: The game is set during the "worst blizzard in New York history," using snowy, dilapidated environments like subway stations, tenements, and corporate towers to heighten the sense of isolation and dread. Nightmare Sequences
Sam Lake’s dialogue is often mocked for being overwrought. Lines like "The flesh of fallen angels" and "I didn't like the cemetery. Too many people I knew there" are either genius or ridiculous. But in the context of Max’s shattered psyche, they work perfectly. The noir internal monologue elevates the game from a shooter to a playable detective novel. max payne 1rip averanted best