Max Payne 3's attempts to give more definition to the spontaneous type of narrative you get in a round of multiplayer. To do this it's created a new mode called Gang Wars, the centrepiece of Payne's multiplayer suite. A typical match, for instance, might kick-off during the calamity of a drug deal gone horribly wrong. You must collect duffle bags gorged with cash and ferry them back to safe points. It's a standard multiplayer objective but the difference comes in the next round; instead of tasking you with the same objective, the mission changes and draws upon the events of the preceding round not only to give context but motivation for the new task.

The reasoning behind the mode is not force a new story upon players but to "highlight the dramas that happen," according to Bewsher. So in round two, for instance, a bounty might be placed on the head of the previous round's most lethal player. Or you might have to grab land from the dominant team. Say you successfully won the most new territory, in the next round you might have to frantically run around defusing bombs set on your new turf.

The objectives are connected through a voice-over by Max himself and the use of motion comics, ensuring the look and feel of Max Payne 3's single-player carries over into the multiplayer experience. And the variety of mission types available means the permutations for Gang Wars are virtually limitless.

The variety of objectives prevents one team from dominating – some reward ruthless individualism, while others encourage co-operation. It also means that rounds of Gang Wars unfold with the rhythm of the most absorbing sports game, emphasising organic drama of multiplayer – things like comebacks or last-minute wins feel more meaningful.

The multiplayer experience is augmented by the presence of Bursts – special abilities that you unlock as you accumulate XP. The perks are inspired by the individual characteristics of the factions open to players in multiplayer. In addition to Bullet Time, Max's signature skill, the most original Bursts are those that alter players' perception of reality.