)
Composer(s)Kärtsy Hatakka (1–2)
Kimmo Kajasto (1–2)
Perttu Kivilaakso (2)
Health (3)
Platform(s)
First releaseMax Payne
July 23, 2001
Latest releaseMax Payne 3
May 15, 2012

The first game of the series, Max Payne, was released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows and in 2002 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Apple Macintosh; a different version of the game was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. A sequel entitled Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne was released in 2003 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and Microsoft Windows. In 2008, a movie adaptation, loosely based on the original game, entitled Max Payne, was released, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis in the roles of Max Payne and Mona Sax, respectively. Max Payne 3 was developed by Rockstar Studios and released on May 15, 2012, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and on June 1, 2012, for Microsoft Windows.

On November 15, 2021, Microsoft announced that in celebration of 20 years of Xbox, they would be adding over 70 more games to their backwards compatibility program. Headlining these games was the Max Payne trilogy, making the games available to play on Microsoft's Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S[1]

The franchise is notable for its use of "bullet time" in action sequences, as well as being positively received by critics, although Max Payne 2's sales were considered underwhelming.[2][3] As of 2011, the Max Payne franchise has sold over 7.5 million copies.[4] The film rendition received negative reviews but was commercially successful.[5]

On April 6, 2022, Remedy announced that a remake of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 is in development, in a development agreement with Rockstar Games.[6] The two games will be released as a single title.

Games
Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Max Payne (GBA) 78[7]
(PC) 89[8]
(PS2) 80[9]
(Xbox) 89[10]
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (PC) 86[11]
(PS2) 73[12]
(Xbox) 84[13]
Max Payne 3 (PC) 87[14]
(PS3) 87[15]
(X360) 86[16]

Max Payne
Main article: Max Payne (video game)

Renegade DEA agent and former NYPD officer Max Payne attempts to hunt down the ones responsible for murdering his wife and child, as well as framing him for the murder of his NYPD partner, Alex Balder. As the story unfolds, he gains a number of "allies", including Vladimir Lem (a suave, old-fashioned Russian mobster) and Mona Sax (a vigilante who is out to avenge the death of her twin sister) and uncovers a major conspiracy involving the trafficking of a narcotic called V, or Valkyr—after the mythological figures in Norse mythology—which is somehow connected to the death of Max's family.

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Main article: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Two years after the first game, Max Payne has rejoined the NYPD and has been cleared of the charges for his killing spree thanks to his connection to Senator Alfred Woden, the leader of a secret society called the Inner Circle. During a routine murder investigation, Max finds himself face-to-face with the fugitive Mona Sax, who reluctantly joins him in his investigation. As the two work together to uncover the truth, they begin to develop feelings for each other, and come across another major conspiracy, which this time involves Vladmir Lem, the Italian Mob, and the Inner Circle.

Max Payne 3
Main article: Max Payne 3

Nine years after the second game, Max Payne has left New York and is working on a private security detail in São Paulo, Brazil. When the wife of his employer is kidnapped by a local street gang, Max and his old friend Raul Passos join forces in an attempt to rescue her, igniting a war that will lead them to confront a larger conspiracy.[17]

Additional titles

Remedy, with funding from Rockstar who holds the rights to the series, announced plans to remake Max Payne and Max Payne 2 for personal computers, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S in April 2022. At the time of the announcement, the remakes were at an early development state, and no planned release date was announced.[18] It was confirmed that the two games will be released as a single title.[19]

Film adaptation
Main article: Max Payne (film)

Early in 2003, it was confirmed that 20th Century Fox had bought the rights to adapt the game to film.[20] The Max Payne movie went into production in 2008 and was directed by John Moore. The movie was produced by Collision Entertainment and Firm Films in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[21] Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis[22] play the roles of Max Payne and Mona Sax respectively.[23] Beau Bridges, Chris O'Donnell, Nelly Furtado and Ludacris have roles as B.B. Hensley, Jason Colvin, Christa Balder and Jim Bravura respectively.[24] On July 10, 2008, a teaser trailer was released, featuring an instrumental version of the Marilyn Manson song, "If I Was Your Vampire".[25] The film was released to theaters in the U.S. on October 17, 2008, with a PG-13 rating.[26] While it was ranked first on its opening weekend, grossing US$18 million at the box office,[27] the film received mainly negative reviews, having a 16% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 129 reviews.[28] In June 2022, 20th Century Studios announced that a Max Payne reboot movie is in development.[29]

Characters

Note: A gray cell indicates that the character does not appear in that medium.

