80. Under A Killing Moon

(PC/Mac, Access Software, 1994)
"Interactive Movie"
Those two words should send a chill down the spine of any well versed gamers, a phrase coined in the early 90's when CD-ROM became a affordable staple format for computers and up and coming consoles.
A whole host of games were released that were crammed with full motion video, the idea being that nothing could look better or be more immersive than reality itself. But they were very wrong. FMV games were usually linear, derivative and featured shoddy, grainy video starring nobody actors and Z-grade special effects. A new phenomenon in videogames very quickly revealed itself to be a total gimmick, in less than a few years, games went back to the pixels and polygons that had worked for many years, the interactive movie dream was over.

However, delve deeper, for amongst all the blocky shooters and Kriss Kross video makers lie gems, games that can be pushed aside as soon as a "real actor" appears badly superimposed onto a photographic background. This prejudice is unwise, as you might be missing something very special indeed.

Under A Killing Moon was released in 1994 and is the third of the five "Tex Murphy" adventures, set in a post WWIII San Francisco. These games follow the adventures of a down on his luck, lovable loser of a private detective who, more often than not, will get involved in a seemingly normal case that will eventually have far reaching consequences.
In UAKM Tex, with nothing left to his name, is hired to find a missing statuette, so begins a adventure that will lead him into the company of strange mutants, a dangerous cult and, of course, a plot that holds the fate of the world at stake.

The game plays with 3D environments negotiated in first person, using a point and click interface. Tex can interact with objects, search for clues or just make dry witticisms about everything he sees, Upon meeting other characters, Tex enters into conversation tree dialogue, with video of actors playing the part of the characters. Tex can gain clues, interrogate, insult or even chat up the many inhabitants of New San Francisco, the player can choose the method of reply, trying to psychologically outwit the person for extra info, or just to save his own life.
FMV games are infamous for their horrendous acting, even with stalwarts like Margot Kidder and the voice of James Earl Jones on board, UAKM suffers from this "Im just here to get my equity card" syndrome. However, Chris Jones' Tex is great, showing the right amount of vulnerability and misplaced ego, Tex is still a likeable guy who you really want to see get back on his feet.

UAKM is a brilliant game. It has dated of course, but its fifteen years old. At first glance, it features many of the trappings that made those "Interactive Movies" so rotten, but dig deeper and an enjoyable, witty, intriguing and nostalgic adventure will unveil itself.
Under A Killing Moon deserves recognition as a snapshot of gaming history, it managed to get right what a huge selection of early CD-ROM games got so very wrong.


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