Max Avoidance of 2026

I could've played Resident Evil Requiem. In fact, I almost did.

But I didn't. Instead, I played Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.

A game from 2003, which is ages ago. The blurb on the back of the box promises an INTENSE CINEMATIC 3D ACTION GAME WITH UNIQUE BULLET TIME GAMEPLAY, which is an extremely-2003 collection of words.

I have yet to play anything released this year. Instead, I have been discovering and revisiting older experiences. This isn't a conscious rejection of the Modern, nor a disinterest in games that don't scream UNIQUE BULLET TIME. No, my avoidance of 2026 largely stems from a desire to put a dent in the backlog and to play the games that I already have at home. 

To be honest, it's also due to a slight disinterest in the year thus far, and a distaste for recent developments in the video game space. Price increases and talk of $1000 next-gen consoles is all a bit off-putting, isn't it? A tad unsavoury. Makes you want to play something you already own and not participate in the right-now or the near-future.

I've also been looking elsewhere for entertainment. I recently bought a CD player, having not owned one for over fifteen years, and have been rummaging for CDs in Book Offs and the like. I get plenty of use out of Apple Music, but I'm acutely aware that I'm overly dependent upon a subscription service with zero ownership rights. I was also getting pangs of nostalgia for CD players and CDs, and I wanted to separate my enjoyment of music from phone usage, if only a little. And that's why CD-buying is my latest hobby, and why games have lost some mind share.

This lack of new gaming purchases has been a net positive. I'm saving money, as CDs are far cheaper than games of any description, and I'm also encouraging myself to get through my backlog, old and new. 

I started out the year revisiting the GBA version of Final Fantasy V, where I relearned the art of patience, stripped of the ability to fast forward encounters or manipulate gameplay. I'll admit, I did lose momentum over the final third, but overall it was an exceedingly enjoyable experience, and one that I may soon repeat with VI.

As you're aware, I've been playing P.N.0.3. I've finished it, in fact. Probably the only person in the world to have done so in 2026. Overall, I liked it, despite the horrendous tank controls. As I had the GameCube hooked up, I also put several hours into 1080 Avalanche, which was rad, and finished a decent chunk of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It's not as good as you remember, but still far better than it should have been. I was particularly impressed by how well it integrates scenes from the movie, though it's pretty jarring whenever it switches from movie Gimli to the hideously rendered in-game version. He definitely has a face for underground dwelling.

I'll shift focus to a different retro console this month, either the Dreamcast or PlayStation 1. If I opt for Sega, I'll finally start Segagaga and, time permitting, perhaps try Skies of Arcadia. If I go the Sony route, I'll lavish attention on a few of the titles I accumulated last year, which includes Racing Lagoon, Kaze no Notam and Tenchu. Will let you know.

Last month, I went through Max Payne 2 for the first time, back-compatible on Series X. I was entertained from start to finish, delighted by bullet-time combat, tickled by the painful dialogue, and soothed by the constant pitter patter of rain that follows Max wherever he goes. 

I was surprised to find some ahead-of-their-time features in MP2, which made the playthrough a smooth and enjoyable one. It utilises adaptive difficulty settings, where levels of supplies and enemy aggression are tweaked to suit your performance. There is also a quick-save function with next-to-no limitations, rendering even the most challenging of fights quite reasonable. It's a treat to discover modern sensibilities buried in older games, and to be reminded that pre-2005 gaming wasn't as barbaric as we sometimes imagine.

I finished Stranger of Paradise, which I despised at first. However, it quickly grew on me, and I was having a great time by the end. I also started Lost Odyssey, but I won't be committing to it. While it made a good impression, I don't fancy dedicating fifty or more hours to an RPG right now, especially one that I've always intended to play in Japanese. That'd be a hard fifty.

Don't worry, I haven't entirely abandoned modern gaming. I just wrapped up Minishoot' Adventures, a heady mix of old-school Zelda and bullet-hell shooters, which I'd highly recommend, and I've started South of Midnight. The combat is unremarkable, and that's being kind, but everything else about it is fascinating. I'd wager someone on the dev team has a soft spot for Prince of Persia (2008), as its influence is very evident in the look and feel of traversal. Earlier in the year, I finished Ghost of Yotei, which I enjoyed at the time but haven't thought about since. An eight, but not a memorable one.

I'm bound to eventually embrace the games of 2026. Resident Evil Requiem is the most likely candidate for first-of-the-year, and Pragmata absolutely tickles my fancy. Come May, I'll be playing Forza Horizon 6, so I can live out my fantasy of driving a car in Japan slightly faster than I already drive a car in Japan.

The wonders of gaming.