Few things have lived up to their hype this year, including Madonna's tour, the Tomb Raider movie and the Planet Of The Apes remake.

But in the case of Max Payne, you can believe the hype.

Hailed as the best action game ever made by many gaming mags, Max Payne is also the most important game to be released in years.

The player takes control of Payne, a fugitive cop framed for the murder of his boss, as he fights for justice, uncovers plot twists and takes on the Mafia in New York.

It is notable not only for the sheer enjoyment but for being the most significant game so far in terms of closing the gap between modern films and modern games.

The gaming world is still playing catch-up and there is no technique in Max Payne we haven't seen before but the developers have forced the PC action genre to grow up fast.

The real delight of this game is you get to kill people - lots of people - while looking cool.

The sheer satisfaction of every door-busting and bullet-dodging moment will make you want to go back and kill the same roomful of bad guys in as many cool and inventive ways as your arsenal and imagination will allow.

There are four levels of difficulty to play in Max Payne and the controls are so simple Forrest Gump could master them in three minutes. The graphics and environments are as stunning as the gameplay and features.

This game is an essential part of any serious collection.

Price: £29.99.

Contact: www.maxpayne.com
Feel good factor: 10 out of 10.