X-Files -- Great Game!
There's a new X-Files game that comes out today, finally! I really enjoyed the first one and I was always a big fan of the show.
On the surface it has a lot of promise -- play either one of the main charcters, there are three episodes written by Chris Carter set in the 7th season timeline, good graphics (it's PS2 only), and only $30.
EDIT: Well, I got the game when it came out Thursday. Here's my thoughts on it:
Let me preface this review by saying this: If you are an X-Files fan; the wait is over and you owe it to yourself to play this game!
This game blends Resident Evil with Silent Hill. If you enjoy either of thoe series, check out this game -- even if you are NOT a fan of the show!
When games are released to very little fanfare, no pre-reviews, no press coverage and at a budget price, everyone assumes that the end product is in dire straits. Recent releases, however, have proven this myth unfounded. Such was the case with Colin McRae Rally 2004 and such is the case with X-Files: Resist or Serve.
Being a long-standing fan of the series (and admittedly expecting the worse), imagine my delight when I first placed the disk in my PS2 and was greeted with a high quality interface complete with FMV sequences. I sat dumb-founded as this FMV played out for a few minutes, knowing already, that this was a product made by fans FOR other fans of the show. And believe me, this feeling has been my creed throughout my 8+ hours with the game so far.
Yes, I could point out the faults of the finished product:
-“hot spots” that are easy to miss/hard to find
-character movement which can be a little awkward around certain objects (poles, chairs, etc)
-a sense of disorientation when new “areas” are loaded
-characters’ eyes that seem to stare blankly into nothingness (a la early NFL 2K series)
-inability to kick zombies when they are down (at least with Scully)
-monster targeting and “fighting-off” technique that are somewhat lacking
And yes, I could go on about the positives as well:
-no “fogging” used to cover-up draw distance limitations
-exceptional voice-acting
-excellent story with logical puzzles
-A true sense of immersion and continuity from the series
-spot-on character movements (with excellent 3D control)
-This is not RE:x or Silent Hill:x, this is the X-Files game and feels right.
But the reason I love the game so much, and the reason why it should be in every X-Phile’s library is the following:
This game will make you smile the whole time you play it!
The little nuances and touches go a long way to make this a fan’s dream come true…
Cases in point:
-notice the street names (Lazarus Rd., Syzegy Dr., etc)
-Scully runs like Scully, Mulder hulks around like Mulder (brilliant!)
-right from the beginning, this game captures the essence of the series (and not the last two seasons either!) (ex. Immediately, we are laughing at Mulder’s insistence that Scully sing… hoping to get a repeat of “Joy to the World”)
-The puzzles fit within the X-Files universe.
-The “episode” numbering fits within the X-Files’ season numbering universe (a small fact, but one that means a lot to fans)
-Even moments that were leaked in the press (Mulder’s comments in the adult section of a video store) are funny when you play through as Scully (who has some hysterical insight of her own about Fox’s “past-times”)
-It just feels so good to hear these characters again. Gillian and David sound like they are having fun (and it’s hilarious to hear Fox swear!) as do all the others (and after watching the extras, you’ll see why)
This list could go on, but the fact really is, it feels like an X-Files episode and now that we are nearing the DVD release of the final season, there is no better time to have such a wonderful game released to remind us all what the series was really all about.
Final “unbiased” score: 8.2/10
Final “biased/fan” score: 9/10
Excellent game for all X-Philes!!!!
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