A lot of us grew up in a time before the ease of use with PC gaming that we’ve got now. Long before Steam, we would have to really dig in and find PC games that felt futuristic and tapped into a more theatrical gameplay spin.
With FMV making a resurgence lately, here are some of those alongside some awesome full motion video games from the past you can find on Steam today!
Contradiction: Spot the Liar!
This game has it all, the cheesy acting of the 90’s FMV games we’re used to but with a rather impressive aesthetic thanks to it being a more recent title. Take the clues given to you by the people involved in this sleepy little town and find out just what happened to a murdered young woman. Released in 2015, this game definitely isn’t the oldest on our list but it touches on all the awesome nostalgia points. While I couldn’t find the original studio’s trailer, I did find ContinuePlay had it ready to go and even though I’ve played it, the trailer still makes me giggle.
Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon
Now THIS one is a classic. Sure, everyone’s going to point out to these other games (not on PC, mind you) that were doing this kind of thing and bringing more attention to FMV, but Tex Murphy was iconic. The cheesy gumshoe like detective dramas completely turned up to 11 with the old Tex Avery cartoon style antics. You’ve just got to play a game like this to believe it. Check out this original trailer that RedArmy4Ever uploaded and really dig into that old 1994 feel.
Late Shift
This is another newer game, coming out of 2016, Late Shift is probably one of the most beautifully produced new FMV games I’ve seen. If you’re hoping you don’t miss out on Late Shift because you don’t game on PC, don’t worry — it’s also on PlayStation 4. Most important to this is that the game, played all the way through, can still run you under 2 hours but has so much immense replay value out of it that you’re going to easily get a dozen more. The film work on this is fantastic and the acting makes you feel you’re legit watching a feature motion picture. Get into it.
Tender Loving Care
CONTENT WARNING!: Now, this one is a bit more risque than the first three for sure. However, it features John Hurt and where can you go wrong with that? Tender Loving Care is a total guilty pleasure of mine because it’s just so terribly written. However, the bizarre use of psychology throughout the game keeps you wondering just what choices you’re making are actually affecting the characters. A blast to play with a group of friends, sit down and attempt to figure out the story behind the traumatized couple and the nurse hired to help them through their tragedy. Oh, and uh, if you don’t repeat ‘GREENSTREET!’ a thousand times after you play it — you’re doing it wrong.
The 7th Guest
Imagine a campier version of ‘House on Haunted Hill’ and imagine it being made in the 90’s and you can’t help but feel absolutely enchanted by its creep factor and silliness in one game. Well, that’s The 7th Guest. In fact, you’ll even find an easter egg in the game before this (Tender Loving Care) that shows a love for this game that transcends 4th Wall. Grab The 7th Guest and hang out with your pals on Twitch — there’s no greater time to be had.
Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh
Now, thanks to Veeros on YouTube, I can show you guys the introduction to Phantasmagoria 2, but the trailer not only spoils quite a lot but is a bit risque for here. Be that as it may, the game has about a 5 hour playtime where you don’t encounter the risque stuff nearly as often as you’d think. The game follows Curtis, normal everyday fella who finds himself curious about the death of someone within his close vicinity. Sure, everyone’s questioning each other but Curtis seems to get the most eyes on him. Why is that? Well, check the game out and you’ll see what good ol’ Curtis has going on.
Night Trap
Listen, the vast majority of PC gamers didn’t get to experience Night Trap in its original form since it was originally released on Sega CD. You weren’t missing too much from a technical standpoint, but it has a place in the hearts of those who either witnessed it or played it back in the 90s. Dana Plato stars in this game which, for what it was, had a really interesting gameplay mechanic behind it. For ‘some reason’ (you find out why later) there are people trying to get into your house. Now, there are cameras and security systems everywhere that are able to be controlled from outside and it’s your job to stop these people from getting into the house and disrupting the peculiar flow of things. Now, I mention this game because the remaster of it is getting a release not just on consoles but also PC! For the first time! This is the game that, essentially, pushed the ESRB into being formed and now you’ll get to try it out yourself!
