Retro Replay Review

The Truth Is In Here: A Nostalgic Dive Into The X-Files Game

When *The X-Files Game* hit shelves in 1998, it felt like a revelation for fans of both adventure games and the cult TV sensation. By then, FMV (full-motion video) games had seen their heyday, yet the promise of stepping directly into Chris Carter’s moody, conspiratorial universe was too alluring to pass up. This ambitious title, developed by HyperBole Studios and released on Windows, Macintosh, and later PlayStation, remains a fascinating artifact of both its genre and its era.

Premise: A Missing Duo, A New Recruit

Unlike many licensed games, *The X-Files Game* doesn’t shoehorn you into the shoes of its stars. Instead, you play as FBI Special Agent Craig Willmore, whose mundane day in the Seattle field office is upended when Assistant Director Skinner himself walks in with a case: Agents Mulder and Scully have vanished while investigating an X-File. It’s your job to find them. With this clever narrative sleight-of-hand, the game sidesteps the tricky business of impersonating two of television’s most beloved characters, while still placing them at the heart of the mystery.

Atmosphere: FMV at Its Finest

The late ’90s were a fertile ground for FMV adventure games, but *The X-Files Game* stands out for its production values and authenticity. Over four hours of live-action footage were shot on actual sets, with much of the TV cast reprising their roles—most notably Mitch Pileggi as Skinner, William B. Davis as the Cigarette Smoking Man, and of course, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, who appear throughout. The result is a game that feels like a lost mini-season of the show—complete with brooding lighting, ominous music, and snappy banter.

At the time, the use of multiple CD-ROMs (seven, for the PC version!) felt like you were unlocking classified information with every disc change. This physical interaction with the game is now a source of nostalgia, a tactile reminder of an age before everything was instantly accessible.

Gameplay: Point, Click, and Investigate

If you’re familiar with classic point-and-click adventures, you’ll feel right at home. The game unfolds in first person, with players using the mouse or controller to navigate environments, interrogate suspects, and collect clues. Progression relies on keen observation—missing a crucial piece of evidence or botching an interview can affect your investigation, leading to different endings (including a few “game over” scenarios worthy of an X-File autopsy).

Interviewing witnesses and suspects is at the heart of the experience, and the branching dialogue trees offer surprising depth. Your choices in attitude—sympathetic, confrontational, or strictly by the book—help shape your relationships and the flow of information. While the puzzles are largely logical, there are moments where you might long for a more streamlined interface; inventory management can feel clunky, and transitions between scenes, dictated by FMV loads, can be ponderously slow for today’s sensibilities.

Authenticity: For the Fans, By the Fans

One of the greatest strengths of *The X-Files Game* is its absolute commitment to the lore of the series. Easter eggs abound—from hidden references to previous episodes, to sly jokes tucked into dialogue. The tone is pitch-perfect: somber, atmospheric, laced with paranoia and supernatural suggestion. The plot, penned in collaboration with the series’ writers, weaves seamlessly into the show’s mythos, giving players the rare privilege of being “part of the team.”

That said, newcomers to the franchise might find themselves adrift. References that make fans nod knowingly could go over the heads of casual players, and the pacing—deliberately slow, with lots of dialogue—might test the patience of those expecting more action. But for those who love a slow-burn mystery, it’s all part of the appeal.

Graphics and Sound: A Snapshot of a Bygone Era

Technically, *The X-Files Game* was impressive for its time. The video quality is surprisingly good, with moody cinematography reminiscent of the show’s finest episodes. Locations—from rainy Seattle streets to shadowy warehouses—are evocative, sometimes even beautiful in their grainy, low-res way. It’s the kind of game that makes you miss CRT monitors and the unique charm of pre-HD video.

The sound design is equally immersive. Mark Snow’s iconic theme is present, and the original cast delivers performances that range from solid to surprisingly nuanced, given the constraints of interactive storytelling. Occasionally, awkward pauses or stilted line readings break the spell, but for the most part, the game delivers on atmosphere.

Legacy: The FMV Phoenix

While FMV games largely faded by the turn of the millennium, *The X-Files Game* endures as a cult favorite—not just for its license, but for its willingness to embrace the weirdness of both its source material and its medium. It was a swan song for the era of big-box PC adventures, a final hurrah before the rise of 3D engines and the decline of CD-ROM epics.

In retrospect, its flaws are part of its charm. The sometimes tedious interface, the rough edges in video compression, the extended loading times—these quirks are echoes of a time when games felt experimental and unpredictable. For the right player—especially those with a soft spot for mid-’90s adventure games—*The X-Files Game* offers a window into a world where the boundaries between TV and gaming were still being explored.

Who Should Play It Today?

If you’re an X-Files fan longing for lost adventures, or a retro gaming enthusiast looking to rediscover FMV’s golden age, this game is a must-play. It’s best experienced on original hardware, if you can manage it, with the discs stacked beside your desk and the CRT glow shining in a dark room. Just be prepared for a slower pace and some technical hurdles; emulation isn’t always smooth, and finding a compatible system can be