Max Payne 3 Finally Confirmed – to be Returning this Year!

I’m starting to use this line a lot, but it can’t be helped since there are quite a fair few of franchises out there beginning to make comebacks. This time, it’s the famous Max Payne series, gearing up for a round three.

A great deal of gamers will fondly remember the Max Payne series all the way back in 2001, which involved a pain-stricken cop hellbent on revenge after the murder of his wife and newborn child. It was a game filled with intense bullet-time shooting action, sad but spectacular sound tracks and a gripping story that was very well told, especially due to the famous narrations from Max Payne during the game.

It was an incredibly successful formula and one that begged to be seen again. Gamers’ wishes were answered when Rockstar stepped up to join in making the sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, in October of 2003, which continued the dark story of the unkillable, revenge-filled hero.

To make a long explanation short: It brought back everything the series was good for – and more.

Now, set for a December release this year, 2009 brings the awesome series back with Max Payne 3. There isn’t much on this game yet as it’s still too early in development, but a few things have been said other than just a confirmation. It’s not a lot, but it’s something at least. For starters, regarding the basic story, good old Max is now retired, but don’t let this worry you as it’s been said that he’s still stuck in a crime filled, corrupted and violent world – the world we all know too well.

In an interview with Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games, it was revealed that a new chapter in Max Payne’s story will begin here, which will ultimately take the game in a completely new direction storywise. Leaving behind New York City and having been double-crossed, Max Payne finds himself now trapped in a violent city filled with bloodshed and crime. Armed only with his weapons, bullet-time, inability to die and instincts, Max must uncover the truth and, most of all, find a way out of the new nightmare.

A small quote from Sam Houser tells us more:
“This is Max as we’ve never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever. We experience the downward spiral of his life after the events of Max Payne 2 and witness his last chance for salvation.”

There have been no details regarding gameplay, only that we can expect to see “more of the classic elements and hyper-intense action that fans have come to love” which sounds good, right? Nonetheless, this is great news, and I have no doubts that many out there, including myself, can’t wait to find out more. Max Payne 3 will be available on PC, PS3 and Xbox360 in December of this year, without any delays that is.

We’ve set our eyes set on this one, so be sure to check around in the upcoming weeks, because as soon as there’s more on Max Payne 3, we’ll let you know.

[Check out the official website here: RockstarGames]