Rockstar's involvement in this is blatant, and makes it a rockier experience in some ways, but also a more balanced one than the first game. I think replacing Sam Lake's likeness with a more gritty every-man model sets up a clear expectation; it takes itself far more seriously and removes the humor of the comically brooding protagonist, opting instead for more classic Rockstar gags like "old lady with a shotgun," and "escort mission with a really annoying guy," leaving little room for Remedy's sensibilities aside from the live action skits here and there in the background.
It feels more dangerous - and subsequently less tasteful - in a way that only an early 2000s game can, featuring full nudity, a relatively sex-driven plot, and a lot of questionable schizophrenia aestheticism. It also feels padded by trying to be more narratively fulfilling, where the first game feels groundbreaking and fun to play without the need for unnecessary twists or filler levels. There are more cutscenes this time, segments where you replay an entire level from Mona's perspective with the same dialogue and setpieces, and somehow feels longer than the first game when I think back on it. At the same time, the action and resource pools are more balanced, so it took less time and fewer quicksaves to get from level to level. There are a ton of tradeoffs, and in the end I can't say I prefer one to the other when I try to compare their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm curious what the game would look like if it had stayed exclusively in Remedy's hands, but you can also see where Rockstar is trying to pry the series away and turn it into their platonic ideal of Max Payne with the third game. I'm excited to finally play it for myself and see how it innovates, and if it stands alone enough not to tarnish the things I like so much about Remedy's style and the first game.
It feels more dangerous - and subsequently less tasteful - in a way that only an early 2000s game can, featuring full nudity, a relatively sex-driven plot, and a lot of questionable schizophrenia aestheticism. It also feels padded by trying to be more narratively fulfilling, where the first game feels groundbreaking and fun to play without the need for unnecessary twists or filler levels. There are more cutscenes this time, segments where you replay an entire level from Mona's perspective with the same dialogue and setpieces, and somehow feels longer than the first game when I think back on it. At the same time, the action and resource pools are more balanced, so it took less time and fewer quicksaves to get from level to level. There are a ton of tradeoffs, and in the end I can't say I prefer one to the other when I try to compare their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm curious what the game would look like if it had stayed exclusively in Remedy's hands, but you can also see where Rockstar is trying to pry the series away and turn it into their platonic ideal of Max Payne with the third game. I'm excited to finally play it for myself and see how it innovates, and if it stands alone enough not to tarnish the things I like so much about Remedy's style and the first game.