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The X-Files Game

aka: Salaiset Kansiot, The X Files, The X-Files: Expediente X - El Juego, The X-Files: Le Jeu
Moby ID: 1
Windows Specs
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Description official descriptions

As an extension of one of the most long-running television series of all time, The X-Files, play through the eyes of Special Agent Craig Willmore, a new FBI field investigator brought in to locate missing agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully whose last location was the Everett, Washington, area. In this "movie quality" video production, characters are played by the actors and actresses from the show, including Gillian Anderson (Scully) and David Duchovny (Mulder).

As the game begins, you are given a briefing of your mission. Gather up all state-of-the-art spy tools (night vision goggles, a digital camera, PDA, lock picks, evidence kit, a standard issue revolver, handcuffs and badge) and then head out to follow their trail. As you explore the various locations, take photographs, pick up pieces of evidence and talk with people. Use your Newton PDA to access the navigational map, to make notes and send/receive e-mail. Trace telephone numbers, run background checks and license plate ids and even post an All Points Bulletin on missing persons using the computer network at your home or office. By using photo viewer software, download field photographs to the computer where they can be enlarged and studied more closely for clues.

Features include emotion icons for interjecting different tones during conversations (mean, humorous or technical) which effect the answer given. An in-game hint system, Artificial Intelligence, can be set on or off. In addition, there are multiple endings as a direct result of actions you take.

Spellings

  • Xę”£ę”ˆ - Simplified Chinese spelling

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Credits (Windows version)

335 People (282 developers, 53 thanks) · View all

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 69% (based on 51 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.7 out of 5 (based on 55 ratings with 5 reviews)

This game could have been an episode of the real television show.

The Good
Iā€™m an X-Files fan, so I couldnā€™t wait to play this game when it was first released and hurried out to buy it as soon as it hit the shelves.

It played very much like an interactive movie and had the flavor of Spycraft to it. Catching aliens is serious stuff, and the overall tone reflects that. You can choose what mood your character presents during conversations and those selections will ultimately effect how you are answered. You can set the ā€œartifical intelligenceā€ on or off which acts as a different sort of in-game hint system. Doing some things differently can make future scenes play out differently, and some will result in alternate endings. You can make mistakes and even die.

The most fun part was interacting with Scully and Mulder, although I didnā€™t get to do that often enough. You even get to work with Skinner and have a chance meeting with the illusive ā€œXā€.

The Bad
I wanted to see more of Scully and Mulder, but other than that, there are a few things I didnā€™t like about the game play itself.

As an adventure lover, I prefer no action segments, and there are a few in this game. Although they were not particularly difficult (at least while using the ā€œeasyā€ setting), I didnā€™t think they were necessary and could have been left out completely, in my opinion.

You are given a limited number of save game slots (only 5 if I remember correctly). Although there is a work-around for this, the mere fact that you had to save over a previously saved game was needlessly irritating.

One of the first areas you explore is an abandoned warehouse where you must find small, hidden pieces of evidence. It is understandable that it should be dark inside, but it was way too dark. Some players might have quit playing right then and there, becoming too frustrated to continue ā€“ simply because it was too dark to see what you were doing.

The Bottom Line
If youā€™re an X-Files fan, youā€™ll enjoy the interaction with the real television show actors and actresses. Fans of spy thrillers will also find the game to their liking. As a whole the game is a little short, but that depends upon how you play. Keep in mind that there are a few action segments in addition to ā€œtrueā€ adventure-style gameplay. While not one of my all-time favorites, I did enjoy it and would play another one based on the X-Files theme.

Windows · by Jeanne (75877) · 2001

More fun than watching an episode.

The Good
Let's get one thing straight first - I am no fan of X-Files series, nor do I like watching them, at least not the newer ones. I found the series to be interesting during first couple of seasons, but later when they started to work more on supernatural and diabolical instead of extraterrestrial, it became nothing but a load of huey. This game balances somewhere in between the two.

Don't fool yourself to think you'll be actually controlling Fox or Dana, no, you're just a newly created FBI agent which will be in charge of finding their whereabouts after they go missing, soon after the opening cinematic. Seeing David Duchovny (playing Fox Mulder, I like that actor, he's much more interesting and intriguing character) and Gillian Anderson (playing Dana Scully, very dull, boring and overly annoying character, actually) in the game kinda add to the feeling of playing through a single episode of X-Files, and makes you wonder why they agreed to act in such a game. Just a joke, it's a fine game if we neglect some annoyances, if I do say so myself.

Although music can sometimes be very static, it tunes up the atmosphere like it is supposed to be. No more than necessary. Acting is sort-of typical and kinda feels more like watching the series than playing the game, and cannot be neatly compared to that of A Puzzle of Flesh or The Beast Within. Screen resolution is most of times used in very wide screen as in wider than 16:9, quite wider, even when you're playing. It very rarely comes up to 4:3 aspect ratio.

