Max Payne series – Max Payne (James McCaffrey)

Quote ~“The way I see it.. there’re two types of people: those who spend their lives trying to build a future. And those who spend their lives trying to rebuild the past.-Max Payne

Max Payne, the protagonist of the eponymous video game series, was a former NYPD detective turned private bodyguard and fugitive. Tragedy struck when his family was murdered, leading him on a path of revenge. He navigated through crime, betrayal, and a larger conspiracy, eventually finding closure. After leaving the NYPD, Max’s life took a new turn when he became a bodyguard in Brazil, facing a series of challenges and uncovering a sinister plot orchestrated by a powerful figure. Despite uncertainties, Max took a vacation in Bahia, marking a new chapter in his life.

Biography

Max childhood

Coming of age in the 1970s, Max Payne’s upbringing was far from ideal. His parents, Jack and Helen Payne, provided a tumultuous environment. Jack, a Vietnam War veteran, was emotionally distant, opting to toughen Max up rather than show affection, leading to a strained relationship. Max recalls his father’s struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, inflicting violence on his mother and engaging in infidelity. Helen’s coping mechanism was alcohol, which contributed to her untimely death in 1976. The young Max, resentful of his father, once confronted him with a toy revolver, symbolizing his rebellion. Jack passed away prematurely in 1979, just three years after his wife, leaving Max orphaned.

Max as a young boy

Additionally, Max Payne found solace and inspiration in the form of his maternal grandfather, who played a significant role in his life. The grandfather would share mythical tales with Max and provide comfort during moments of distress.

Early to Mid 1990’s

NYPD
In the early 1990s, Max Payne flourished into a skilled police officer, graduating as the top performer from the New York Police Academy. His swift ascent within the ranks of the New York City Police Department saw him progress from a beat cop to a detective. Alongside his partner, Alex Balder, whom he met during this period, Max developed a close friendship. Their collaborative efforts in crime-fighting garnered media attention, notably for disrupting a significant drug deal involving an unknown gang and Punchinello foot soldiers. A newspaper even featured them on the front page under the title “Hero Cops,” although the specific details of their heroic act remained undisclosed.

Despite his partner, Alex Balder, transitioning to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Max Payne maintained a strong bond with him. They continued to engage in poker games occasionally. Although Alex suggested that Max join the DEA on multiple occasions, Max consistently declined the offer, apprehensive about the challenging conditions typically associated with undercover assignments.

Meeting Michelle
In October of that year, Max Payne encountered his future wife, Michelle, rescuing her from a duo of robbers. Following a brief conversation, they began spending time together and eventually tied the knot three years later in June 1993. Their honeymoon took them to Montauk. Fast forward five years to February 4, 1998, the couple welcomed their daughter, Rose, into the world.

1998
As the summer of 1998 unfolded, Max Payne found himself immersed in a life that starkly contrasted with his tumultuous upbringing. Serving as a detective for the Midtown South/Hell’s Kitchen division of the NYPD, he had not only established a successful career but also crafted a haven he had never experienced in his youth. Nestled in a suburban home in Jersey, Max relished the joys of family life, sharing the space with his loving wife, Michelle, and their recently born daughter, Rose. This idyllic setting became, in Max’s own words, the realization of the true “American Dream” that had eluded him earlier in life.

The Payne residence massacre
Tragedy struck on August 22, 1998, when Michelle and Rose Payne fell victim to Valkyr-fueled assailants clad in green jumpsuits who forcibly entered the Payne residence. Max, arriving home amidst the violent intrusion, discovered his house in chaos. While successfully dispatching the armed intruders, he was tragically unable to save his family. Overwhelmed with grief, Max could only scream in anguish as he held his wife’s lifeless body.
Following the burial of his family at the Golgotha Cemetery, Max, now a widower, decides to embrace Alex Balder’s proposition and becomes a member of the DEA. Motivated by a desire to dismantle the network of traffickers and producers behind the previously unknown drug, Valkyr, which played a role in the tragedy that befell his family, Max initiates the Valkyr Case

2000: The revelations of the Valkyr Case
Undercover work

Around two years later, in December 2000, the DEA begins to witness progress in the Valkyr Case. A valuable informant provides information linking the Valkyr distribution to the Punchinello Crime Family of the Mafia. Seizing the opportunity, Max Payne goes undercover within the gang, infiltrating their ranks as an undercover officer.

Over a span of three months, from December 2000 to early February 2001, Max assumes the role of a rising gangster, establishing connections with increasingly higher-ranking members of the crime family. His objective is to unveil the origin of the Valkyr drug. During this period, he encounters the Finito Brothers, frequents Lupino’s Hotel, and notably forms a connection with Vincent Gognitti, the highest-ranking member he manages to get acquainted with. Jack Lupino, the primary suspect in Valkyr trafficking, remains elusive throughout Max’s undercover operation.

Operating as a covert double agent, Max Payne maintains communication exclusively with two DEA agents: Alex Balder and B.B. These two individuals are also the sole members of law enforcement privy to Max’s undercover status, a strategic measure designed to minimize the risk of any potential mole within the agency discovering his identity and jeopardizing the entire operation.

