Max Payne's Bullet Time is remembered as one of the most iconic and empowering mechanics in gaming history. This video deconstructs that common perception. We argue that Bullet Time was never a superpower, but a meticulously designed symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder woven directly into the game's narrative, aesthetic, and sound design. #characteranalysis #videoessay #gametheory #gameanalysis #3dlives