8 Amazing Video Game Sequels Not Made By The Original Developers

7. Max Payne 3

Remedy made a name for themselves with the original Max Payne games, with their moody, graphic novel-inspired art and solid slow-mo shooting revolutionising third-person action games.

However, Remedy moved on, and not one to leave an IP languishing, publisher Rockstar took the game in-house for the controversial third outing, which shaved Max's head and took him out of the perpetually-nighttime streets of New Jersey, for the bright, wide-open spaces of Brazil.

Once everyone made peace with the change in focus, it became clear that Max Payne 3 was going to be one of the most detailed third-person shooters ever. The stickler for the small things that Rockstar is meant that the sequel was essential tech porn for anyone who enjoys seeing weighty, realistically animated combat mechanics in action.

Even now, years later, the gunplay feels amazing, and the control you have over Max leads to the most hectic, explosive, over-the-top shootouts this side of John Woo's Stranglehold.

What's overlooked as well - tragically - is that it shipped with a surprisingly great multiplayer suite, which managed to somehow nail the bullet-time effect in an online space.

Imagine that.

[JB]