Mike

Mike
Status	Deceased
Personal Information
Age	Unknown
Death Date	2003
Career Information
Affliations	Russian Mob
Occupation	Lem's Bodyguard Russian Mob's Lieutenant
Weapon	AK47
Behind the Scenes
Voice Actor	Gary Yudman
Performer	Gary Yudman

"High noon, Sheriff. DRAW!"

―Mike the Cowboy

Mike (Russian: Майк) , known better as "The Cowboy", is the optional quaternary antagonist in Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. He was a member of Vladimir Lem's Russian Mob. His exact rank in the organization was unknown, but he possibly was Lem's bodyguard or a mafia lieutenant.

A Russian mobster with an affection for Western films and themes, as well often mimicking them, Mike was a rather cheerful and relaxed person like his boss, yet an expert firearms wielder, able to take down a small group of mafia goons by himself and his trusty Kalashnikov.

In 2003, Mike assisted in defending Lem and his restaurant, Vodka, from Vinnie Gognitti and the Punchinellos, being aided by the NYPD detective Max Payne. The two managed to kill the assailants, save Lem, and scare off Gognitti.

Later that year, Lem betrayed Max, leading the detective to attack Vodka. Mike, who was in charge of the restaurant in Lem's absence, ordered his fellow mobsters to eliminate Max.

Max made his way to Vlad's office, finding Mike and other mobsters guarding it. Max engaged the mobsters in a gunfight, resulting in Mike's demise.

Biography

Background & Early life

Mike's background is relatively unknown, though his accent and affiliation implied that he was of Russian heritage. At some point prior to 2003, Mike joined to the Russian Mob led by his 'friend', Vladimir Lem.

He got his nickname, "the Cowboy," from his affection for stereotypical Western films and symbols, such as "Billy the Kid." It is also known that he was a fan of "The Adventures of Captain BaseBallBat-Boy", commenting that it is a good and funny show.

Shootout at Vodka

"Hey! You're Max Payne! [...] Max, I'm Mike, one of Vladimir's friends. You are the sheriff? Well, how about making me your deputy?"

―Mike introducing himself to Max Payne.

Mike and Max after killing a few mobsters.

In 2003, the underboss of the Punchinello Crime Family, Vinnie Gognitti, launched an attack on a restaurant owned by Vlad, Vodka. Gognitti's men killed many of Vlad's men, but Mike and Vlad himself survived.

Mike first met Max Payne after he solely killed a small group of Gognitti's men, introducing himself as Lem's friend, and helped Max in the latter's fight to save Lem. The two were able to kill the rest of Gognitti's men that were at the restaurant, using ammunition stashed around the building inside boxes.

Mike helped Max find Lem, who was outgunned against Gognitti and his men. Hearing Max, Gognitti sent his men to finish off him and Mike, who fended them off.

As he escaped due to the police's arrival, Gognitti shot at Mike and Max, but missed. They approached Lem, who greeted them as his heroes. As Max and Lem went to talk, Mike was possibly either checking the damage done to the restaurant, or went to talk to the police officers.

Betrayal and Death

"Everyone! Get ready. Get your gun. Get him!"

―Mike ordering his men to kill Max Payne.

After Max understood that Lem had betrayed and lied to him all along, Max went to Vodka to confront Lem, only to find him absent while Mike was put in charge of the club.

Max stormed the club and killed the two guards who were protecting the entrance. Mike identified Max, informing his comrades that the detective was the intruder. As Max fought across the club to get to Lem's office, Mike taunted his former ally through the public address system, telling his men to kill the detective, and asking for the "score."

Eventually, Max got into Lem's office, guarded by Mike and another mobster. Max engaged the mobsters in a short gunfight, in which Max killed Mike's partner, and soon Mike himself.

Other Deaths

If Max failed to protect or assist Mike as his companion, Mike can be killed by the attacking henchmen midway. Max would then be able to pick up his gun.

