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From taking down fry cooks to gangsters, he was quickly promoted from beat cop to detective from the New York City Police Department. In the late 80s and early 90s, Max joined the New York Police Academy and was the best and top young officer in his class. Max's grandfather had an important influence on him, as he would tell him mystical stories and comfort him when he was troubled. Helene died around 1976, and Jack died prematurely in 1979, leaving Max an orphan, but he was mostly raised by his maternal grandfather. His abuse led him to become an alcoholic, and Max resented his father and even once intimidated his father with a toy revolver. Jack suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, and would often abuse Helen and Max, and have numerous affairs with women. Max Payne was born in the early 1970s, and is the son of Jack Payne, a Vietnam war veteran, and Helen Payne. In Rockstar's Max Payne 3, Max is somewhat overweight as a result of his depression and severe drinking. The death of his wife, daughter and close friend/partner (Alex Balder) had a severe effect on Max Payne, turning him into an alcoholic as well as a painkiller abuser. He begins his vigilantism by engaging in a shootout with the mobsters working with Jack Lupino in the subway. In response to the incident, he went undercover to wage war against the Mafia. He attempts to save his wife Michelle and their newborn daughter Rose from them, but it was too late. He finds a trio of criminals roaming around in his apartment. The game begins with Max Payne coming back home.
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