Unlockable Modes

Completing Max Payne 2's single-player storyline unlocks several new gameplay modes. This section reveals all unlockable modes and provides a few strategies for each where applicable.

Hard Boiled and Dead on Arrival

When you play Max Payne 2's single-player storyline for the first time, you complete on the "Detective" difficulty level. Completing the game on Detective unlocks Hard Boiled, a higher difficulty level. Completing the game on Hard Boiled unlocks Dead on Arrival, the highest single-player storyline difficulty. In Dead on Arrival, you possess a limited number of saves per level.

Completing the game on Dead on Arrival features its own bonus. Finish the game on this highest difficulty level to watch an exclusive ending sequence that's altered from the two lower difficulty levels.

New York Minute

New York Minute is unlocked once you complete the game on Detective difficulty level. In New York Minute, you can select any part and chapter in the game. When the chapter begins, a timer starts ticking in the upper right corner of the screen. Your goal is to complete the level in the fastest time possible. Eliminating enemies reduces your time by two seconds. Cutscenes (such as Max's spinning reload) and graphic novel interludes aren't included in the time. Also, bullet time delays the timer to correspond to the slowdown.

Your goal is to balance speed through the level and killing enemies. You shouldn't ignore every enemy because you do receive the time benefit from killing each foe. Keep moving toward the level's end as you defeat the enemies so you aren't taken off route. Level memorization plays an important role in the game mode; the better you know the level, the more you will eliminate "wrong way" mistakes to create the fastest times. Seek out shortcuts and, as with other game modes, aim for the head for quicker kills, which will generally have the effect of reducing damage to Max or Mona. Since you won't want to waste time seeking out painkillers, you need to remain as unscathed as possible.

Dead Man Walking

In Dead Man Walking, your goal is to stay alive as long as possible in a confined space. Enemies spawn slowly at first but as time progresses, more and more enemies enter the area. You can gain time by killing enemies; so the more enemies you kill, the greater your time (essentially your score).

You must carefully balance your goal of killing enemies with your goal of staying alive. Bullet time drains just as it does in the single-player storyline. You'll need to utilize bullet time carefully. Don't stay in bullet time unless you're either actively killing enemies or reloading your weapon. You should use bullet time to reload because you're extremely vulnerable while reloading (since you can't shoot back). Avoid remaining in bullet time if you're just ducking behind cover. You want your meter as high as possible when you're attempting to clear a large group of guards.

Obviously you should aim for headshots with each and every kill. The faster you kill enemies the better. This permits extended bullet time as well as increasing your time on the map. Avoid shoot-dodging. You're extremely vulnerable when getting back up after a shoot-dodge. The maneuver isn't worth the danger. You should utilize bullet time exclusively. Save your painkillers and use each bottle to its fullest extent.