FMV Games

[Buxton]

I'm quite fond of the charm of FMV games and would like to pick up some of the Saturn FMV games. Some are JP exclusives, and perhaps unsurprisingly, I can't find any of the games mentioned in the 'No Grasp of Japanese' thread.

Has anyone played the JP versions of Time Gal & Ninja Hayate or Thunder Storm & Road Blaster on the Saturn? There are you tube videos, which I've watched a little of, but I don't want to watch in full because it will spoil the first playthrough. Does anybody know if there will there be button prompts in any of the games that I won't be able understand, having no grasp of the Japanese language? Time Gal & Ninja Hayate is one of those games that is $100+.... Also, it's not clear if the Ninja Hayate videos I've found are the JP version of the game.

Also, feel free to discuss the other FMV games in this thread. I'm interested in what people think about these types of games. I plan to pick up the U.S. Version of Brain Dead 13, too.

[The Elite MYT]

The Roadblaster games are in English. I know because I did the research because I want them! Not sure about the other two.

I think Enemy Zero is considered an FMV game, and D as well, as they focus on FMV and story. They aren't live action though, if that's what you want. Neither are they QTE style FMV games.

[Buxton]

I wouldn't say I'm interested in only live action/animated QTE FMV games. Mad Mad McCree is (bizarrely) one of my favourite games and I'm positive that I find the FMV more entertaining than the gunplay. That said though, I am intrigued most of all by the Dragons Lair and Space Ace type FMV games. I'm very pleased that you say Road Blaster is playable in JP.

Thanks for mentioning Enemy Zero and D. Despite not being a fan of early CGI, I like the sound of Enemy Zero, it seems like a bit of an oddity worth playing. Not too sure about D though; I'm not much of a puzzle game fan. Have you played Enemy Zero?

[The Elite MYT]

Well D and Enemy Zero are made by the same people (as is D2 for the Dreamcast which I'm actually selling atm) so I imagine they have a similar feel. I haven't played D yet, but E0 and D2 have a lot of similarities. From what I have seen, D looks more like the typical FMV game where you need to do a certain thing to progress. I don't think there is anything difficult in the puzzles.

I have played Enemy Zero and it's great. I love it. The combat is stupidly hard though, although I probably only killed like four monsters. The rest of the time I just avoided them, which is way easier than trying to take them down. I'd recommend the game. If you like the Alien movies too, you will dig the story. There are a lot of similarities - especially with the first film.

[Buxton]

Sounds promising. I didn't come across it in my (brief) research. I'm not sure it would get a mention in the usual best of and hidden gems lists, either. I'm grateful for your info.

[bradcap1]

Check out Lunacy.

[Buxton]

So the Saturn was doing brown corridors before they were the big thing... not sure I could put myself through Lunacy. I feel a little depressed just from watching 10 mins of video.

[martiniii]

Enemy Zero is definitely one of the most successful attempts at the "interactive movie" concept. It's very story-driven and gripping. D has a couple of tough puzzles, but you may find it worth it for the story.

Creature Shock: Special Edition is an interesting curio for those who like FMV games (I definitely wouldn't recommend it to anyone else), but it does feel thoroughly eclipsed by Enemy Zero. The two games really aren't that similar, but they both have a science fiction setting, first person perspective, and interactive movie concept so comparison is inevitable, and Enemy Zero is by far the better of the two. Still worth considering if you really can't get enough of FMV, though.

As far as Dragon's Lair-like games: The Saturn version of Strahl is in Japanese, but you don't need to understand anything to enjoy playing the game, and if you're curious about the story, I've put up a complete transcription of the English script on GameFAQs. It's a short but fun game.

Brain Dead 13... mmm. I've only played the 3DO version, but to put it mildly, I can't say I cared for the game.

I find Mad Dog McCree a bit charming, too. I prefer The Last Bounty Hunter, though. In the unlikely event you're not familiar with The Last Bounty Hunter, it's by the developers of the Mad Dog McCree games and uses the same light gun shooting and old west setting, but is much more of a parody.

