HD version of original installment in Rockstar Games' action shooter franchise set to arrive on multiple mobile platforms in advance of Max Payne 3's March debut.
Rockstar Games' pill-popping protagonist is going portable. The publisher today announced that a high-definition version of the original Max Payne will be released for unspecified mobile devices this fall, complete with customizable controls and Rockstar Games Social Club features.
Originally released in 2001, Max Payne was a third-person shooter that featured a "bullet time" gameplay mechanic, slowing the world to a crawl while allowing players to aim and fire at enemies at full speed. The game follows the titular antihero, a modern-day New York undercover cop whose wife and baby daughter are brutally murdered. On top of that, Payne is framed for a fellow cop's murder and becomes the subject of a massive manhunt by the police, the Mob, and a shadowy criminal organization.
The first two games in the series were developed by Remedy Entertainment, which has since moved on to create Alan Wake for the Xbox 360. Max Payne 3 development is being handled by Rockstar Vancouver, the studio behind the 2006 action adventure game Bully.
For more on the game, check out GameSpot's review of the original PC edition of Max Payne.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
This MIGHT work, considering it's a third person shooter and with time-slowing-down etc you might not need to be that precise. But still a huge reticule to compensate for the touch controls would be butt-ugly and take so much away from the game. Anyhow, they've got my dollar - I just hope it's worth it.
@stick2zero I think I should clarify myself. Its not that 3DS or PSP games are better because they are more expensive, but because they are devices meant for gaming. I have a itouch and a 3DS and let me tell you there are some fun games on the itouch and I find myself playing more apps than 3DS games at the moment. Yet heres the thing when developers port over games to the iphone/itouch they fail in terms of controls. They have nothing but a touch screen and thats it. I played a few 3rd person shooters on the itouch and they are awful. Any iphone/itouch game in full 3-D surroundings are bugged with horrible controls and wonky ps1 era physics/body motions. So something as amazing as the max payne series will be a watered down mess if it comes out for the iphone. The 3DS and PSP are built for gaming and can probably handle it a hell of a lot better than the iphone can. Iphones are devices with 10000's of capabilities and running a 3rd person shooter is not one of its finer points.
As much as I loved the original Max Payne games, I'd rather see Rockstar working on a Bully sequel.
@payne6705 I know right! remember Resident Evil for iphone? man.. Iphone games are only for casual gamers who waits on clinics and bus stops
As much as I love Rockstar and their games, I don't agree that Max Payne is their property. It belongs to Remedy, dammit!
@-HaloHitman- Hmmm.. From what I've seen of the Splinter Cell HD bundle I've been disappointed.. Stuttering frame rates and little improvements. May just be better to play the originals. I wouldn't want Max Payne to be killed in the same way!
@RadioactiveMah Dude.. twice in one day I've personally replied to you! Spot on mate. Those were my thoughts exactly.
Great game. If you haven't played it already.. What are you living under a rock?? Go play it. But you'll probably be better off with PC versions (original and the sequel). It's on Steam, it's cheap and you should go play it.
Meh, you'd just be better off playing the originals, which are available on Steam. They are both great games. I have to wonder what Max Payne 3 will be like, and if it will be any good.
i dont care about the mobile version....iam just happy to see finally rockstar is serious for max payne 3......
I always hate iphone ports of games/ serious iphone games. They never work properly I hope this comes out for 3DS or the vita or something other than the iphone.
just bought bought of these on ps2 for about $10 total. played the originals on PC, really great games. my pc is too new to run the first game though.
Wait, mobile devices like smartphones? Or mobile devices like Vita/3DS? Because I'd snatch up Max Payne 3D like a tweakin' crack addict...
Hd versions? What are you people talking about? Max payne 1 and 2 had amazing looking versions on the pc already in high hd resolutions. The textures on both games still look amazing on high resolutions. So...unless you bundle both games together, what is the point?
Konviktion: you are absolutely right about that... they should make HD version for the first 2 games because that would make a great collection....i really hope that they make another one after this...
I'm not sure about this men! Max Payne might seem like too much of an "ol geezer" to some modern gamers! They prefer these young go-getters and will ask: "whats wrong with that man's face mummy?!" Rest assured Rockstar will include the ability to shave your characters head, increase your characters testosterone levels and choose any coloured clothing they wish so long as it is brown!
yep Rockstar go for it its a great choice . But for Konviktion they should do HD collection for Pc, Ps3, Xbox360 so gamepot can hear me tell Rockstar Games if not ill tell them myself
Would prefer to have seen it as available for all platforms but go ahead...drink the Apple-flavored kool-aid ;) :P Bully was a great game,let's just hope they will embrace the more serious possibilities and go for a better open world since this is in the big city.
They should make HD versions of the first 2 games for every platform (including PC) not only mobile ones. I'm pretty sure they will be well received.
Playing Max Payne with a touch screen? What a joke! It must be for the SE Xperia Play, which has buttons and was made for mobile gaming. How the hell are you to aim, shoot, jump, dodge bullets and use bullet time, take your shots of paynekiller, and scroll through weapons on a touch screen otherwise? Not even for iPad I doubt it, not without buttons, and highly doubt its on 4.5" max phone screens with those controls taking up have the screen space.
First off, Its definitely going to be on the PSVita and Iphone, This I guarantee. Secondly, This is not Rock stars character or game, Its Remedy's and it was nicely taken over and changed for the worse. That is the only thing Rockstar have ever let me down with which is a shame, however I woulden't mind playing Max Payne portably.
Why don't they just get it out of the way and say it will be on iOS devices. which suite me fine since I have an iPhone!
@ofiki100 I totally agree with ya , and what make some of the HD remakes stupid is that PC games come in HD since the year 1998 or maybe earlier that is why you don't see HD remakes on PC unless if there are significant changes made to the graphics and they really got updated and not some clean ups there and there like they do with all of the HD remakes.
I defiantly wouldn't want to play this on a touchscreen. PC version with m/kb for me. Its been hd since its release back in 2001 and both games go on sale for a few dollars on steam all the time so no price advantage your paying more for the mobile versions.
@warriorboy1990 they don't do HD collection for PS3/360 cause Hd collections are idiotic! a remake for a game 14 years old from 2 generations past of home console for a mobile console is great, but an HD collection from 1 gen home to home console is just plain dumb. just make the console backwards compatible and that's it.
*holding 40 dollars* Smell that, Rockstar? Do yah? It could be YOURS if you make the wiser move and release a friggin' HD collection for the PS3 and 360, guys! I don't care about mobile devices. Release it on the iPhone, iPad, PSVita, etc. whatever. But release a collection for the PS3 and 360 as well dammit! I want to play this on my 46" LED TV in 1080p.
I'm not sure how these will control, but I am cautiously optimistic--would rather a XBLA remake, though :)
In conjunction with game's tenth anniversary, Rockstar releasing "Anniversary Edition" of 2002 PS2 game for select iOS and Android devices this fall.
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