Max Payne 3 PC evaluation & FXAA vs. MSAA shootout

Hardware Requirements, Performance & Conclusion

Rockstar’s website gives the range  of tested PCs for Max Payne:

It is interesting to see the progression of requirements.  For the original game, a 700MHz CPU was recommended along with 128MB of system memory and a 32MB D3D compatible graphics card and it intalled off of one CD.  Max Payne 2 required 2CDs and a better graphics card.  Max Payne 3 needs 4 dual-layer DVDs!

Performance

Nvidia’s reviewer’s guide suggests that a GTX 570 can max out Max Payne 3 at Very High settings including FXAA.  Our own fluid results with Very High settings and 4xMSAA with a GTX 680 suggest this is correct.   A GTX 560 should be able to manage High settings.

3D Vision & Surround Performance

The expected performance drop when playing Max Payne 3 with 3D Vision 2 with a single GTX 680 suggests it is quite playable with FXAA.  A GTX 690 has no issues with 4xMSAA in S3D nor with 5760×1080 although a single GTX 680 needs to drop back to FXAA for playing in Super-Widescreen resolutions.

Replayability

Max Payne 3 has some definite replayability.  Since the player has the option to skip the cutscenes after it loads, he can concentrate on his shooting accuracy and you can replay the main story line to find golden gun parts and clues you might have missed, perhaps at a harder difficulty.  There is also an Arcade Mode where the player can race the clock while causing as much destruction as possible.  Score Attack Levels are unlocked by by beating them in Single Player mode while completing the game again, unlocks New York Minute.

New York Minute starts you out with a minute of life and you can add +5 seconds to it for each enemy NPC you kill.   Fantic is the best description of this mode.  And of course, there is Multiplayer.

Conclusion

Max Payne 3 comes highly recommended and we give it a solid 9.5 for Max Payne fans; 8.5 for everyone else.   The graphics are extraordinary, the gameplay is enhanced over the original games, and the story and voice acting is absolutely top-notch.  We feel it was $60 well spent for an excellent game and we are looking forward to playing future installments in the Max Payne series.  Recommended!

Max Payne 3 is definitely not for those who are easily offended by realistic over-the-top violence.  Nitpicks include the shortness of the game, checkpoint saves and lack of framerate monitoring and convenient screen capture with the retail edition.

Stay tuned as we have many more reviews and evaluations coming up. This weekend, you can expect a full review of the Noctua NH-DH14 as we quest for 5.0GHz with our Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770K.  And of course, join us in our ABT forum and speak your mind!

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