Roscoe Street Station
In February 2001, amid an intense winter blizzard, Max Payne receives an urgent call from B.B., revealing crucial information about Jack Lupino. B.B. arranges a swift meeting between Max and Balder at the Roscoe Street Metro Station in the Bronx, New York City.

Navigating the treacherous weather, Max boards a metro train to reach the station, only to sense an ominous atmosphere upon arrival. The discovery of a deceased Transit Police officer prompts him to draw his Beretta 92fs Pistol. The station is teeming with armed Mafia thugs eliminating Transit Police officers as part of an intricate Roscoe Bank Heist operation nearby. Engaging in intense firefights, Max maneuvers through the station, including its abandoned sections, and the Roscoe Bank in search of Balder.

After a relentless search, Max locates Alex Balder at Roscoe, but their conversation is abruptly cut short as Max witnesses his friend’s cold-blooded murder. Defeating the remaining enemies at the station, Max, feeling bereft of all he held dear, resolves to unleash his revenge upon the Mafia amidst the worst winter storm to hit New York City in a century.

Soon, Max finds himself framed for the murder of Alex Balder, prompting an intense manhunt led by NYPD Police Chief Jim Bravura. The city plunges into chaos as Max becomes the prime target in a relentless pursuit for justice.

Hunting down Punchinello
Ascending the criminal hierarchy, Max Payne begins with the low-ranking Finito Brothers and advances to Vincent Gognitti, the Mafia underboss and right-hand man to Jack Lupino. After a perilous rooftop pursuit, Max leaves Gognitti wounded in an alley, extracting Lupino’s whereabouts. In the Gothic nightclub Ragna Rock, Max eliminates the fanatical Valkyr baron Lupino. There, he encounters Mona Sax, a hired killer, and discovers their shared pursuit of the Punchinello crime family leader, Angelo Punchinello. Following a cautious exchange of bullets, Mona offers Max a drink, which he accepts. As Max consumes it, he succumbs to unconsciousness, learning from Mona that she spiked the drink to prevent him from endangering her sister.

During his unconscious state, Max endures a nightmarish ordeal, haunted by the cries of his deceased daughter and memories of crime-fighting days with his partner, Alex. The nightmare culminates in Max witnessing himself inadvertently causing his wife’s death.

Emerging from Ragna Rock, Max encounters Russian mobster Vladimir Lem, who proposes a deal: in exchange for eliminating Lem’s traitor Boris Dime at the docks, Max secures a cache of weapons for his vendetta.

Awaiting an opportunity to catch Angelo Punchinello off guard, Max arranges a meeting at the Don’s restaurant. However, the rendezvous turns into a trap, with mobsters attempting to burn down the building. Despite escaping, Max decides to confront Punchinello head-on, storming his manor, dispatching henchmen (including the notorious Trio), and confronting the Don. Before extracting valuable information, Aesir Corporation’s Nicole Horne and her Killer Suits intervene, killing Punchinello. Outnumbered, Max reluctantly surrenders to the mercenaries, leading to Horne administering a lethal Valkyr overdose in an attempt to end his life.

The true enemy
Enduring his Valkyr-induced hallucinations and psychological torment, Max Payne relentlessly pursues his elusive adversary, Horne. Tracking her to the Cold Steel foundry, he infiltrates the Deep Six, a clandestine military laboratory beneath the plant. Uncovering the Project Valhalla files, Max learns that Horne orchestrated the murder of his wife and daughter, Michelle, who had been uncovering the truth behind Valhalla and Valkyr. Forced to flee as Horne’s operatives detonate the facility to eliminate loose ends, Max escapes the perilous depths.

Returning to the surface, Max receives a call from B.B., urging a meeting at the Choir Communications Garage. Confronting B.B. and his armed escorts, Max exposes the deceitful DEA agent as Balder’s murderer. Despite B.B.’s attempts to bribe Max into abandoning his vendetta, Max refuses, sparking a deadly shootout that concludes with B.B.’s demise.

A call from Alfred Woden leads Max to the Asgard Building. Woden discloses the existence of the Inner Circle and their desire for Max to eliminate Horne discreetly. Woden admits to sending Michelle documents about Horne and Valkyr while she worked at the DA’s office. In exchange for completing the task, Woden pledges to expunge all legal charges against Max.

However, Horne’s mercenaries launch a sudden attack, assassinating the Inner Circle and compelling Max to flee. Amidst the chaos, Max observes Woden, seemingly lifeless, rising unharmed among the fallen bodies of his accomplices, revealing the premeditated nature of his response to the assault.

End of the vendetta
In a final assault on the Aesir Headquarters, Max Payne confronts fierce opposition, eliminating anyone obstructing his path. Along the way, he encounters Mona Sax once more, witnessing her tragic demise as she is shot in the head. Undeterred, Max proceeds to the building’s mainframe, disabling locks hindering access to the penthouse.

Taking on the remaining guards impeding Horne’s escape, Max reaches the penthouse and the skyscraper’s rooftop. As Horne attempts to flee on an armed helicopter, Max intervenes. He sabotages the broadcasting antenna, causing it to collapse and crush the helicopter, ultimately ending Horne’s life. The mission for vengeance reaches its climactic conclusion.

