[dan2091]

Okay.. I haven't played RDR by the way, and still support Rockstar vision of the series. People's problem should not be based on putting this game in contrast with some other Rockstar Game. It should be because of the changes to the formula Rockstar has proposed. But hey! As mean as this changes are, people shouldn't rule out the game!

Jumping from back to present repeatedly, mm? Abrupt time-switching? That doesn't sound good to me, unless they're fooking masters at story-telling and know what they're doing. And I hope they know what they're doing, because besides that quote from the article, it sounds this could be the best thing to apply at a non-linear story when you want to focus on character development.

Sure, Max Payne and Max Payne 2 used this but only at the beginning of each game. So you're like wtf, what is that guy doing in the top of the building, only way to find out? Play through 8 hours to the end, and then you're like uhhh, alright I got it.

So, what's wrong with using this technique the way Rockstar claims they're doing it? This sounds more attractive than a linear-written game. Seriously, starting as a full-haired Max Payne, chronologically continuing it's story: there's no mistery in that! Non-linear? Show me some twisted twist, f*ck yeah! Revealing an aspect of the character from flashbacks that will make people switch their perception of the protragonits... and there you got the Noir everyone thing that is missing. There are many ways to achieve freaking Noooiiiir... And judging by the elapsing time of the story, which might or might not be 8 years, this could be a more elegant way to show it off.

As for this being a slap to the character.. Say, for example, a random guy is happy with his wife after having trouble marrying her, but now he comfronts job/marital/health problems? It's the same with Max: his psychological problem may not be because of his lost ones, but because of something else. The Comedian in Watchmen was depressed because of the secret he found out. Seeing how Max has used conspiracy as a theme in previous games, there's chance he's crazy nuts because of something he knows but tries to forget? Are we getting way too far from what the original Max Payne character is? Not much, the way I see it. The setting and secondary characters may be differents but they surround Max, Max himself doesn't need to be different. At least not from what's been seen so far. This could complement Max's character arc, nevertheless.

Max 1/2 story-arc may be over, but putting the character in a different situation has nothing wrong with it. Well, at least if he doesn't have that many drastical changes (some looses a hand, or a leg; but oh Rockstar, why did Max had to loose his hair?)

There are many ways to live up this title but at the same time there are many to make it fail as well. In a world where being negative is the most common thing to do, I prefer to hope this game will be enjoyable at best, and have a descent story.