Nostalgia Lane: Interactive Movies

Since before Tom Cruise went crazy, somebody thought Shia LeBouf should be a major star, and the very mention of George Lucas was not likely to instigate violence, videogames and film have had a somewhat embarrassing relationship. Videogame manufacturers put out game after game based on popular films (some of which are infamously horrendous), and studios try constantly to adapt videogames to the big screen (the majority of which are abortions). However, there is one aspect of this gigantic train wreck of mixed media that is often overlooked: interactive movies. These are forms of purported entertainment that have the visuals and plot of a film but with just enough interactivity to be considered a game. If the idea sounds bad, it is nothing compared to actually experiencing most of the by-products of the FMV glut of the 90s. That being said, there is a sort of sad comedy in their existence, which is why I have done a brief rundown of some of the more notable entries into the genre. Say hello to the great, the mediocre, and the vile of interactive cinema.

The Great:

1. Gabriel Knight: the Beast Within

Ok, this is cheating a little bit. Gabriel Knight wasn’t technically an interactive movie in the strictest sense, but it did sport full motion video sequences, and interaction from the player was required to progress. The sequel to the classic adventure game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father, GK2 followed the exploits of the American Shaatenjager (shadow-hunter) Gabriel Knight and his bookish assistant Grace Nakamura, who are trying to hunt down a werewolf. Everything about GK2 was awesome beyond words, not the least of which was the plot and the FMV sequences which carried it across. All of the actors give pretty darn good performances (stellar by the genre’s standards), and the characters are never boring. Even the most annoying of the side characters were a hoot to interact with. However, there was a tiny problem with it: the wolf effects are rather cheap by today’s standards. Gabriel Knight 2 is a might hard to come by, but it is definitely worth experiencing.

2. Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit

It seems a little sad that one of the best interactive movies to come out came out long after anyone stopped giving caring. Indigo Prophecy was incredible in every respect, with a great story occupied by well voiced characters that were easy to emotionally connect to, as well as tightly choreographed action scenes. IP opens in a somewhat disturbing fashion. As some average Joe is washing his hands in a diner’s bathroom, a stranger stumbles out of the stall and stabs him to death. The killer, one Lucas Kane, begins to freak out, as he was in a trance the whole time. From then on, Lucas has to live his life, while occasionally having to evade capture by the police as well as trying the find out what happened to him. On the other side of the matter, Carla Valenti and Tyler Miles try to track down Kane while dealing with their own personal issues. Having to guide both parties adds a sort of tension to everything. While you do want Kane to figure out why he took a trip to Crazy Town, you also want the police to succeed at their job for the sake of their job and sanity. That’s right, sanity. Characters don’t have to worry about how many times they are shot, but just how much more depressing stuff their minds can take before they have a breakdown or commit suicide. In addition to doing mundane things, IP has several action sequences that require your input as dictated by the game to emerge victorious. Think God of War, except more involved and gorgeously animated. Sadly, there are a few niggling issues with Indigo Prophecy. While the plot starts out strong, it definitely starts to unravel during the last third as more and more plot twists are unveiled (including a gigantic WTF near the end). It seems like the writers had an idea to make the thing longer or possibly turn it into a series, but instead decided to cram as much of the plot as they could in. What’s left is so disjointed that it almost outdoes Batman RIP as it skips from scene to scene. That said, when all the crazy stuff starts happening, you’re so invested in the characters that it doesn’t matter. And then there’s the censorship issue. Any copies titled Indigo Prophecy have had certain sexual scenes excised. It’s strange that this is the case only in the US and Canada, while other countries that are notoriously harsh on content sell the uncensored version. It’s a shame, because some of the stuff removed is actually quite moving. Thank you for ruining it for everyone else, RockStar. Even so, Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit is something that lovers of videogames and movies alike should check out.

The Mediocre:

3. Dragon’s Lair/Space Ace

I realize I might take some heat on this one from any fans of these two oldies, but here’s the thing: the whole goal of an interactive movie is to convey the narrative of film that relies on the interaction of the player to allow everything to progress. The trouble is that while Dirk the Daring or Ace needed to be guided toward their ultimate goal, the plot was nonexistent. Sure, everything was beautifully animated by Don Bluth, but that doesn’t change the fact there was nothing to either of these creations beyond only FSM knows how many hours of trial and error only to be rewarded with the ability to blaze through in 10 to 15 minutes. It’s especially hard to say this about Dragon’s Lair, as it was what kicked off the whole craze of interactive movies to begin with, but sitting through death animations until finding the one correct way to progress can be surprisingly frustrating. The same goes for its clone Space Ace, but I have to admit that it was a little better about not having only one correct solution, not to mention having an actual soundtrack. That said, it’s tough to say which is worse: listening to the same techno beat looping ad nauseum or stone silence. Also, there is a point in Dragon's Lair in which the designer's decided to make the player replay the same scenarios, except vertically flipped. This is annoying to say the least. This not so dynamic duo serves as proof that ideas aren’t always enough.

