Two years have passed since Max Payne began his desperate quest for vengeance. Max is ordered to investigate a string of killings committed by a group of contract murderers known as the Cleaners after returning to his prior post as a detective in the New York City Police Department. Max unexpectedly runs across the enigmatic Mona Sax, whom he had supposed was dead. People from his past start appearing individually, and Max gradually finds that he does not know all about the mysterious Circle and those engaged in his family’s death. Someone is attempting to murder Max, and he must find the answers before they succeed.
The Fall of Max Payne is the direct sequel to Max Payne. In terms of gameplay and presentation, the game is quite similar to its predecessor, bringing back a noir detective ambiance, cinematic John Woo-style action, and cutscenes fashioned like comic book panels.
The game uses the same engine as its predecessor but with various new visual effects and additions, such as dynamic shadows and lighting, cubic mapping reflections, and high-quality textures. To further interactivity with the game world, the Havok engine with ragdoll physics is used: items can be moved and destroyed, realistically responding to the actions of the player character and opponents.
The ability to utilize melee strikes, grenades, and Molotov cocktails in addition to standard weaponry is a new element in the sequel. Certain characters will occasionally join Max and battle with him. During a few stages, the player also controls Mona Sax. The Bullet Time feature from the previous game has been improved to version 2.0, in which Max’s bullet time speed rises as he kills more people in a row.
The game only has one difficulty level available on the first run. If the player is having problems succeeding, the game will automatically lessen the difficulty, reducing the effectiveness of enemy fire and increasing the supply of painkillers. When the player completes the game, they gain access to new difficulty levels and two new modes: New York Minute and Dead Man Walking. The first gives the player a score for completing a level as rapidly as possible, while the second has Max facing an infinite stream of respawning monsters.