Shortly thereafter, the police arrive in full force and apprehend Max Payne. Benefiting from Alfred Woden’s considerable political influence, Payne is exonerated of all charges, marking the conclusion of his tumultuous journey.

2001-2003
Following his exoneration, Max Payne returns to the NYPD and joins the Homicide division, working under the now-demoted Lieutenant Jim Bravura. In this unit, he collaborates with the skilled detective Valerie Winterson, tackling and solving various murder cases. Their success in solving high-profile cases, including apprehending a notorious serial killer, earns them recognition with headlines in the newspapers.

2003: The Cleaner Case
Investigating the crimes

On a rainy night, Max Payne responds to a “shots fired” call and stumbles upon a perplexing situation involving a group of armed assailants posing as employees of the Squeaky Cleaning Company. A subsequent visit to the Russian mobster Vladimir Lem unveils an escalating mob war between the Italians, led by Vinnie Gognitti, and the Russians. Amidst a series of rain-drenched nights, Max Payne finds himself once again thrust into the heart of rapidly unfolding and brutal criminal events in New York City.

Surviving her gunshot wound at Aesir HQ, Mona Sax reaches out to Max Payne in his apartment, revealing that both of them are now targeted for assassination. Their meeting is abruptly disrupted by the Cleaners, who launch an invasion of the apartment building and its surroundings with the objective of eliminating the duo. While Sax swiftly escapes, Max, after successfully repelling the assailants, discovers that he has been under constant surveillance by the faction behind the attack. Surveillance photos, detailed layouts of his apartment, and recorded phone conversations unveil the extent to which he has been monitored and spied on by his adversaries.

Determined to unravel the mysteries behind those seeking his demise, Max Payne initiates another meeting with Mona Sax, fully aware that she is a wanted murder suspect in his colleague Valerie Winterson’s case. This time, the rendezvous takes place in Sax’s hideout—the abandoned Address Unknown Funhouse on Coney Island. Together, they decide to follow a lead involving Sax’s contact, Corcoran, a member of the Inner Circle. Mona asserts that Corcoran holds the crucial answers they seek, as the secretive society is intricately entwined in their predicament.

Embarking on their mission, Max Payne and Mona Sax head to the upscale Upper East Side apartments, only to discover that the building has already been infiltrated by the Cleaners. Collaborating, with Mona overseeing the security system’s cameras and Max eliminating the assailants, they comb the area but find Corcoran already deceased. As Max confronts, battles, and defeats the hitmen’s field leader, Kaufman, Sax is apprehended by the arriving police, led by Winterson..

Suspension from the force

In the aftermath of the shootout at the NYPD police station, Max Payne faces the ire of his superior, Bravura, and colleagues in Homicide for his collaboration with the wanted fugitive, Mona Sax. As a consequence, Payne is relegated to desk duty, while Sax is confined to a cell. However, their respite is short-lived, as more Cleaners, determined to execute Mona, audaciously storm the station through an underground parking lot connected to the holding cells. Once again, Max dispatches the intruders, allowing the imprisoned assassin to exploit the chaos and escape. Frustrated with the limitations of conventional police procedures in solving the case, Max leaves the station, setting out to locate Mona Sax again. Unexpectedly, Vladimir Lem appears in his car, offering Max a ride to Coney Island. Max’s actions at the station are interpreted by the NYPD as intentionally aiding Sax’s escape, leading to him being declared wanted once more.

At Mona’s hideout, the two fugitives reunite, and their long-suppressed attraction erupts in an intimate moment. Their connection is abruptly interrupted by another incursion of Cleaner commandos, following Payne. Max and Mona attempt to escape, but they get separated in the chaos. When the hitmen’s forces are decimated, the remaining Cleaners retreat, providing Max with an opportunity. He stealthily boards one of their vans, ready to track them to their base of operations and confront them directly.

The van transports Max to the vast Castling Construction Site, where he radios his location to Sax, who swiftly heads to the scene. Navigating through the area, Max eliminates any thugs in his path and explores a condemned building rigged with explosives in search of evidence or clues. At the top floor of the structure, he makes a chilling discovery – dozens of body bags containing the remains of opponents of the Cleaners, who have already been eliminated and dumped there for disposal.

Max Payne communicates with Mona Sax, who is engaged in combat with Cleaners in the nearby construction grounds, urging her to call the police to collect the evidence discovered in the condemned building. However, Sax adamantly refuses. An unintended activation of demolition charges forces Payne to hastily escape the crumbling structure. While he survives the explosions, he finds himself in an open field within the construction site, surrounded by enemy commandos and snipers. Sax, armed with her Dragunov rifle, provides covering fire from various vantage points, and together, they overcome the remaining Cleaner resistance. With little time to strategize their next move, Valerie Winterson arrives at the site ahead of other police forces, holding them at gunpoint. In a moment of instinctive protection for Sax, Payne shoots and kills his Homicide partner but sustains a gunshot to the torso, losing consciousness.

