Rapid Review: The positives and negatives of a video game in 5 minutes or less.

Title: Max Payne 3

Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (May 29)

Price: $59.99

Publisher/Developer: Rockstar

ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

What is it? A third person action shooter starring pill popping, booze swilling protagonist Max Payne. “Max Payne 3” is a reboot of sorts for the franchise, as it’s the first game in the series to be on the current generation of consoles. “Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne” was released in 2003.

The game is set in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Max is working with an old friend from his police academy days. Still full of self-loathing over the death of his family in the first two games, Max is forced to leave New York and work as a bodyguard for a wealthy industrialist named Rodrigo Branco and his family. When Branco’s wife is kidnapped, it sets off a series of events that are constant reminders of Max’s loss from Max Payne 1 and 2.

The Good:

Bruce Willis would be proud – The story in “Max Payne 3” is engrossing and full of adventure. Often times, I felt like I was playing the next “Die Hard” movie. That’s how much action and humor the game has and how much punishment Max takes.

Engrossing multiplayer – This is the first Max Payne game with multiplayer and it works beautifully. It’s structured so that even if you’re new to the game or don’t play online often, you won’t be overwhelmed. If you’re really into online gaming, there’s plenty for you too. There are several online features, but the best part of “Max Payne 3’s” multiplayer is Gang Wars, which uses events from the single-player story as a jump off point in matches that have shifting objectives. This mode includes motion-comics and Max’s voiceover. It’s incredibly addictive.

The little things – The attention to detail in “Max Payne 3” is impressive. The game presentation is outstanding, with a first rate soundtrack and visuals. The Bullet Time mechanic, a Max Payne staple, is prominently featured and has enough nuances to keep it fresh. The control scheme is perfect, giving gamers complete control. The voice acting, led by the original voice of Max Payne, James McCaffrey, is brilliant and the graphic novel-style cutscenes blend in perfectly with the in-game action and allow for a game that’s free of annoying load screens.  

The Bad:

Don’t get stuck – During some of the more hectic moments of the game, there were times Max was slow getting into or out of cover. It didn’t happen often, but it did occur a couple of times. When it did, I died rather quickly and had to restart. This was slightly annoying but didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the game because it wasn’t a consistent problem.

The Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed my time with “Max Payne 3.” In fact, it’s the most fun I’ve had with a game so far this year. With the release of “Mass Effect 3,” “Prototype 2,” “The Darkness 2,” “MLB 2K12” and so many excellent downloadable games in the first half of 2012 (“Trials Evolution,” “Alan Wake’s American Nightmare,” “Fez,” “The Walking Dead: Episode 1,” etc.), that’s saying something. You need to own this game.

The Grade: A+   

Gazette Media Columnist Terry Terrones is a veteran video game journalist. He has written for numerous publications including GamePro, PC World, GameZone, and Official Xbox Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/terryterrones.