As the year comes to a close, joy fills the air as families and friends spread good cheer and celebrate Christmas through gatherings and gift-giving. Gamers, in particular, are always hoping to see that one game they have been asking for under the tree when December 25 rolls around so they can close out the year on a good note. A new video making the rounds on YouTube highlights this, showing the joy one player was given after unwrapping a new copy of the original Max Payne in 2001.
The first Max Payne released in 2001 for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox and put Finnish game developer Remedy Entertainment on the map. Players take control of the titular NYPD detective as he works to uncover the truth behind his family's murder, which is revealed to be part of a larger web of conspiracies involing a pharmaceutical company, the military, and organized crime. The game was also notable for being one of the first to incorporate bullet-time as a gameplay mechanic following the release of The Matrix.
YouTube user My Retro Life shared the video of him receiving the original Max Payne for Xbox when he was a teenager in 2001 from his aunt and uncle. The home video shows him unwrapping the game, much to his visible delight, followed by a few short clips of him playing through the first level of the game flanked by his dog. Retro credits his dad with filming his reaction to the gift which he said was one of his "favorite Xbox games that year."
My Retro Life's reaction was one likely shared by many players on Christmas morning who had been asking for Max Payne following its July 2001 release.
The game was hailed as one of the top games of the year, with most critics pointing to the combination of neo-noir storytelling and stylish, responsive gameplay as setting the game apart from many other titles that year. Remedy's success did not go unnoticed, either, as Rockstar Games would take over as the developer's publishing partner for the 2003 sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Rockstar would ultimately take over the series, but Max Payne 3 would remain stuck in development hell for nearly a decade until it was finally released in 2012.
Max Payne aside, My Retro Life's video also serves as a reminder of the joy which accompanies Christmas everytime it rolls around. There's something to be said about not just receiving that one gift at the top of the Christmas list, but bringing joy to someone else by gifting them that one game, toy, or item they have been asking for.