Max Payne 2's greatest achievement is it's ability to tell a original story without leaning too hard on Max's tragic backstory. Max evolves over the course of the story and changes the characters around him in interesting ways. It also tells a smart metanarrative that squeezes much needed bits of satire in between the angsty plot. The dream sequences are much better as well and I really appreciated the evolved gameplay that urges the player to replay the same scenarios but cooler.