This gave the game a unique aesthetic compared to other games on the market, and remains one of the game's most distinct features. Instead of using traditional animated cut-scenes, Max Payne made notable use of gritty comic book illustrations and voice-overs between campaigns. When activated, players can deliver more accurate and deadly blows to opponents. In Max Payne, Bullet Time mode slows time within the game while still allowing players to adjust the camera and aim weapons at a normal speed. Bullet Time allows for the passage of time to slow down so the audience can witness objects that normally move at imperceptible speeds, such as bullets. Max Payne rose to success by being one of the first games to incorporate "Bullet Time" as a fundamental feature of gameplay.
This is reflected in the gameplay mechanics, as character health is restored through the use of painkillers. Ironically, though Max begins his journey hunting and condemning drug dealers, his physical and emotional trauma cause him to develop an addiction to alcohol and painkillers.
As he seeks out the people responsible for their murder, Max delves into a world of drug dealers, mobsters, and conspiracy. The game follows a New York City police officer, Max Payne, whose life spirals out of control after the death of his wife and child. Developed by Remedy Entertainment in 2001, Max Payne is a third-person shooter franchise that draws inspiration from classic noir crime novels and films.