Max Payne 2 (PS2, Xbox)

By JON MINIFIE

Herald rating: * * * *

The sequel to Rockstar's fantastically gloomy action shooter was released and reviewed only last month. With its stylish facade and slow-mo twin-gun action still intact, and even improved, from the original, it is sitting pretty near the top of the PC sales charts.

Less than a month later the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions are almost ready for release, which highlights a pleasing trend in cross platform releases that sees the gap, that used to be as long as 12-18 months, narrowing.

The PS2 and Xbox ports feature the same content as the original PC version, which comes as no great surprise.

One thing that might surprise a few is that Max Payne 2 is one of the rare games that was created strictly as an adult gamer audience. There is some sexual content and quite a bit of profanity. Once more, writer Sam Lake has produced a script bursting with deliberately heavy-handed dialogue.

The Xbox version features sharp visuals that look similar to those on the PC, sans the more flashy trickery. Using the Havok physics engine, Max can interact with his environment like never before. He can kick over rubbish bins, answer phones, open cupboards and doors, pick up objects, and more. Max Payne 2 also lets players control the lead female heroine Mona Sax.

While the PS2 does an okay job it is simply outgunned by the more powerful platforms, making that version considerably less easy on the eye. However, minor frame rate and load times issues won't overshadow the fact that Max Payne 2 offers PS2 an entertainingly dark third-person shooter with a well-crafted, noir storyline.

Price: $109.95