Rockstar Games
Max Payne 3

I was insanely waiting for Max Payne 3. I had been eagerly anticipating it since the day Rockstar showed the first screenshots.

Yes, that's when I started drooling like a hungry wolf.

I pre-ordered it months in advance and bought it, of course, on "day 1".

On the day of its release, I was as excited as a 15-year-old at a Robbie Williams concert, or well, who the hell do teenage girls like now? (It’s been a while since I bought “Cioè”, update me). Anyway, I opened the package, slid it into the... Play3 and, damn it, we're off.

Hyper-nostalgic intro video for long-time fans. I almost have tears in my eyes: "You're back, you old bastard, Max Payne."

I play for a solid hour. And....

And something's not right.

I'm disappointed.

Disappointed like when your favorite stoner/doom/sludge band releases an album of cartoon theme songs.

I have a damn bitter taste in my mouth.

Beautiful, but I don't like it!

(3 months later)

I think Max Payne 3 is a masterpiece. An excellent shooter from every perspective and probably the game I will love the most this year (Hitman allowing, another series that makes me drool).

To come to this conclusion I had to:

- finish the game

- play it on all difficulties

- do the arcade modes

- collect as many trophies as possible (I know, I'm a bloody nerd).

And through all of that, I wasn’t bored for a single minute, thanks to an outstanding gameplay experience.

But why was I so disappointed initially?

Because not hearing Meluzzi's voice acting hurts every fan of the series a bit.

Because they introduced a cover system that didn't exist in previous installments.

Because Max is terribly aged and slow-moving (the character's stiffness eventually makes sense, but initially, it's a nightmare).

Because the cutscenes have replaced the comics.

Because Brazil doesn't have anything to do with the noir atmospheres.

There's no more night, there's no more snow (except in a couple of levels, which are my favorites).

In short, because Rockstar turned it into a Rockstar game.

And that's the point: it's a new beginning.

A masterpiece if taken as is, a disappointment if taken as a pure Max Payne.

I've embraced the change.

And this is the key phrase to the entire change, said by the protagonist towards the end: "It doesn't make a difference whether you die in the snow or in the sun..."

Take it or leave it.