On paper, The X-Files sounds downright bizarre: two FBI agents routinely stumble onto supernatural happenings and occult conspiracies. One of them believes it all to be real, while the other is constantly trying to analyze and disprove any sort of paranormal activity. Then, over the course of several seasons, they fall in love with each other and fight off an alien invasion.
As strange as it sounds, The X-Files was something of a cultural milestone back in the '90s. It was one of those shows that absolutely everyone watched - and for nearly a decade, too. Even after the TV series ended its run, the franchise continued on, spawning a pair of feature films and an upcoming revival featuring the original cast.
However, the 2008 film wasn't the first continuation of The X-Files. After the series ended back in 2002, Sierra Entertainment acquired the rights to publish a video game based on the show - and, in 2004, the studio released The X-Files: Resist or Serve.
Let's be honest: there are a few reasons why you've never heard of this game before.
Yes, this is real. No, it's not going to get any better.
When it was originally conceived, Resist or Serve was intended to be a continuation of the original series. To that extent, it succeeded: the game's story follows Scully and Mulder as they investigate strange phenomena in a small Rocky Mountain town. Eventually, everything goes wrong, and both Scully and Mulder find themselves in the midst of a global conspiracy.
While it was easily the most gun-happy story to ever bear the X-Files name, the narrative in Resist or Serve hit a lot of the same notes that the original TV series did. In the end, it did what any X-Files game should: it featured Scully and Mulder solving mysteries and getting into all sorts of paranormal trouble.
Unfortunately, things start to fall apart as soon as players pick up the controller.
In the end, The X-Files: Resist or Serve won't be remembered for its story, gameplay or graphics - in fact, it hasn't been remembered much at all. There are plenty of terrible licensed games that fans are still trying to forget...and yet, Resist or Serve somehow slipped through the cracks.
Considering the source material, it's a rather fitting fate.
As for X-Files projects worth getting excited about, the miniseries reboot is almost here: expect Scully and Mulder to reunite on Jan. 24.
