X-Files
The late 90′s TV series the X-Files spawned 2 console video games. There was one for PSX, and another for PS2. I played the PS2 game first. It was a sloppy survival horror game, and it was technical disaster. However, it did a great job bringing you into that world, and connecting the story from the TV series with the game. Because of that I decided to give the PSX version of X-Files a chance.
The PSX version plays like a point and click adventure game. It’s done completely with Full Motion Video, which was the craze back in the early CD game days. Its 4 discs, so there’s a lot of FMV here. There have been some great PC games to do this, Myst, Phantasmagoria, Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within, but most are garbage that have be relegated to systems like 3D0 and the Sega CD.
In X-Files the concept succeeds because they’ve filmed everything like an X-Files episode and have the cast supporting you in the game. You play an FBI agent who has to find out what has happened to Mulder and Scully as they’ve disappeared. Skinner assists you, and there’s even a brief cameo from “smoky man”, which is a nice touch.
As you explore locations for clues and evidence you have several tools you can use to help you: night vision goggles, camera, PDA, lock picks, handcuffs and your FBI badge. You have a gun too, which is handy as there are some shooting sequences.
There’s a dialogue tree system to question people, but like in most old adventure games, you’ll just end up asking everyone everything to make sure you don’t miss something so it’s not even an interesting feature.
Throughout the game you’ll get a choice on how to behave around people. This is important because it determines what type of character you are, this affects certain things in the game and there are 3 distinct character types that make playing through again worth while to see more information about the games story and character.
Now onto the bad, first off movement is a pain in the ass. Yes it’s simple like Myst, but there are times when you click somewhere and you have no idea where you are and how to get out of that room. Its trail and error to find places you know are around, but can’t get too.
Next is the control, to move your cursor around the screen it behaves like it’s on elastic, when you stop moving the d-pad, it immediate re-centers to the middle of the screen. It makes highlight certain items and searching scenes a real annoying chore.
Finally, if you are going to play this game, only play it on a PS1. As you can see from my video the icons are completely screwed. That was being played on a PS2, and I even tried it on a PS3 and got the same result. It’s just distracting and really kills the game.
So should you play this game? It is a great addition to the X-Files storyline, but to enjoy this game you have to be a huge fan of the series and a fan of point and click adventures. Everyone else can avoid it at this point.
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