Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Shooter's intriguing story is for adults only.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that an intriguing storyline may make this game more appealing than some first-person shooter games; however, it still glorifies violence, makes ample use of profanity, and contains significant mature sexual content, making this a game for adults only. Parents should be aware that there are multiple scenes of close-up assassination-style killings: direct gun-to-face, close-range shooting. Blood is everywhere as are flying and burning bodies, grenades, Molotov cocktails, and conveniently placed explosives.

  • Corrupt political/social system, you vs. everyone gameplay. Humor typically involves violence or mockery of those who are concerned about violence in video games.
  • Glorified "slow-motion" shooting, assassinations, explosions. Violence, gangs, death, torture.
  • Ads for sex phone lines, porn movies, character sexual interaction.

What's it about?

MAX PAYNE 2 bills itself as a "film noir love story." Twisted by a world of corruption, Max is a cop who doesn't really have anyone to trust, even himself. Max finds himself in a hospital, badly wounded and hallucinating about things of the recent past --primarily fixated on his obsession with Mona, the femme fatale of the game. Much of the plot is revealed in comic-book style cut scenes with voiceovers narrating the text.

Even with some attention to a storyline, much of the game is about the fancy shooting. Max Payne 2, along with a multitude of recent games, offers a slow-motion option, which puts you at an advantage against your foes, and makes for some "cool" looking shooting moves.


Is it any good?

 

Although definitely not for kids, Max Payne 2 is a step above most first-person shooting games. The story is dark and intriguing, almost like a novel, with a richer plot than most first-person shooters. Nonetheless, with a wide collection of guns, and the now almost ubiquitous slow-motion shooting, the game is a shooter at heart.

Other considerations include the mature sexual themes and the level of strong language. There isn't any nudity, but several audio segments sound like they are lifted from a porn movie. In a new twist on "media integration," some of the ads and shows on fake TVs are linked to elements within the game, including some ads for a phone sex line and a "late-night" porn show. The glorification of violence, sexual content and profanity provides little chance for kids to compare and contrast "morality," but does offer yet another chance to "empty another clip."


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the film noir aspect of this game. Is Max a good guy? Is he a moral person? Why or why not? What makes someone a "good guy" vs. a "bad guy"?


This review was written by Jeremy Gieske
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
It took my brain off
I like this game because it has a lot of action but too much violence. I recommend this game to people who like shooters or others known as shooting games. I think people under 17 shouldn't play these games because there are drugs, sex, bad language etc.

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Adult
July 9, 2009
 
Max Payne 1 & 2 are excellent video games that feature plenty of drama, great characters, great story and plenty of shoot em up action. There is blood and violence, swearing and mature content, but most kids can probably handle it.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
good
well here are the things that are not age apropriate for teens: content: mona sax gets nude violence: not alot LAnguage:harsh very fun game

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Great but not 4 yonger teens
First of all, Max Payne 2 is a great game i honestly have know idea how it got like 2 stars its acctualy a very well done game. Though it is quite violent (not gory), 'n' theres a few F-Bombs if that offends you. Not to mention there is some mild sexual material. It may not be the best choice 4 yong teens, perhaps? 15+

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
An awsome game!
Great nice decent action game. Some off stuff here and there but still, we kids know it's all fake. LIke someone can dodge 200 bullets and shoot someone with a small pistol and make him fly 30 yards.

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Parent of 11 year old
December 31, 2009
 
i would recommend an adult playing this game, great story but very disturbing and way too graphic
very blood dark and disturbing game but if you love action shootings and dark situations u'll love it. not for teens that's for sure anyways, it's widely capable of giving you or them nightmares The thing that made me hold on to the game is the love story inside, the idea that from even the darkest and most evil moments in life, there's always hope for better things, hope for love. Violence : maximum violence, shooting killing explosions, people burned by fire, very dangerous and scary moments (a devilish, bloody fun house for example with a bathtub full of blood, blood trails.... etc) and tense moments...... As for Sexuality, well i don't remember very harmful content... A guy says "i would F... her", lots of kissing... max kisses a girl's stomach passionately, girls in revealing outfits. as for language: some bad word that i don't remember except for the 1 F... drinking: well as in the CSM review health is restored by the use of painkillers.. and there are drug references as the game is a war between big mafias.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
17+ ONLY
This is a game for people who are 17 year old or older. Not even the most mature 16 year old should get a hold of this game. The game is based around fictitious NYPD detective Max Payne who, after having his wife and baby murdered in the first game, returns to the force and is quickly tossed back into a world of violence. The game itself is filled with violence. Tons or it at that. It has a you vs. the world kind of game play and doesn't forget to remind you of it. With violent death around every single corner, and even the ability to slowdown time to kill multiple enemies, this game isn't for anyone younger than 17. References to sex and drugs rattle the interior of the game. Everyone from a hooker in a police station asking the main character to protect her in return for 'making it worth his while' to the character using pain killers in order to regain health. While swearing mostly comes out of the game's cut scenes or graphic comics, it is still abundant throughout the game. The game glorifies enemy death and sniping kill shots by slowing down time and focusing on the enemy that was shot. This is a game for the 17+ only.

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Adult
April 5, 2010
 
Good game but the controls are different to the first game so if you played the first game the controls will mess you up you will have to get use to it and not good for kids

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Parent of 18 year old
April 1, 2010
 
it is a aw some game the only thing is violence & language it says the f word 2 times only in vidios but you can skip it .

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This review was written by Jeremy Gieske
Platforms:PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox
Available online?Not available online
Genre:First Person Shooter
Developer:Rockstar Games
Release date:June 24, 2003
Price:$50
ESRB rating:M

This review was written by Jeremy Gieske

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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