RATE OF FIRE

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Diablo 3 dropped yesterday but we don't like queues and we have a soft spot for third-person shooters. Released on the same day as Diablo 3, the latest installment in the Max Payne series brings back our noir-ish pill-popping, down-on-his-luck, titular anti-hero, Max Payne.

So, what's up with Payne? Well, he traded in his police badge and chilly New York for a bodyguard position in sunny Brazil. But a brighter atmosphere doesn't mean a brighter future. In the case of Payne, a botched ransom exchange will lead to the worst days of his life.

The Bullet-Time mechanic returns in Max Payne 3, not only in the solo missions but in multiplayer as well [see video below for more information]. The game engine that the game was built on allows for players to shoot 360 degrees even after being grounded after a dive. Interactions within the game world are limited to actual physics and you'll react according to your environment.

With games like Red Dead Redemption, the Grand Theft Auto franchise, is it any wonder that under Rockstar Games' guidance, Max Payne 3 looked to be hailed as one of this year's top games?