I'm kind of concerned about one of my favorite franchises - Max Payne.  The newest game in the series seems to be departing from the tried-and-true formula of the previous games and as such I'm becoming a bit skeptical.  It all started with the full reveal of Max in the new game, and puns like "Max Stain" were abound.  Basically he looks like an old bum these days.  That's odd, because in the previous games Max always maintained a conservative yet professional look even when facing some particularly troubling situations.  Before and after pics are below.

Before

After

However the changes don't end there.  The new game takes place roughly 12 years after the events that occurred in "The Fall of Max Payne," and a whole lot can happen in 12 years.  What does it matter you ask?  Well, it's possible that the developer (Rockstar Vancouver, not Remedy Entertainment who developed the first two) could manufacture some history in those 12 years that isn't exactly coherent with what the fans have come to expect.

Another point of contention is the fact that Max Payne 3 doesn't take place in the film noir haven of New York City (a trademark of the franchise) but instead in São Paulo, Brazil.  One could assume that a down-on-his-luck Max moved to Brazil to retire?  Who knows.  Also, has Max ever not been down on his luck?  Anyways, this is a game I've been waiting for since forever.  I'm a huge fan of the other titles in the series and I really hope that this one can hold up to those standards.