Discovered by the NYPD, Max Payne is taken to Memorial Hospital for surgery. His respite is short-lived, as the Cleaners storm the hospital in search of him. Amidst brutal gunfights, Payne witnesses the violence inflicted upon medical personnel, security guards, and even his lieutenant, Bravura, who is shot by the thugs. Successfully fighting his way out of the hospital, Payne proceeds directly to Alfred Woden’s Manor. There, the senior Inner Circle member finally discloses the mastermind behind the mercenary army of the Cleaners, fervently attempting to eliminate all adversaries – the rebel within the secret society, Vladimir Lem.

Final revelations

Enraged by the betrayal of Russian Mob boss Vladimir Lem, Max Payne launches a furious assault, eliminating Lem’s forces at the Vodka club and thwarting their plot against Vinnie Gognitti at the Italian gangster’s used car lot. Discovering Gognitti trapped in a rigged Captain BaseBallBat-Boy suit, Payne, unable to disarm the bomb, decides to transport him to Mona’s safehouse to regroup.

Awaiting them at the funhouse is Vladimir Lem himself, surrounded by armed guards and holding the remote detonator for the suit’s charges. Threatened with the detonation of the bomb if he resists, Payne surrenders and is escorted at gunpoint to Sax’s living quarters. There, Lem attempts to provoke Max by revealing that Mona Sax, whom Payne has admired, was actually working for Alfred Woden. Furthermore, Lem discloses that Woden, a senior Inner Circle member, inadvertently played a role in Payne’s family tragedy by leaking the Project Valhalla files to the D.A., where Max’s wife had been employed, and Nicole Horne later discovered them. Convinced that Payne’s thirst for revenge is unquenchable, the Russian mobster shoots him, rendering him unconscious once again. After Lem vaporizes Gognitti and departs, the Address Unknown funhouse catches fire. Mona Sax, in the vicinity, braves the flames and the crumbling structure to rescue Max’s motionless body. Despite his bleeding and disoriented state, the detective dismisses Sax’s concerns about his condition, designating the final battleground against Lem: Alfred Woden’s manor, where the Russian plans to eliminate his one-time mentor.

Upon reaching the manor, Max Payne and Mona Sax discover that enemy commandos have fortified defensive positions, demolition charges are strategically placed, and Alfred Woden’s bodyguards have defected to Vladimir Lem’s side. Despite these adversities, they aggressively storm the building, eliminating any resistance in their path. Payne takes charge of clearing the bottom floor, leaving the second floor to Sax. As they delve deeper into the inner chambers of Alfred Woden’s residence, Mona inadvertently reveals her affiliation when she demonstrates knowledge of a hidden switch to a locked door. Just as Max is about to confront her about her employer, she strikes him on the head with a pistol, rendering him unconscious. Sax confesses to the detective that her orders include cleaning up the entire “mess,” which encompasses him. However, she hesitates to pull the trigger, eventually discarding her pistol, overcome by her emotions for Max. To Max’s horror, he then witnesses her being gunned down from behind by Vladimir Lem.

Finishing off the Russian
Kneeling beside Mona Sax’s lifeless body, Max Payne receives an apology from Alfred Woden, who wheels in from his protective panic room in his wheelchair. However, when the elderly man is fatally shot by the Russian mobster, Max seizes the opportunity to leap at Lem and engage in a struggle. In the midst of the confrontation, Lem employs his detonator to trigger explosive charges, sending both of them tumbling through the ceiling into the basement before he makes his escape from the scene.

Consumed by revenge and armed only with Vladimir Lem’s Desert Eagle, Max Payne relentlessly pursues his target. Along the way, he eliminates the last remnants of Lem’s men and skillfully evades additional explosions. The NYPD detective corners Lem in a spacious area just below the external roof of the manor, where a platform supports a massive suspended glass dome. As Vladimir Lem climbs onto the platform, he hurls bombs at Payne from its protective cover. Dodging the explosions tearing apart the surroundings, Max shoots the beams holding the construction together. When the structure collapses, exposing Lem, Max Payne inflicts a mortal wound on his arch-nemesis. The mobster plummets to a violent demise along with the detached platform. Returning to Mona Sax’s dying body amidst the chaos of NYPD officers searching for survivors, Max Payne shares a final kiss with the woman.

Leaving the NYPD

Mid 2000s
Despite killing Winterson during the Cleaner Case, Max successfully proved her connection to Vlad, securing his exoneration for acting in self-defense. However, public suspicion persisted, leading Max and Bravura to agree on his resignation from the NYPD with a modest pension. Maintaining contact with his former boss until Bravura’s eventual death from a heart attack, Max spiraled into a life of drinking, painkiller abuse, and depression. In his cluttered new apartment, he mostly watches TV, occasionally venturing outside to witness the downfall of members of the Punchinello Crime Family, either apprehended by the police or turning into street criminals and hustlers. Despite the apparent change in New Jersey, Max anticipates the emergence of a new crime family, and indeed, the DeMarco Crime Family establishes itself as a formidable power in the years that follow.