Character Games Film
Max Payne Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Max Payne 3 Max Payne
2001 2003 2012 2008
Cast
Max Payne James McCaffrey Mark Wahlberg
Mona Sax Julia Murney Wendy Hoopes Mila Kunis
Vladimir Lem Dominic Hawksley Jonathan Davis  
Senator Alfred Woden John Randolph Jones John Braden John Randolph Jones  
Vinnie Gognitti Joe Dallo Fred Berman  
Lt. Jim Bravura Peter Appel Vince Viverito   Ludacris
Nicole Horne Jane Gennaro Kate Burton
Michelle Payne Haviland Morris Character is silent   Marianthi Evans
Alex Balder Chris Philips   Donal Logue
B.B. Hensley Adam Grupper   Beau Bridges
Don Angelo Punchinello Joe Ragno   Joe Ragno  
Jack Lupino Jeff Gurner   Jeff Gurner Amaury Nolasco
Joey & Virgilio Finito Tye Reign  
Rico Muerte Joe Maruzzo  
Candy Dawn Joanie Ellen  
Frankie "The Bat" Niagara Bruce Kronenberg  
Boris Dime Peter Appel  
Vince Mugnaio Character is silent  
Pilate "Big Brother" Providence Character is silent  
Joe "Deadpan" Salem Character is silent  
Lisa Punchinello / Natasha Sax Character is silent   Olga Kurylenko
Det. Valerie Winterson   Jennifer Server  
Kaufman   Gregory Sims  
Mike "The Cowboy"   Gary Yudman  
Annie Finn   Kimberly Howard  
Senator Sebastian Gates   Character is silent  
Corcoran   Character is silent  
Raul Passos   Julian Dean  
Rodrigo Branco   Frank Rodriguez  
Victor Branco   Robert Montano  
Marcelo Branco   Dillon Porter  
Fabiana Branco   Benedita Aires Pereira  
Giovanna Taveres   Shirley Rumierk  
Wilson Da Silva   Stephen Girasuolo  
Serrano   Babs Olusanmokun  
Armando Becker   Bira Castro  
Álvaro Neves   Gil Cardoso  
Bachmeyer   Gilberto Romagnolo  
Milo Rego   Daniel Bittencourt  
Anthony DeMarco   Ray Iannicelli  
Tony DeMarco   Charlie Semine  
Arthur Fischer   Marconi de Morais  
Anders Detling   Wayne Duvall  
Jason Colvin   Chris O'Donnell
Christa Balder   Nelly Furtado
Owen Green   Joel Gordon
Lincoln DeNeuf   Jamie Hector
Tattoo Artist   Stephen R. Hart

References
  1. "Celebrate 20 years of Xbox with over 70 new Backward Compatible Games". Xbox Wire. November 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  2. "Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  3. "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  4. Orland, Kyle (September 14, 2011). "Grand Theft Auto IV Passes 22M Shipped, Franchise Above 114M". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  5. "Film: Max Payne on Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  6. "Remedy Entertainment Enters Agreement with Rockstar Games for New Max Payne 1&2 Project". Remedy Entertainment. April 6, 2022. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  7. "Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  8. "Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 25, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  9. "Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 31, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  10. "Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  11. "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  12. "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  13. "Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  14. "Max Payne 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  15. "Max Payne 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  16. "Max Payne 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  17. "Max Payne 3 Announced!". RockstarWatch.net. March 23, 2009. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2009.
  18. Mackovech, Sam (April 6, 2022). "Rockstar, Remedy shake hands on new Max Payne 1+2 remaster series". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  19. Peters, Jay (April 6, 2022). "Max Payne remakes are on the way". The Verge. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  20. IGN Filmforce (June 27, 2005). "Max Payne Movie". IGN. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  21. "Max Payne Movie Update". IGN. October 31, 2007. Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  22. Fleming, Michael (March 9, 2008). "Killer role for Kunis in 'Max Payne". Variety. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
  23. Fleming, Michael (November 8, 2007). "Mark Wahlberg to star in 'Max'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  24. "Max Payne (2008) – Cast and Credits – Yahoo! Movies". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  25. "First Max Payne Movie Trailer Released". Shacknews. July 10, 2008. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
  26. GamePro, Issue #234, March 2008. pg. 30
  27. "Weekend Box Office Results from 10/17 to 10/19". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  28. Max Payne Movie Reviews Archived August 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on April 30, 2011.
  29. Williams, Caleb (June 16, 2022). "20th Century Studios Puts A 'Max Payne' Reboot Project Into Early Development". Knightedge Media. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
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