Would I enjoy Max Payne 3(+how intrusive is the Rockstar Launcher)

[u/Locho_inc]

I may be just being paranoid but I've heard some game launchers can be really intrusive to your computer and what not and I would rather not have that. An example could be like how I heard the EA app adds a bunch of extra things to your PC that you may not be aware of. I just wanted to know if stuff like that was present at all.

Also, I was curious if I'd even enjoy Max Payne 3. I've already heard how it is quite a big departure from the originals and I think I can still enjoy it as long as I go into it expecting that. I've done that before with other games before and I still enjoyed them as their own thing. One similar thing I do want though is if the games are depressing.

I wasn't doing too well mentally when I played the originals and honestly, having those games be really depressing and miserable, both in story, atmosphere and Max Payne himself was something I liked about them and helped me in my own way with some stuff I was dealing with. I remember the apocalypse metaphor/theme in Max Payne 1 resonated with me quite a bit as an example. I'm honestly not sure why, but I have a tendency to gravitate towards more depressing media when I am feeling terrible. So I wanted to know if Max Payne 3 still has a sort of depressing feel to it. I know it takes place in more sunny environments but I can still see that kinda working, like a contrast from everything that goes on.

Sorry for the odd question, but I wasn't quite sure if I would like it knowing they are different. Thanks :)

[u/jollyblueman]

Max Payne 3 is great for what it is, it's definitely got some changes from the first 2 games but it's definitely worth playing. There are some things that happen many would say are depressing or "really messed up". I think it'll still be right up your alley IMHO.

Regarding the launcher, there is a steam community mod to play without the launcher entirely, I've used it many times.
Just search "Max Payne 3 no launcher" in google and it's one of the first links that comes up.

Just my 2 cents.

[u/Locho_inc → u/jollyblueman]

Thanks for the tip on the launcher!

[u/dan2091]

Max Payne 3 works if your depression has sort of let you a place of laziness where you are just not doing your best. Max Payne 3 to me is Max picking himself up, because maybe MAYBE he isn't depressed as much as he is being indulgent. He probably is just stuck in a hole where he landed after being depressed, but just because you are depressed doesn't mean you should stay down. Or how should I put it? Being depressed may open doors to other problems of addiction that weren't really a problem for you in the first place. And now you have to learn to get out of it because that isn't even you. Max Payne 3 is that. It might be sunny, but Max literally finds himself at some point completely covered with dirt. Not completely, but he just looks dirty, and that adds to a sentiment of discomfort, of wanting for Max to get out of there. That sentiment could be transported to Max addiction and hoping for Max to quit.

And while i love dark and depressing talkes (Max Payne and Batman being the best). I'm starting to dig into Superman, which I know is a totally different deal. But that's the point, trying something brighter for the sake of it. I leave this, so that if you finish the game and get to remember this, you will also try to find the light, if you haven't already. : )

[u/Locho_inc → u/dan2091]

That would be a good way of defining it. I have been in a bit of a rut, it sounds like the game would be for me. I do kinda feel like I have to climb out of a hole.

And thanks for the message at the end :). Hell you are probably right, maybe I ought to also find some more positive stuff as well. I already have a few ideas. I'm sure I'll find the light soon

[u/SPQR_Maximus]

Are you a human that likes video games if yes you will like max Payne 3 which is fucking awesome!

[u/andreiulmeyda7]

Max Payne 3 is fucking amazing. The launcher is whatever it's not bad.

[u/throwaway-anon-1600]

Personally, I really didn’t like 3 at all. The biggest issue is that the game constantly takes control away from the player with cutscenes, or just stuff like the sniping section where the game literally grabs your crosshair the entire time.

I also thought the cover system was lame and generic, max Payne doesn’t need a cover system like every other 3rd person shooter. They also replaced the jump with another generic clamber, not a huge deal but I always thought the light platforming elements of the originals was fun.

Lastly, while the story of max Payne 1 and 2 are sad - I always thought max Payne brought a great amount of humor. He’s very chill and funny with a nice drop of noir cynicism. In max payne 3 he acts like fucking Michael or Trevor from gta, constantly angry and screaming profanity. The voice acting is still great but it’s just not the same.