2011: The organs harvesting scandal
DeMarco’s hunt

~“I ain’t a cop no more.”―Max to Raul Passos, 2011.~

On a Monday in November 2011, Max experiences a haunting nightmare about the women he has lost in his life. Upon waking, he dresses and heads to the tombstone of his late wife and baby daughter, embracing and kissing it. Seeking solace, he visits Walton’s Bar, where memories of his wife’s preference for Gin and Tonic resurface as a local bar girl orders the same. Tony DeMarco and his thugs harass Max, leading to a confrontation where Tony brandishes a gun, threatening Max’s life. Raul Passos intervenes, chasing off the thugs and offering Max a job in Brazil, which Max initially declines. They share drinks and camaraderie with the bar girl. Tony and his thugs return, escalating tensions, and Tony assaults the girl. Max reacts by shooting Tony, prompting Max and Raul to escape the bar. Back at Max’s place, Anthony DeMarco, the New Jersey Mafia Don, confronts them. In the ensuing chaos, Brewer, a neighbor, aids Max by eliminating some of DeMarco’s thugs with a shotgun before sacrificing himself with a pack of explosives. Max and Passos regroup, and Passos suggests laying low in Queens with a contact until they can leave New York.

Max and Raul return to Michelle and Rose’s tombstone, where Max reflects on his self-loathing for failing to protect his family from Valkyr junkies and his resentment towards a world that spared him. As they pay their respects, DeMarco’s goons launch an attack. Amidst the confrontation, Max contemplates his hatred and the unfairness of his survival. Caught by DeMarco, they face the grim order to dig their own graves. In a desperate bid for escape, Max incapacitates a hitman with a shovel and blinds another with dirt, while a battered Passos seizes a gun, eliminating another assailant. Fleeing through the morgue, they reach the funeral home’s main office, where Passos calls for assistance to exit New Jersey.

Early works in Aruba, Panama and Brazil
In December 2011, having successfully escaped New Jersey and New York City, Max takes up a role as a bodyguard for the Branco family, which includes Rodrigo, Victor, Marcelo, Fabiana, and Giovanna.

Their initial assignment takes them to the Caribbean, followed by a second job in Panama. The task involves delivering something, later revealed to be money, to one of Victor’s associates, a banker. After completing the mission, Max, Raul, and Marcelo unwind on a yacht with Marcelo’s friend, Daphne Bernstein. Max retires to his room for a brief rest, only to wake up to a pirate attack on the yacht.

Fighting off the armed invaders, Max discovers Raul and Marcelo transporting bags to a truck. Amid the chaos, Marcelo speeds away with the bag, leaving Max and Raul to fend off the attackers. Unfortunately, upon investigating the yacht, they find all passengers dead, leading them to return to São Paulo for their next assignments with a heavy heart.

Branco kidnapping

A few weeks after the Panama incident, the Brancos organize a charity party, inviting various friends and associates, including Unidade de Forças Especiais (UFE) commander Armando Becker, detective Wilson Da Silva, and doctor Arthur Fischer. While Max gazes at the city from the rooftop, Raul joins him, providing insights into some of the guests.

The festivities take a dark turn when members of the Comando Sombra (CS) attack the party, aiming to abduct Rodrigo and Fabiana. Max intervenes, saving Fabiana by descending from a balcony. He then heads to the parking garage, where he rescues Rodrigo from an attempted abduction. The UFE, led by Becker, arrives to deal with the remaining CS members, but their actions are halted by Da Silva. Raul appears on the scene and checks in on Max’s well-being.

In the days that follow, Max and Raul accompany Fabiana, Marcelo, and Giovanna to Club Moderno. Max takes a moment to unwind at the club, but the tranquility is shattered when the CS strikes again, attempting to kidnap Fabiana and Giovanna. Max confronts the CS within the club and eventually boards Raul’s helicopter. While Max, Raul, and Marcelo witness Giovanna’s escape, Max manages to rescue her, but Fabiana is seized by the assailants.

Rescue attempts

After the kidnapping, Max and Raul confer with Rodrigo, Victor, and Marcelo regarding the ransom letter received from the Comando Sombra. They opt to proceed with the exchange at the Galatians FC stadium.

Upon reaching the stadium, both factions become targets of the Crachá Preto, a third party comprised of former officers and soldiers. In the ensuing chaos, Max sustains a gunshot wound to the shoulder, while the snipers from the Crachá Preto eliminate members of the Comando Sombra. The surviving Comando Sombra members flee within the stadium with the ransom money, prompting Max and Raul to pursue them. However, the last remaining member is killed, and the Crachá Preto seizes the stolen funds.

Max and Raul hastily board a helicopter, with Max keenly observing two mysterious figures before their escape. The tumultuous events at Walton’s bar linger in Max’s thoughts following this incident.

After the failed exchange, Max and Raul embark on a mission to rescue Fabiana through unconventional means. Navigating the waters on a speedboat, they approach the Comando Sombra’s base situated along the harbor near the Tiete river. Max stealthily infiltrates the area, spotting Serrano, the CS leader, on a boat engaged in conversation with two members. Seizing an opportunity, Max eliminates the two members and presses further into the location.

While observing a television feed revealing Fabiana’s battered yet still living state, Max becomes entangled in a fierce gunfight with the CS. He ventures into the area where Fabiana was mistreated, only to find it deserted. Undeterred, Max proceeds to another building at the harbor, witnessing Serrano taking Fabiana onto his boat in an attempt to escape. Dispatching Serrano’s henchmen, Max discovers plans outlining an impending attack on Club Moderno and a newspaper article detailing the plight of Rodrigo and Fabiana.