Lunacy is definitely one of the best FMV games for the Saturn, and arguably the best. What do you mean by "brown corridors"? Haven't heard that term before.

[Buxton]

Enemy Zero does grab my attention. It's definitely one to add to the list. I can only seem to find high priced copies though, which is a bit of a shame, for the near term at least. It's one for the future, I think.

I can see why you wouldn't recommend Creature Shock (I'd love to see reviews from the time) But it might be something I'd pick up once I've bought everything on my wish list. I can be a bit of a sucker for the novelties. I mean, I spent real money on a Virtual Boy in the past.

Strahl looks brilliant. And can be found at a reasonable price. I will pick that one up very soon, for sure. Thanks for mentioning it. I love that early 80s animation look.

I have played The Last Bounty Hunter. I have the Mad Dog triple pack on Wii. I do love the cheese. I think I have to say the first game is my favourite, if just because it was the game that taught me to love FMV games. (although my experience with the genre is pretty shallow - I've not played a lot of FMV games) I was lucky, or unlucky, enough to play the arcade in the 90's. Surprisingly, I still have fond memories despite it stealing all my pocket money!

I'm actually kinda shocked to hear Lunacy is one of the best FMV games. My initial thoughts when I watched a video was that it looked awful. I wasn't expecting the review that followed. Especially the praise for the music. The brown corridor comment was just a comment on its lack of colour. Maybe I watched the wrong segments. But what stuck out to me was that every backdrop looked dreary, dark and brown. I think that's what forming my negative first impression. It's a shame that the game commands such a high price. I don't think I can take the gamble.

[MIK]

Myst, easy to get into & the sequel Riven which is almost impossible to get started without help...
They contain FMV sequences throughout.

If your not sure what they are then take a look on YouTube to get an idea.

[NeoGeoNinja]

Buxton

Have you got a 3DO? Sounds right up your street! I've always been a fan of it personally.

[Buxton]

I actually saw Myst first on Saturn. I didn't own the console back in the day, but I know someone who did and they had Myst. I remember watching them play and being enchanted by the visuals. I also remember them spending hours trying to get through a mine cart section! It's too puzzle heavy for me. I do enough thinking at work!

I don't have a 3DO. Is that where the best (sic) FMV games are? I like the idea of setting up a cabinet under a TV with pigeon holes for individual consoles. I might think about buying a 3DO in the future.

[NeoGeoNinja]

Mar 21, 2016 18:19:38 GMT Buxton said:

I don't have a 3DO. Is that where the best (sic) FMV games are? I like the idea of setting up a cabinet under a TV with pigeon holes for individual consoles. I might think about buying a 3DO in the future.

I would simply suggest, if you have a penchant for FMV stylised videogames, to definitely check out the 3DO

[martiniii]

Glad to hear I got you interested in Strahl. It really is a good bit of quickie fun if you like that old anime style. Many of the sequences are quite imaginative.

I love the cheese in Mad Dog McCree, too. "Mad Dog! You don't stand a chance!" is just a terrific bit for reasons I can't even define. I have memories of playing two or three quarters worth of some live action, old west, FMV light gun shooter game in the arcade back in the day. It must have been an American Laser Games title, possibly Mad Dog McCree, but I have a feeling it was Fast Draw Showdown. It is quite an experience to see live action video in an arcade game.

Yeah, it's a good idea that you steer clear of Lunacy. The gameplay is passable but the real draw is the moody aesthetic, which is very consistent throughout, so I don't think you could have simply watched the wrong segments. If that aesthetic doesn't appeal to you, it's unlikely that you'll enjoy the game. I confess that I'd also forgotten that the price of Lunacy has gone way up; I was lucky enough to get mine when it was still going for about $20.

The 3DO doesn't have necessarily the best FMV games, but it does have an awful lot of them. I myself was drawn to the 3DO because of all the FMV, and the system hasn't disappointed me in that regard.

[Lilith]

I really want to get Phantasmagoria for Saturn, but it's so depressing that it's JP only, which wouldn't normally be a problem. but I hear it's entirely in Japanese and thus has a huge language barrier, at least to get any reasonable entertainment out of.