10 Video Game Tragedies That Elevated Stories
1. Max Payne and Mona Sax - Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Finally, we come to Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Developed by Remedy entertainment, it stands as the most underappreciated of the trilogy, selling well below expectations on its 2003 release.
Following the first game's straightforward tale of revenge, The Fall of Max Payne is heavily focused on a relationship that builds between the title character and femme fatale Mona Sax. They team up to track down Vladimir Lem and end up falling for each other.
This is on display through both the comic panels of the story and gameplay scenarios. One moment you'll be following Mona through an abandoned funhouse and the next you'll be covering Max from afar with a sniper rifle. It goes so far that Max kills his own superior officer to prevent Mona from being taken into custody.
In the final moments of Max Payne 2, fitting entitled "Love Hurts" Mona is killed in a gunfight, putting Max on his path of self-destruction. This comes after she refuses to kill Max based on her feelings for him.
In spite of its short length, the game is able to form a strong connection between these characters and closely tie it in with the protagonist's downward spiral.