Based off of story details we learned all the back in April, we know Max is residing in Sao Paulo, Brazil eight years after the events of Max Payne 2. Still attached to his tried and true liquid method of drowning away sorrows, he’s carving out an existence by working in private security for the wealthy Rodrigo Bronco - whose wife happens to combine her massive wealth and stunning looks with a wild party animal personality.

In a city known for preying on such types, it’s not hard to figure out where things go from there (think Tony Scott’s Man on Fire with a much older Dakota Fanning):

[HTML1]

The trailer doesn’t do as much to reveal new plot lines as it does to expand on the tone being taken with Max Payne 3. The grinding, electro-style music likely shades of some of  the Sao Paulo nightlife that we’ll get to explore, but it also plays to the sheer noise and insanity streaming through Max’s mind. He’s more off-the-rails then ever.

Also, with street gangs, mercenaries, and military or law enforcement factions all touted as possible culprits for Fabiana’s kidnapping, Max Payne 3 looks to offer up an endless supply of enemies to kill and plot twists to unwrap (The adrenaline pumping montages in the trailer should come as no surprise; Max Payne 3’s developer videos on weapons and design have been displaying the game in action for months.) Considering Rockstar wants to infuse single player story elements into multiplayer, the narrative direction could create some intriguing possibilities for both components of the game.

It’s crazy to imagine that we could have been playing Max Payne 3 in just a few weeks had it not been delayed until May. But as per usual with a development team that knows not to rest on its laurels, Rockstar seems to be plugging away at making the wait well worthwhile.

Ranters, how would you gauge your excitement for Max Payne 3? Does the new trailer pull you in on the game’s story.

Max Payne 3 blazes on to store shelves May 15, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

-

Follow me on Twitter @Brian_Sipple