GameSpot and GameSpy are the first two sites to post a preview of Max Payne 2, offering impressions and screenshots from a recent demonstration of the game at Rockstar. Here's something the guys at GameSpy had to say.

On the visual front, where much of our demo focused, it was apparent that Remedy has really been tweaking the code to create an extremely robust graphics engine for a shooter. The proprietary engine has been completely revamped, with the addition of Havoc physics code to create popular "rag doll" effects for those dozens upon dozens of bad guys that you'll take down, and this results in what we can only say you'll have to see to believe. With improved real-time shadows, dynamic lighting and destructive elements, things really are getting pushed to the max (pun intended)... and maybe beyond.