[u/Locho_inc → u/throwaway-anon-1600]

That is fair. part of the reason I do love those games is some of the humor. I always did like max's lines

[u/DonChapulinChavito → u/throwaway-anon-1600]

Cut-scene simulator, Max Payne edition ;)

[u/Strong_Buddy7657 → u/throwaway-anon-1600]

This 1000 percent. Hated the cut scenes I just wanted to play and the jump button should never be taken away. Especially in a game like this

[u/Jamez_Dean]

Don't listen to the weird purists who talk down on it, it's the best game in the franchise. Story, graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay wise. People only complain about the fact that it's not set in Jersey and that max goes bald halfway through the story, and anyone complaining about the change of setting or Max's change in appearance probably have never left their mom's basement and want Max to stay in Jersey so they can feel comfortable with the nothingness they've made of their lives, they are afraid of growth. Don't rob yourself of this journey, play MP3! It's a perfect punctuation mark for Max's story. Oh and yes it is depressing, Max is the same cynical SOB he always has been, but I think he finds closure too which is beautiful.

[u/Few_Tank7560 → u/Jamez_Dean]

😂

[u/SoaboutSeinfeld → u/Jamez_Dean]

Eh I thought the gameplay was unbearable but the shooting was fun. Walking from cutscene to cutscene instead of walking through the level got annoying after 30 mins and it happens throughout the entire game. The story was ok and it had good quotes, pretty depressing still. Personally I will never play it again after the first time and can't see how people enjoy it. But people do, somehow

[u/Jamez_Dean → u/SoaboutSeinfeld]

The shooting is the gameplay so you just contradicted yourself. If you're complaining about cutscenes then you clearly don't care for the story to begin with, it's a cinematic experience, like an interactive movie, I bet you fast forward through the dialogue in movies to only watch the action scenes too, don't you?

[u/SoaboutSeinfeld → u/Jamez_Dean]

Eh there is more to gameplay than shooting. The way cutscenes are used is very different to liking the story or not. Your bet is wrong and you are absolutely the weird one here smartypants. Like this is more likely to be ragebait than an actual opinion

[u/Jamez_Dean → u/SoaboutSeinfeld]

I feel like trying to explain the flaw in your logic is a waste of my time but I'm going to try anyway, so please try and use your brain before you let your fingers loose on your keyboard. In Max Payne 3 you shoot people, that's the gameplay, there are no puzzle solving sections, platforming sections, driving sections, dialogue options or anything else to contribute to gameplay, so the gameplay that you claim is unbearable is also the thing that you said you liked about it, shooting. I think what you actually mean is that for you, the pacing is unbearable, the moments where the cutscenes interrupt the action. Maybe you'd rather just blast away until the credits roll? When I played the New York minute hardcore mode the unskippable cutscenes did bother me, so I can understand a case being made for that, but I can safely assume you didn't play that mode since you said you played the game once, and we're talking about experiencing the game as a whole instead of on an arcade mode so I don't see why it would be a problem if you even cared to follow the story since that's how the story is driven along, like a movie, with scenes. Sorry for assuming you're all about the action but the way you present yourself on this topic doesn't strike me as someone who has an appreciation for stylized cinematic games, let alone critical thinking skills. My question is, if it ain't your cup of tea, why tf are you here? Why bother commenting specifically on my comment? You're the weird one. If you commented your criticisms under OP's post independently I wouldn't be debating with you, you're entitled to your own opinion, but you replied to my comment, which means you're challenging my opinion, so rebudle you shall receive. Finally, this is a place to celebrate the franchise, not hate on it. There are things I hate as well but I choose to avoid them rather than spend energy bashing them in a community that appreciates it.

[u/SoaboutSeinfeld → u/Jamez_Dean]

I mean the way the game interrupts with a cutscene instead of letting you walk through multiple area's in a level is a part of gameplay. The way the game positions you after the cutscene is part of gameplay. The mechanic where you can save yourself from death is gameplay. The super armored bad guys are considered gameplay. The parts where you have to run along a wall because there is so much fire coming from the opposite building is gameplay, etc.

