Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
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.
Community Reviews
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."
Talk to Your Kids 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"?
Game Details
- Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Rockstar Games
- Release date: June 24, 2003
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating: M
- Last updated: November 4, 2015
Our Editors Recommend
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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Great story is good choice for teens and older.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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