Max Payne 3 is definitely in the skip it category. More than anything, it's the gameplay that disappoints. Each level is a 5 minute ride through a cover based corridor shooter. The setting and atmosphere didn't have to turn out badly, but that also happened.
Max Payne. A cover based corridor shooter. Oh dear. With a time limit in most corridors, so there is no time to explore or consider strategies, the game funnels the player through a predetermined corridor at a frantic pace. Keep a lookout for those golden weapon collectables!! We can call that gameplay. Right? Sure!
Yet, exploring isn't a thing in Max Payne 3, because the cinematics don't allow it. You need to be in position, otherwise you'll miss the movie! The game is so confused.
And it's so cinematic you'd be forgiven to conclude that the gameplay was, in fact, an afterthought. Which it probably was.
Sadly this game also drops the self-referencing Nordic mythology/Die Hard/film-noir setting and style. This time we're working for the mega rich of Rio. You know, people we care about and can relate to. And this is unironic, Max is working for mega-rich Río scum and avenging them, there's no twist, nothing. The evil police killed your cokehead wards. Revenge! Such motivation! Such drama!
Overall:
Highs: The few moments when the game slows down, and allows the player to have agency. This damning with faint praise.
Lows: Setting, plot, how they treat poor Max. He did not deserve this.
Gameplay:
Pros: Makes one appreciate better games? I don't know.
Cons: This is a consoletard popamole cover based shooter, made at the darkest age of PC games, when studios were convinced that the future and present of games was the xbox360 and the ps3.
The game tried to capture Man on Fire, but failed. Should have stuck to the original formula closer.
I played the single player game only, because I have a life.