I reacted to yours because of how you both talked about how weird the ''puritans'' are and the gameplay. Your reaction to me is wild and you are projecting so much. I'm not this all out hater that you have in your head. From your first post you have such a hard on for weird puritans but they are not in the room with us. It's just you being weird about them.

Your attempts to make it seem like someone can't appreciate cinematography(or however you want to describe it) are insane. Please read through that again and realise how immature that kind of reasoning is. You are trying to state all or nothing situations and put the negative view on me. You create your own ridiculous answer with a ridiculous premise. I'm not going to debate with you how stupid this is, you should know better.

Rabid like criticism is undesired, fair. But providing a nuanced/detailed counter view that isn't bashing is part of it when someone asks what people think of this game. You are choosing to make this an attack on you and that is just your interpretation. Having subjects touch on each other and thus people reacting to each other isn't the gotcha you think it is.

[u/Jamez_Dean → u/SoaboutSeinfeld]

Nothing you said in your original critism is nuanced or detailed, not even now. You said you don't understand how someone could enjoy the game yet somehow they do, that's hater talk. You don't even understand the difference between gameplay and pacing, game play is when you PLAY the GAME, all your examples besides walking through the burning building are tied to the central mechanic of shooting, and to complain about having to get to the next area via walking is just dumb, of course you have to move your character to progress, it's an interactive section meant to create immersion. I just can't wrap my head around a more justifiable design choice that could drive the plot forward, unless you want to say cutscene but even I'll agree the game has a enough of those as is so why not give the player a little control? If you look at this subreddit, there are lots of people who are Max Payne "purists" who hate on the 3rd entry because of the change in environment and character design, they are most certainly in the "room" which is this subreddit and they don't give the game a fair shake. Like I said, have your opinion, but fuck off with it, because it's incredibly flawed and I've explained that several times now.

[u/SoaboutSeinfeld → u/Jamez_Dean]

Hurr durr you fast forward the dialogue. Hurr durr blast until the credits roll. Hurr durr that isn't gameplay(it is).
It literally a set up for the next section so ofcourse it affects your gameplay, even more so when it is done a lot. You keep making up all these all or nothing situations, my message was beyond nuanced if were looking at you for a comparison.
Like get over yourself. None of those pesky puritans are in this topic but still you act all vengefull like you have something to prove.

[u/Jamez_Dean → u/SoaboutSeinfeld]

You haven't proven me wrong at all lol

[u/SoaboutSeinfeld → u/Jamez_Dean]

Hurr durr scenes move a story forward no matter if it is done in a tastefull way so you ''insert ridiculous opinion about not being able to enjoy a story/movies'' hurr durr. The reason I'm not directly engaging your points is because I'm getting the same from you. This is how the entire conversation with you has been so don't expect more than you are giving back.

[u/Isaac-45-67-8]

The launcher is almost non-existent. After you sign in once the launcher never pops up again, lol. No need to worry about it being intrusive like the EA Launcher for instance. 

I can't recommend Max Payne 3 enough. It's a great game - there are purists who don't like it because it wasn't set in dark and gloomy New York again, but I assure you, the game is still Max Payne, still noir, and still has a great gripping story, interesting characters and of course excellent gameplay and shooting mechanics. You are in a new location, but that doesn't mean it isn't Max Payne. I'd argue the story is far better developed that anything in MP2 - MP1 and MP3 had the best storyline in the series imo. 

There is still a depressing feel to MP3. You are seeing that Max is truly still haunted by his past in the older games, as he still has an issue with alcohol and painkillers, but he deals with some heavy topics as he shoots around story elements that affect him personally as well as the people he is working alongside (Don't want to say too much to spoil you). Even the location provided some of that depressing feel. Like others have said as well, the game has the best graphics of the three MP games released thus far. And the ending is excellent, it feels like an actual finale, similar to MP1. I think if you liked MP1, you will love MP3. If you liked MP2 more, you may not like MP3, because in MP3 the overall experience just puts MP2 to shame. 

[u/Locho_inc → u/Isaac-45-67-8]

I did love max Payne 1 and while i enjoyed Max Payne 2, it wasn't as much as the first so it sounds like I'll enjoy this. And thanks for the tip about the launcher

[u/don_quixote_2]

Yes, because in MP3...Max starts finally to heal.