Max Payne 3 Multiplayer First Look

With Max Payne 3 a little over a month away from release, Rockstar is finally ready to reveal some mutliplayer footage and show gamers the longetivity of its appeal. Last week the winners were announced along with screens of their faces in the game, but now it’s all put to work!

Part one of the Max Payne 3 Multiplayer video focuses on Rockstar Studios’ effort to bring Max’s blend of cinematic shooting, movement and narrative into an online environment. The video details the core features of Max Payne 3 multiplayer, focusing on the integration of Max Payne’s signature gameplay elements, including Bullet Time, and bringing players into Max’s twisted universe through unique modes of Gang Wars and Payne Killer.

Max Payne 3 introduces Max Payne’s signature special ability, Bullet Time to multiplayer for the first time. Based on line of sight, this fundamental gameplay mechanic brings a new level of strategy to online play, keeping the action fast-paced while allowing for intense, cinematic gun battles.

Gang Wars is Max Payne 3’s flagship multiplayer mode, delivering immersive, story-based rounds of matches using warring factions from the single player game. New branching storylines in this mode dynamically change objectives based on the outcome of each round.

Payne Killer gives players a chance to play as Max Payne and his partner, Raul Passos in a blend of co-operative and competitive play. Outnumbered by enemy players, Max and Passos must band together, fighting off other players and using signature weapons, Bullet Time and painkillers to stay alive.

With the talk of bullet time, it immediately makes me think of Stanglehold by Midway Games, which used the Bullet Time as well. However, when it came down to online gameplay, it turned imto a complete flop and multiplayer lagfest. The trailer below does show off the Bullet Time, but until the final release, it’s in the air if the concept is performed as intended.