Personality and traits

"How do you like it now?"

―Mike taunting Gognitti's men, 2003.

Similar to his boss Vlad, Mike was often in a cheerful and relaxed mood; much of his fight at Vodka served as a comical relief, and his conversations were often humorous. Even during dangerous times such as gunfights, Mike taunted his enemies, such as Gognitti's mobsters and later, Max Payne.

His personal habits seemed to be his fondness of Western films and themes, often adding some Western-themed puns in his quotes. Mike was also watching the The Adventures of Captain BaseBallBat-Boy, saying that it is a good show and "very funny baseball bat."

Despite his calm nature, Mike is very experienced with firearms, managing to solely kill four Punchinello goons using his Kalashnikov. This too was seen during his fight against Max, with Mike proving himself to be more threatening than Lem's other men.

Appearance

By 2003, Mike was a man of average size, around the height of Max and Vladimir. He had a short combed blonde hair, and hazel eyes. He also had a few light-colored bristles on his face.

Mike often wore a thick sleeveless light-yellow jacket on a brown long-sleeved sweater that has rhombus-like shapes on it. Along with the torso clothing, he wore an army-like pair of pants, and black boots.

Equipment and Tactics

Mike's Kalashnikov.

While fighting alongside Max Payne to defend Vodka from Vinnie's goons, Mike wields a Kalashnikov assault rifle, with which he is very effective and accurate. Later in the game, when he is faced as an enemy, he instead wields dual Ingram machine pistols. Mike himself is slightly more durable than a Commando, but slightly less durable than Kaufman, requiring about 9 Beretta 9mm pistol shots to kill. Mike actually has a similar amount of health as Kaufman, but lacks body armor, giving him reduced durability. He also takes normal headshot damage, unlike Kaufman and Vlad who resist headshots.

When confronted as an enemy, Mike is holed up in Vlad's office, busy using the club's PA system to taunt Max over the loudspeakers. He is accompanied by a single Commando. The two of them are facing the PA microphone with their backs turned to the door, and can be shot in the back if Max acts quickly enough after busting into the office.

Appearences

• Max Payne 2:
  • A Criminal Mastermind (Can be Killed)
  • On a Crash Course (Optional; Killed)

Trivia

• Given his Russian heritage, one can assume that Mike's full name is Mikhail, the Russian counterpart of the English name Michael; the shortened version of Michael is Mike.

• Mike was voiced by actor Gary Yudman in Max Payne 2. Yudman also voiced other minor enemies in the game, such as the cleaners. Yudman is also known for his voice acting in other video games released by Rockstar Games, such as Mr. Wiggins in Bully, and Jimmy Silverman in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Apart from Rockstar Games titles, Yudman also did some voice acting in the 2010 Order Up!.

• If Mike survives the first chapter he appears in, A Criminal Mastermind, he is seen together with Max Payne in the closing cutscene where Vinnie Gognitti escapes from Vodka and Payne meets up with Vladimir Lem. If Mike dies in the aforementioned chapter, he will no longer be seen in the ending cutscene and the chapter On A Crash Course, where he is replaced by an unnamed Russian mobster who mistakes Max for Mona Sax. The mobster himself is slightly weaker than Mike.

• It is unknown which of Mike's deaths is canonical, though it is assumed that Payne kept him alive in A Criminal Mastermind and then killed him during On A Crash Course.

Fight strategy

Mike is slightly tougher than an average enemy, but weaker than the other bosses such as Vlad and Kaufman. When Max encounters him for the boss fight, Mike's back is turned. As such it is relatively easy for Max to kill him. Two shots to the head with a high caliber weapon or a direct hit with a Molotov Cocktail should be enough to incapacitate Mike.

Notable quotes

"That's right."

―To Max Payne

"They asked for it. Just follow the trail."

―To Max Payne on the Mafia.

Gallery

Mike introduced.

References

Max Payne 2 characters