Max Payne 2 provides a summary of the events that took place during the first game to the player as told by Max himself. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be. As they progress, players access other weapons including handguns, shotguns, sub-machine guns, assault rifles, long-range rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. Initially, the player's only weapon is a 9mm Pistol. Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne for most of the game, but plays as Mona Sax in a few levels to gain a different perspective.