The story is overly suspenseful and gives you some stuff to think, adds cover-up stories, alternate cases, secrecy, lies, and partnership in which you never know how sure it's to trust. In certain cases I might've been more disappointed by this game, but due to a fact I knew what I was buying, at least according to the title, I got more than enough not to grunge.

The Bad
This game has pretty terrible interface. I dunno if it was game's bug or the fact I was playing it on PS2 instead of original PSX, but the graphic was screwed most of the time. Mouse, sorry, gamepad cursors were either doubled or pretty unrecognizable, but one I remembered which unrecognizeable cursor means what, it was a bit easier to play.

Perspective used here is first-person one, and I can't say I'm fond of such, not when done in this way. Sure, there are some great exceptions like Blackstone Chronicles in which I wouldn't trade first-person perspective for anything, but I can't help but to think The X Files would look much better if played from third-person perspective, sort of like Phantasmagoria or Gabriel Knight II. Hopping from screen to screen didn't always seem to be right in place.

Ending of a game seemed too... well, ordinary. Kinda unfinished and very short. From all this story and premise I expected much bigger conclusion than what it ended like. And why making the end look like continuation, beats me, I doubt they even considered making a sequel out of this game, this whole game suspiciously looks like an episode where two main characters appear casually, and so they thought "hey, why not making a game out of this episode instead".

The Bottom Line
For every X-Files fan, this game is most certainly worth the full price, but for me, it's worth half that price. However, it was on special discount so I got it for tenth of its value, almost missed it. What a shame would that be. 'Tis an X-Files episode nicely assembled to look like a game, and combining elements of adventure and light action (think Mad Dog) with interesting plot to say the least. Having it for PC or PSX, I doubt it can be that big of a difference. They just don't make games like this anymore, live-cast you say? Nope, that's history, m' man, take it before it's too late. Or better yet, find A Puzzle of Flesh or The Beast Within and take those instead. Me, I have all of forementioned. What can I say, I'm a sucker for blue-screen technology, especially when used in such quantities.

PlayStation · by MAT (241284) · 2012

Atmospheric to say the least! The game just pulls you in!

The Good
The whole taking over a real character, you controlled his every move. The atmosphere of the game was incredible, the actors playing the others characters roles gripped you and made you actually think 'do i trust them?'. The setting of the game was not too lively, which made you think more about the case in hand rather than going out on a killing spree. Mulder and Scully are featured in the game and totally interactive!

The Bad
Limited freedom on settings.

The Bottom Line
One of the most gripping and atmospheric games ever. Still my fave and i've played hundreds of others.

PlayStation · by Gary Mee (1) · 2003

[ View all 5 player reviews ]

Trivia

The First of Many!

This was the first game ever to be entered into the MobyGames database.

Inaccurate Coordinates

In the game, the US Army has a denied operations base in Alaska, which is used for detaining and experimenting upon aliens, while using the presence of the Aurora Borealis to camouflage the flights of alien space vessels. The supposed longitude and latitude coordinates of the secret base are displayed on the screen on two occasions.

The base is obviously located on land, since you can see the outside and can walk around the inside, and after all, the troops that attack you are not floating in water wearing diving equipment. However, it is interesting that in reality, the specified coordinates are underwater, off of Dall Island in Alaska. In a recent census, Dall Island had a population of twenty people.

Music Reference

This game is referenced in the Eiffel 65 song, "My Console".

Platform Differences

The Playstation version comes on 4 CDs and has degraded graphics compared to the PC version.

The Windows PC-DVD release was bundled with different Pioneer DVD Slot-In drives (and maybe others) and never sold separately. The DVD Version includes English and French Audio. Only some Videos were upgraded to DVD-Quality, the rest was identical to the CD-ROM Version.

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Related Sites +

  • Crapshoot
    A humorous review on PC Gamer
  • Hints for The X-Files Game
    The hints on this site may help you solve the game
  • The X-Files Game
    Hyperbole's information site about the game
  • The X-Files In-Jokes List
    This site gives information on how the game relates to episodes and characters on the show. It includes a list of Easter Eggs and other interesting tidbits.
  • The X-Files Wiki
    An entry about the video game adaption on the editable reference site, The X-Files Wiki, which has information not only about the game itself but about the fictional framework in which it takes place.
  • Wikipedia
    Information on The X-Files Game at Wikipedia

Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 1
  • [ Please login / register to view all identifiers ]

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Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.

Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Brian Hirt.

PlayStation added by Adam Baratz. Macintosh added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Terok Nor, MAT, James1, Jeanne, jean-louis, Yearman, Zeppin, CaesarZX, Picard, Patrick Bregger, Werner Schoeller.

Game added March 1, 1999. Last modified March 3, 2024.