Max rushes to the pier, eliminating the men present. At the pier’s end, he witnesses Serrano sailing away with Fabiana. A gunshot ignites fuel barrels, causing a destructive explosion. In a daring move, Max leaps to safety, and Raul Passos arrives just in time with his speedboat to rescue him. They give pursuit to Serrano, but encounter a barrage of boats and foot soldiers firing at them from the docks.

As they approach Serrano’s boat, their vessel collides with a small building, leaving it inoperable and dashing their hopes once more of reaching Fabiana in time.

A few days later, Max and Raul arrive at the Branco HQ, and Rodrigo, concerned about Fabiana’s situation, contemplates moving away from São Paulo once she’s safely back. As they discuss plans, Rodrigo reflects on his wealth and fears he might be just another rich fool. Max reassures him, acknowledging Rodrigo as a decent man despite his wealth.

Soon after, the Crachá Preto launches an attack on the building. Despite efforts to secure Rodrigo’s office, they encounter technical issues. Max and an IT expert fight through the chaos to fix the system. After resolving the problem, Max urges Rodrigo to stay in the protected office. Upon Max’s return, he discovers Rodrigo dead from a gunshot to the head. Despite the tragedy, Max resolves to continue the search for Fabiana. As he reaches for a bottle of alcohol, he notices a bomb, narrowly escaping the ensuing explosion. Max dispatches the remaining Crachá Preto members and, upon leaving the building, encounters an injured goon with vital information about Fabiana’s location in Nova Esperança. Following the attack, Max shaves his head and embarks on a journey to the Nova Esperança favela.

Journey in the favela

A day later, Max reaches the Nova Esperança favela to search for Fabiana. He contacts Victor and Marcelo, surprising them as they believed him dead, and shares the recent events, including Fabiana’s location.

Within the favela, a local kid offers to assist him. The child guides Max to a street party, but Fabiana is not present. Gang members approach, robbing Max of his belongings. Despite the setback, he finds himself in a strip club, where Detective Wilson Da Silva introduces himself and provides information about Max’s adversaries—Comando Sombra and Crachá Preto. Da Silva discloses Victor’s connection to the latter gang.

The detective informs Max that Fabiana is located uphill in the favela, giving him an M1911 pistol before leaving, suggesting a potential alliance. Max becomes embroiled in a shootout at the club after refusing to surrender his gun. Escaping, Max engages in a large-scale firefight, making his way to Fabiana’s presumed location. Entering a warehouse, he confronts and eliminates the gang members who earlier robbed him. Proceeding to the hill, Max overhears a conversation between Marcelo and Serrano, witnessing a tense exchange involving money, Giovanna, and a beaten Fabiana.

Realizing the exchange went awry, Max intervenes, but Serrano disarms him. The situation escalates as Serrano prepares to shoot Giovanna. Max pleads for her life, but Serrano kills Fabiana instead. Before he can harm Marcelo and Giovanna, the UFE attacks the favela. Serrano escapes with Giovanna, Marcelo, and the money, instructing his men to deal with Max. In the aftermath, Max reflects on the events in New Jersey with Passos after eliminating DeMarco.

~“Here I was again, halfway down the world. And still looking at the bodies of women I was supposed to protect”―Max looking at Fabiana’s corpse.~

Following the flashback, Max disarms the gangster assigned to deal with him and begins his search for Giovanna and Marcelo. Along the way, he engages in combat with a sizable contingent of UFE soldiers, witnessing the group’s ruthless tactics.
Max is taken aback as he observes a transaction between the UFE and the Crachá Preto. The shocking revelation unfolds that the UFE, intended to protect people, has been involved in selling them to the Crachá Preto. Max trails Milo Rego, the second-in-command of Crachá Preto, witnessing his orders to burn Marcelo alive while holding Giovanna hostage. Max intervenes to save Marcelo, incapacitating one of the soldiers in the process, but unfortunately fails to rescue him. Rego then discards Giovanna and wields a machete. Max successfully blocks, disarms, kicks, and ultimately kills Rego, escaping the scene with Giovanna. Moments later, Alvaro Neves arrives, and Giovanna conveys that Neves holds Max responsible for Rego’s death.

Hours later, Max and Giovanna leave the favela, reaching a more urban area. Giovanna discovers a phone and contacts Raul while they seek refuge in a bus wreck at a graveyard. There, Giovanna drops a bombshell, revealing to Max that she is pregnant with Raul’s child, leaving Max in shock.

The Crachá Preto members find Max and Giovanna in the bus graveyard. While Giovanna hides during the gunfight, Max takes down the attackers. As more soldiers arrive, Giovanna panics and seeks cover behind barrels as snipers target her. After eliminating the remaining soldiers, Max and Giovanna enter a factory building. Max descends to the ground floor, while Giovanna, stuck on the upper floor, stays put as Max confronts and defeats reinforcements. Giovanna eventually discovers a way to lower the stairs for Max, leading to their reunion.

As they prepare to exit the building, a Crachá Preto soldier enters, holding Giovanna at gunpoint. Max saves her by shooting down the mercenary. The duo escapes in a bus, with Giovanna at the wheel, while Max fends off pursuing soldiers. The bus crashes into a building after being struck by another bus.

