10 Iconic Rockstar Games - Ranked From Worst To Best

Despite publishing the second title in the series, it wasn't until the third iteration that Rockstar had a hand in developing a Max Payne title, and they knocked it out of the park.

Max Payne 3 took the series out of the dark gritty streets of New York and placed it in the lights of Sao Paolo, Brazil, a city brimming with culture and life. Max is older, wiser but arguably worse than we've ever seen him before, an alcoholic getting by as a bodyguard for a wealthy family.

The game moves from set piece to set piece, setting up an explosive chain of events that deliver a captivating story. The gameplay is magnificent, building on the bullet time of the previous two games to deliver a polished, exciting experience every time you hit the corresponding button. The depraved, violent story it weaves behind the gunplay was the perfect addition to the Max Payne franchise, and fully rebooted the series for contemporary gamers.

It further proved that Rockstar is a malleable company capable of producing a stellar third-person-shooter as well as a plethora of open world games. The soundtrack, which is fully inspired by the setting, is also excellent, and serves as the cherry on top of this excellent action game.