Posted October 08, 2015
Max Payne 2 (PC CD ROM)
Original 3 CD boxed version. First problem was just getting it running. Installed okay, but trying to run was like turning the key in the ignition and not even getting a "click" from the relay. No sign of life. It turns out that the version of SecuRom used has serious issues with many modern optical drives. Hitman Blood Money ran fine, but that uses a different version of SecuRom. Anyway, downloaded a No CD crack, problem solved. Well first problem solved. At least it was now TRYING to run. Turns out Max Payne 2 doesn't like multi core processors very much at all. Forcing it to run on one core (in this case by simply using Win 95/98 compatibility mode) got everything running fine, with no glitches or bugs for the entire game.
I did not run widescreen, simply because this game really does not have it. The widescreen resolutions you can select are just stretching the display and look shit. I looked into some of the claimed fixes to run true widescreen, but none of them really give true widescreen. But hey, i used to play games in non widescreen all the time, and still do, no big deal.
Otherwise, even on just one core, my system easily ran the game with every setting maxed out. And the game looks fine for it's time- very sharp textures, just lacking the poly count of modern games.
Game play did not really live up to the hype to be honest. I like the original, but that was back in the day. MP 2 continues the story and has great mood. But game play wise this is still from the time when you just back through a doorway and wait for the idiot AI enemies to just blindly run through one at a time to their death. They also blow themselves up, and their mates, with their own grenades far too often. To make up for shit AI the developers used the tried and true balancing method of the day- just give the enemies super prescient powers so that they instantly know where you are at any time, and immediately hit you with perfect accuracy the split second even the smallest part of your body just pokes out from cover, however briefly.
The level designs were mostly good, but totally linear and cramped by modern standards. A couple of levels really pissed me off though- the one thing i hate more than anything in a shooter are "escort/protection" levels and Max Payne 2 has a couple of those, and they were not fun at all.
So overall, the game had good mood and story, but only average (at best) game play for me. For about 7 hours of old style linear shooting it's okay. It's a long time since i played the first game, so i can't accurately decide if this is better or worse.
Original 3 CD boxed version. First problem was just getting it running. Installed okay, but trying to run was like turning the key in the ignition and not even getting a "click" from the relay. No sign of life. It turns out that the version of SecuRom used has serious issues with many modern optical drives. Hitman Blood Money ran fine, but that uses a different version of SecuRom. Anyway, downloaded a No CD crack, problem solved. Well first problem solved. At least it was now TRYING to run. Turns out Max Payne 2 doesn't like multi core processors very much at all. Forcing it to run on one core (in this case by simply using Win 95/98 compatibility mode) got everything running fine, with no glitches or bugs for the entire game.
I did not run widescreen, simply because this game really does not have it. The widescreen resolutions you can select are just stretching the display and look shit. I looked into some of the claimed fixes to run true widescreen, but none of them really give true widescreen. But hey, i used to play games in non widescreen all the time, and still do, no big deal.
Otherwise, even on just one core, my system easily ran the game with every setting maxed out. And the game looks fine for it's time- very sharp textures, just lacking the poly count of modern games.
Game play did not really live up to the hype to be honest. I like the original, but that was back in the day. MP 2 continues the story and has great mood. But game play wise this is still from the time when you just back through a doorway and wait for the idiot AI enemies to just blindly run through one at a time to their death. They also blow themselves up, and their mates, with their own grenades far too often. To make up for shit AI the developers used the tried and true balancing method of the day- just give the enemies super prescient powers so that they instantly know where you are at any time, and immediately hit you with perfect accuracy the split second even the smallest part of your body just pokes out from cover, however briefly.
The level designs were mostly good, but totally linear and cramped by modern standards. A couple of levels really pissed me off though- the one thing i hate more than anything in a shooter are "escort/protection" levels and Max Payne 2 has a couple of those, and they were not fun at all.
So overall, the game had good mood and story, but only average (at best) game play for me. For about 7 hours of old style linear shooting it's okay. It's a long time since i played the first game, so i can't accurately decide if this is better or worse.
Post edited October 08, 2015 by CMOT70