Fortunately, Raul arrives in a helicopter. Giovanna rushes to him while Max stays behind to eliminate the remaining soldiers. To Max’s surprise, Raul takes off without him. In the aftermath at the warzone, Wilson Da Silva encounters Max, and they drive away from the scene. At a garage, Da Silva unveils various revelations to Max, including Raul’s allegiance to Victor, additional details about their mission in Panama, and other crucial information.

War with the Crachá Preto
Da Silva leaves Max near the Imperial Palace Hotel, the Cracha Preto’s hideout and front building. Inside the hotel, Max discovers a room containing kidnapped civilians and successfully releases them from captivity, including Serrano, who appears beaten and diminished.

Navigating through the hotel, Max reaches a morgue where he encounters Arthur Fischer, a doctor implicated in the body harvesting scheme. Fischer, fearing for his life, attempts to bribe Max with money. Serrano intervenes, addressing the doctor for his crimes and ultimately executing him, as Max departs the scene.

Uncovering a bag filled with C4 bombs, Max strategically plants them on the hotel’s walls. After setting up the explosives, Max confronts Neves at the pinnacle of the hotel. Upon activating the bombs, the building collapses. Max fights off Neves’ men but succumbs to another explosion and falls. Neves emerges, aiming his handgun at Max, only to be shot in the head by Raul, who arrives just in time to save Max.

Following a brief argument, the duo flees the crumbling hotel, now completely in ruins.

Showdown against the UFE

Outside the 55TH Battalion Of The City Police Special Force Unit, Max, Giovanna, Passos, and Da Silva gather after Max and Passos successfully escape from the collapsing hotel. Giovanna expresses her gratitude to Max for saving her, assuring him that it’s not his fault for being unable to save Fabiana. Passos also thanks Max before leaving with Giovanna, leaving Max with parting words: “Try to look after yourself Max, huh? Life is worth living.”

Da Silva then reveals to Max that Victor and Becker are responsible for the death of Victor’s family, and Victor is involved in illegal activities such as murder and trafficking human organs to fund his political campaign. Da Silva acknowledges the deep-rooted corruption surrounding the issue and, unable to tackle it legally, enlists Max’s help, with a bit of support from Da Silva himself.

After deliberately getting himself captured by the UFE, Max takes advantage of Da Silva’s orchestrated prison riot, incapacitating the interrogating guards. He systematically eliminates most UFE members in the building, recovering the stolen Bronco security CD that reveals Bachmeyer, a high-ranking UFE member, as Rodrigo’s killer. Confronting Bachmeyer in the UFE main office, Max shoots him in the head.

Using Bachmeyer’s card, Max gains access to Becker. While attempting to strangle Becker, Max learns from him that Victor is the mastermind behind the murders. As Victor prepares to shoot Max, a swift headbutt from Max incapacitates him. Da Silva intervenes, tasering Max and allowing the perpetrators to escape.

Thinking Victor and Becker are leaving the airport, Max and Da Silva pursue them. Da Silva searches for the Bronco plane, and Max battles through UFE members at the airport and subway station. After a brutal train ride, Max reaches the hangar, where Victor and Becker are attempting to flee on a private jet. Opting for a dramatic approach, Max faces Becker, armed with a bulletproof shield, a grenade launcher, and UFE goons. Max skillfully dispatches the UFE members, severely injuring Becker by shooting grenades launched from his gun. Leaving Becker to succumb to his wounds, Max picks up the grenade launcher and reaches Da Silva’s car, eliminating UFE members en route to Victor’s plane. Max destroys the plane just before takeoff.

Prepared to kill the badly injured Victor, Da Silva persuades Max to let him live and face trial. Victor arrogantly taunts Max about evading conviction, to which Max responds with a decisive stomp on Victor’s leg, breaking it. Da Silva and Max await the arrival of the proper authorities, leaving Victor in agonizing pain with a broken leg.

New life
A week later, Max finds himself on a beach in Bahia, casually watching TV at a bar. The news reveals that the UFE has been disbanded indefinitely due to charges of organ theft, murder, and weapons dealing. Victor, identified as the mastermind, is discovered hanged in his prison cell. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, leaving uncertainty about whether it was suicide or an act of revenge within the prison.

The bartender remarks to Max about “Local Justice,” and Max, carrying a bag, departs, strolling along the beach. He is now poised to savor the remainder of his life, liberated from the torment of his family’s tragedy, with a breathtaking sunset casting its glow behind him.

Personality

Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, Max Payne confronts each situation with the wry humor reminiscent of ‘John McClane’ and a decidedly dark sense of wit, complementing his nothing-to-lose attitude.

Max has a poetic way of describing his actions, refusing to see them as heroic and believing he deserves punishment for his deeds. His pessimistic outlook on life and his inability to find enjoyment is evident, a characteristic highlighted by Vladimir Lem in 2003.

In addition to his dark humor, Max possesses a morbid side. For instance, in Chapter 2 of the second video game, he sarcastically refers to Vladimir Lem as “a gentleman,” providing reassurance to his “girlfriend” upon discovering a recorded phone message from Vlad to his secret mistress. Even in the face of danger, Max tends to make jokes, whether it’s a conversation with Frankie “The Bat” Niagara while bound to a chair or being pinned down by The Cleaners, expecting Mona to provide cover fire. Max’s dry humor continues in Max Payne 3, maintaining its witty edge.

