Max Payne

GameShark

Yes, this game has the power to rip families apart, it's that cool. With nice graphics, violence, swearing, and Matrix-style camera angles galore, this is a must-have for action game fans.

Hot Games

If you want the hard-boiled action of "Grand Theft Auto III" up close and personal, this is the game for you.

GamePro

The Dual Shock organizes controls logically and offers the sharp response, especially considering the cool Bullet Time and Shootdodge aspects, which slow down time for Matrix-style gunfights.

TotalGames.net

While it’s tricky to recommend a game that doesn’t run too well on a piece of hardware with static tech-specs, the fact remains that, gawd bless ’im, old Max had us entirely enthralled until the end of his adventure.

Electric Playground

This excellent, visceral shooter is just the tiniest bit on the short side, but remember what the man said: In a New York Minute, everything can change.

IGN

Delivers non-stop, ultra cool, and fun-as-hell action. And I highly recommend it on the PS2, if that's the only system you own. But if you own a PC or an Xbox, definitely skip this version, as it's the weakest of the trio in every aspect.

PSM Magazine

While the graphics are generally well done, the framerate gets sketchy when there’s a lot going on. [Feb 2002, p.46]

Yahoo! Games

It's original, foreboding, action-packed and full of dark humour, uplifting surprises and plenty of serious shooting for you to get to grips with.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

Bullet Time…just looks so friggin’ neat. [Feb 2002, p.110]

GameSpot

The game loses much of the original PC version's polish in translation to the PS2--loading times are bad, and the game's sluggish frame rate and blurry textures aren't flattering, especially if you've seen the far-superior-looking PC and Xbox versions...Otherwise outstanding.

Total Video Games

The overly detailed and crisp textures have been downgraded, character models sport lower polygon counts, on occasion the framerate becomes extremely choppy.

Gamezilla!

I can’t help but caution people that as a PC owner, Max Payne for the PS2 won’t get much gameplay while I’ve still got the PC version on my shelf.

Game Informer

The control is not nearly as fluid as it needs to be. [Feb 2002, p.84]

GameSpy

So much of what makes this game cool is lost in translation to a less potent platform. If the PS2 is your lone system, you'll still have a good time, but may be left wondering what all the hype was about.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Once Bullet Time’s novelty wears off, you’re left with a repetitive shooter, blasting the same species of enemy over and over. [Feb 2002, p.158]

Game Revolution

While not without its flaws, Max Payne is a solid addition to any PS2 library, provided you didn't play the PC version, you don't have an Xbox and you aren't just itching to see Max on your big screen TV.

GamerWeb Sony

Somehow Remedy Entertainment made the PS2 look like an old man when compared to the new console and the tried and true personal computer.

All Game Guide

Even if the overall experience is a bit too short, the length to which it goes to inspire some real John Woo-style gunplay and adrenaline is impressive and definitely deserves praise.

PSX Nation

Unfortunately, like other games that have an incredible opening act but don't know how to close the show (certain overhyped Konami action/stealth game come to mind?), "Max Payne" sometimes falls into "Soul Reaver 2"-like pretentions of grandeur that fall short.

XenGamers

It just can’t match up to the PC and Xbox versions due to the difference in graphics quality and the lack of an important gameplay element.

GamePen

On the Playstation, it’s (practically) just as fun [as the PC], but the additional flaws it picks up really cut into the experience. I’d seriously flag this as a “rent first” title.