4. Phantasmagoria

Phantasmagoria is another one I almost feel a little guilty about picking on. Hyped more than The Dark Knight, Sierra’s first foray into the field of interactive movies is not horrible, but as with both Lair & Ace, the trouble stems from the script. It’s not completely putrid, as it does the whole Edgar Allan Poe/Stephen king thing by having everything start out normal and then descend into madness fairly well. The problem is that the madness is sometimes unintentional. Example: the wife finds a room concealed by a brick wall which she tore down, and doesn’t ever feel the need to tell her husband. The script is full of little things like that, and it doesn’t help that the actors aren’t exactly going to win any Oscars for their work. That’s saying something, especially given the presence of a character that is mentally slow. However, the actor manages to screw that role up in a way that is almost unheard of. Instead of going ‘full retard’, he just kind of stands around with his mouth open most of the time. To top it all off, Phantasmagoria just feels plain dirty. Throughout the whole affair, Adrian (the heroine) keeps having flashbacks to the murders committed by the house’s previous occupant against his numerous wives. This could have been done to great effect (*cough*Shining*cough*), but the way they are implemented makes it feel like you’re watching Pride and Glory in that there are points where you are shown something hideously graphic to the point of lunacy because the writers assume that you are getting bored (“Wassa matter? You bored??!! Huh?!! HUH?!!! Watch this woman choking to death on pig intestines!!!! Come on! Intestines are always funny!!!!”). And then there is the infamous marital rape scene. It’s nowhere near the level of Irreversible, but it is still fairly uncomfortable to watch. Any hope that this thing had dies with the trial and error endgame in which you are chased around this house by your possessed husband. Words cannot do justice the leaps of logic that are required (key among them one involving a snowman tree ornament), made even worse by the fact that the video deliberately fades to black before someone can finish telling you what you need to do beforehand. It’s a shame that so much of Phantasmagoria doesn’t hold up, because it isn’t without its fair share of creepiness and the music isn’t half bad. In the end, Phantasmagoria is stomachable, but it’s not too palatable.

The Vile:

5. Phantasmagoria: a Puzzle of Flesh

If there is a Hell, then I have no doubt whatsoever that there is a special section reserved for the creative team behind Phantasmagoria 2. Where do I begin? The sometimes putrid acting? The lame attempts to keep the player’s interest by wantonly taking a half-assed stab at some social taboo? Or how about the bland stereotypical characters like the corrupt and creepy exec, the fag in a fridge, the sinister gang of S&M practitioners, the eeeeevil Scientology poster psychologist, and the frelling ANGRY COP, MOTHERF***AH!!!!!!! I know, how about the fact that you are required to guide Curtis Craig through such horrifying ordeals as hunting for his wallet, remembering his password, and figuring how to get in to the building he has been working in for years. In addition to all that, the plot refuses to move forward unless you fulfill several meaningless tasks. Can’t leave the poor man’s Initech to go to the even poorer man’s version of Chotchkie's yet? Try drinking from the water cooler or showing a pornographic postcard and pictures of your family and the company Christmas party to your coworkers. Appointment with the psychiatrist won’t come around? Try looking in the mirror, talking to Blob the rat, or look at your books. It wouldn’t be so bad if the mundane stuff wasn’t actually required or needlessly difficult to carry out. For instance, in order to get your wallet from under the couch, you don’t move the blasted thing. Nooo, that would be too easy. Instead, you have to put your pet rat under the couch, then coax her back out with a granola bar. If your brain managed not to melt, you deserve a medal. The lack of logic isn’t confined to what you are supposed to do, as the script seems to have been created by taking every bad horror film being blended into this pile of dren. For instance, a letter from Curtis’ murdered father implicates the company he worked for in a conspiracy, but rather than leave the letter with incriminating evidence in a safety deposit box, said letter is concealed in a concealed section of a toolbox hidden behind a locked door at Waynetech’s storage room that can only be unlocked by a key which has to be retrieved stealthily from the office of your boss; you know, the guy who had your father bumped off. I get the impression that Dad had a streak of sadism in him. While the video quality is head and shoulders above the majority of interactive movies that made use of FMV, the effects are so laughably bad they make Mortal Kombat Annihilation look like 2001 by comparison. At first, it looks like this could be halfway entertaining as a mindless slasher, but the script spirals out of control into madness that Frank Miller can’t hope to match. When the big reveal is finally unveiled, anyone who hasn’t flown into a rage will be struck dumb. It is that lame. The only good thing about it is that it grants us sadists the ability to watch people subject themselves to it and subsequently lose their sanity.