Max Payne pursues his enemies with unwavering determination, bordering on fanaticism. Regardless of injuries or legal boundaries, once he sets his sights on a target, he refuses to let go. Whether it involves eliminating obstacles in his path, leaping onto a moving train, or evading explosive charges, Payne overcomes whatever impedes his quest for revenge.

However, following the events of 2001, Max appears to be grappling with a heightened level of PTSD and depression, concealed beneath the surface for three years after his family’s murder. The dark and dry humor in his monologues diminishes during the 2003 events. His apartment reflects a state of disarray, and a tapped phone recording reveals Max calling a phone sex line, expressing the emptiness he feels despite unraveling the truth and eliminating key figures in the Valkyr case.

This shift might be attributed to the fact that Max no longer had a clear purpose to live for after avenging his family. Undercover with the DEA, he maintained a facade and obsessive drive. The murder of DEA handler Alex Balder, a dear friend, in 2001 left Max without a pillar of support. In 2003, retired from the NYPD, Max succumbs to depression, resorting to substance abuse with alcohol and painkillers. The killings of Valerie Winterson and Mona Sax deepen his layers of guilt and sorrow. Despite his desperate and survival-oriented motivation in the third game, Max occasionally displays a sense of honor, even within his dark and melancholic worldview.

Appearance
In the early 1990s, Max Payne’s attire consists of a leather jacket (similar to the one worn throughout the series), a white shirt paired with a necktie, jeans, and black shoes.

During the events of 2001, Max, working undercover, adopts typical street clothes, including a black leather jacket, an orange open panther shirt, a white T-shirt accessorized with a necklace, black pants, and black shoes. Standing at 6 feet (183 cm) tall, Max maintains a casual yet stylish appearance.

In 2003, having returned to the police force, Max is outfitted in a relatively smart office suit, retaining his trademark leather jacket adorned with a tie until it is lost in the hospital.

Between 2003 and 2012, Max is spotted in various outfits. While in New York, he sticks to his traditional leather jacket, combining it with a white collared shirt featuring a tie, grey jeans, and stylish black shoes. Later, he is seen wearing a casual gray suit, and in another instance, he sports a blue bulletproof vest over his clothes. During a significant portion of this period, he sports a beard and is later observed with a bald head. In some instances, Max opts for a white undershirt paired with a shoulder holster for his handguns, tan-colored cargo pants, and tan shoes. His wardrobe also includes a colorful Aloha shirt while navigating the São Paulo favelas.

Max Payne maintained a consistently athletic build at least until 2003, fitting well into his clothes. However, due to factors such as depression, alcohol abuse, and the natural aging process, he gradually gained some weight around 2005-2011.

Skills

Max Payne maintained a consistently athletic build at least until 2003, fitting well into his clothes. However, due to factors such as depression, alcohol abuse, and the natural aging process, he gradually gained some weight around 2005-2011.

Max Payne exhibits remarkable pain tolerance, enduring multiple ballistic wounds and still maintaining effective combat capabilities. In dire situations, he relies on Painkillers for recovery, although this might be a gameplay element. Throughout the story, Max demonstrates extraordinary physical endurance, surviving a direct shot to the head (Max Payne 2), a massive explosion (Max Payne 3), and a Valkyr drug overdose (the original game), incidents that would typically prove fatal. Max also possesses a limited healing factor, allowing him to recover a small amount of health after sustaining injuries, though not sufficient for complete recovery without Painkillers.

Additionally, Max showcases ambidextrous abilities, enabling him to dual-wield single-handed weapons. Over the years, his expertise grows, allowing him to handle two more powerful guns simultaneously (e.g., 2 Desert Eagles by 2003, 2 sawed-off shotguns by 2012). In intense firefights, Max employs shootdodge maneuvers to minimize exposure to incoming gunfire and surprise enemies, particularly around corners.

Interests

During his childhood, Max Payne developed a keen interest in ancient myths, with his grandfather sharing Greek myths, including the Odyssey, as bedtime stories. Max engaged in poker games with Alex Balder, showcasing a social side to his personality.

A framed picture of baseball players at the Payne Residence in 1998 suggests Max’s potential interest in the sport. Additionally, there are indications that Max might have played the piano at some point. He exhibits the ability to play a bit during the events of 2001 and 2003, albeit with a few mistakes. Throughout the events of 2003 and 2012, Max takes moments during his adventures to practice whenever he encounters a piano, eventually playing out the “soundtrack to his life.”

Vices

“One vice at a time.”―Max on his painkillers issues.

Max Payne was a smoker before 1998, but he decided to quit shortly after the birth of his daughter, Rose. He proudly informed Alex Balder that he was making this lifestyle change for the well-being of his newborn.

However, by the mid-2000s, Max succumbed to alcoholism and painkiller abuse. He resumed smoking during this period. While in Brazil, Payne successfully overcame his issues with alcohol but continued to rely on painkillers. One week after the airport shootout, he was observed having a smoke.