With the recent release of "Black Mirror's Bandersnatch," it seems as if a new audience is being exposed to a genre that's laid dormant for many years- Full Motion Video Games (FMV). The idea of incorporating live-action footage into games dates back to the 1970s. Nintendo's "Wild Gunman" used footage of a cowboy drawing their gun to challenge players in a duel. Years later, Don Bluth of "The Land Before Time" fame would animate the full motion video arcade games "Dragon's Lair" and "Space Ace."

In the 1990s, CD technology led publishers such as Sega and 3DO to hedge their bets on interactive Movies; believing them to be the future gaming.

However, many of these games sold poorly and were panned for their limited interactivity and lack of any replay value. Polygonal 3D graphics would prove to be the true future of gaming.

Despite the criticism that the genre received, there were some good titles that utilized FMV without sacrificing quality gameplay.

5. 'Under a Killing Moon'

"Under a Killing Moon" was the third adventure starring the bumbling Noir Private Investigator Tex Murphy. After the success of his last case, Tex is back in the dumps and desperate for work. It's then that a mysterious countess approaches him to find her missing statuette. Believing his luck has changed, Tex has no idea that he's stumbled upon a sinister conspiracy that will determine the fate of human and mutantkind.

"Under a Killing Moon" was the first game in the series to feature video with live actors. Co-creator Chris Jones previously portrayed Tex Murphy in the cover art for "Mean Streets" and "Martian Memorandum." With this installment, he'd not only be able to play as him in the actual game but also share scenes with accomplished actors such as James Earl Jones and Brian Keith.

Blending lighthearted humor with a Chandleresque mystery, "Under a Killing Moon" is a superb graphic adventure.

4. 'Policenauts'

Hideo Kojima may be most famous for the "Metal Gear Solid" franchise, but his other titles such as "Snatcher" and "Policenauts" should not be overlooked. The former saw an excellent English localization for the Sega CD.

An English version of "Policenauts" was planned for the Sega Saturn, but eventually canceled. A shame too, considering the major technological advancements "Policenauts" had over "Snatcher." While "Snatcher" utilized pixel art to tell its story, "Policenauts" benefited from fully cel-animated cutscenes thanks to the superior hardware of the PlayStation and Saturn.

Kojima's love for American cinema once again permeates the experience, with characters Jonathon and Ed being clear anime versions of Riggs and Murtaugh from Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon." "Metal Gear Solid" fans will also spot the debut of Meryl, the lovely and lethal soldier who would find herself fighting alongside Solid Snake four years later.

3. 'Zork Grand Inquisitor'

Coming off the heels of the dark and humorless "Zork Nemesis," "Grand Inquisitor" brings back the wit that endeared players to this series so many years ago. The Grand Inquisitor has outlawed magic and is imprisoning those who practice it. It's up to an ageless, faceless, gender neutral, culturally ambiguous adventure person (or AFGNCAAP for short) to save the land of Zork. In addition to satirizing standard fantasy tropes, "Zork Grand Inquisitor" also pokes fun at the series' roots with humorous text descriptions of your character's demise when you fail.

The game had the misfortune of being released in the same year as "Curse of Monkey Island," and "Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror," so it's not a surprise that it sold below expectations.

Regardless, "Grand Inquisitor" is a side-splitting and mentally stimulating adventure worthy of the "Zork" name.

2.'The Beast Within: a Gabriel Knight Mystery'

Released around the same year as Sierra's other FMV horror "Phantasmagoria," "Beast Within" was vastly superior in every way. After solving the voodoo murders in New Orleans, Mystery writer, lothario, and reluctant monster hunter Gabriel Knight heads to his family castle in Rittersberg Germany to get some much needed rest. Unfortunately, the citizens of Rittersberg are being terrorized by werewolves, and Gabriel's the only living member of the Knight family to protect them. Gabriel heads to Munich to gather clues about the murders and how they connect with the mystery of King Ludwig II's secret affliction.

Joining Gabriel on his quest is his long suffering assistant Grace Nakamura. The two leads contrast wonderfully with Gabriel as the womanizing rascal with a heart of gold and Grace as the snarky yet compassionate academic. Their interactions with the various people they come across in this mystery reveal so much about their personalities without feeling too expository or unnatural.

1. 'Wing Commander III'

Much like "Tex Murphy," the third installment of the "Wing Commander" series would utilize live action actors to enhance their trademark flight simulator gameplay. It's the year 2669, and the war between the Confed Federation and the Killrathi Empire is still raging on. The hero of the previous installments, Col.

Blair, has been assigned to the TCS Victory as a Wing Commander.

There, players will get to know the personalities and abilities of the various crew members and enlist them in combat missions of their choosing. What ship Blair controls and what weapons are equipped are also entirely up to the player. If certain pilots are killed in action, they're gone permanently, so assessing the situation to determine the optimal wingmen is highly recommended.

Boasting impressive production values and a cast that included Mark Hamill, John Rhys Davies, and Malcolm McDowell, "Wing Commander III" was lightyears ahead of other FMV games. Mix that with the refined flight controls and a moral choice system that effects your relationships with crew members, and you've got what might be the peak of this series.
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