10 Video Games Everyone Hated (Until They Played Them)
3. Max Payne 3
The backlash against Max Payne 3's reveal was absolutely scorching, because though fans of the action franchise were desperate for a new entry, they quickly began to second-guess that desire once the threequel was unveiled.
Max Payne 3 boldly shifted away from the gritty film noir-esque aesthetic of the two prior games, largely moving the action from New York City to sunkissed São Paulo, Brazil, resulting in a more colourful aesthetic compared to what came before.
This was typified by the decision to have Max wear a Hawaiian shirt for most of the game - a choice that seemed to indicate that new developer Rockstar, taking over from Remedy, didn't really understand what fans actually wanted.
And while Max Payne 3 ultimately underperformed in sales, those who actually did play it were mostly left pleasantly surprised by how damn entertaining it is.
Even accepting the style shift, the balletic gunplay felt just as fun and fluid as it did in the previous games, and the cinematic presentation was absolutely first-rate.