The X-Files: Resist or Serve

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
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  1. DukeJon
    Jan 30, 2015
    8
    a servicable Resident evil clone that makes great use of the material from the show. Loved playing this back in the day. The game gets really tough towards the end and I could only complete it with cheats. There's a good mix of shooting, horror and detective work with loads of great touches and easter eggs from the show. Decent voice acting, particularly by Gillian Anderson.
  2. Capthate
    Sep 23, 2018
    5
    It is hard for me to quantify the amount of fun and frustration I have felt from playing this game. Not only is there a great deal of fan service for the X-Files fan but also the developer seemed to have a respect and admiration for the series as well. Sadly, as the game wore on, what I found was a fundamental misunderstanding of some of the most basic concepts of acceptable game play.It is hard for me to quantify the amount of fun and frustration I have felt from playing this game. Not only is there a great deal of fan service for the X-Files fan but also the developer seemed to have a respect and admiration for the series as well. Sadly, as the game wore on, what I found was a fundamental misunderstanding of some of the most basic concepts of acceptable game play.

    In X-Files: Resist or Serve, the player can embody Scully or Mulder in the three episodes that have a connecting story. At the end of each episode you can switch characters or progress as the same person. There are minor differences between these scenarios based on who you choose like a few differing mini-games and locations that all seem inconsequential as any useful info is shared after they reconvene.

    It is clear that there is a quality drop off after the first episode though with all the minor gripes and woes in the first episode only magnifying in leaps and bounds. The horrid camera, broken and odd enemy AI, bad inventory management and unclear goals only became more distinct in each new area. All of these problems lead to a final boss that felt like an accumulation of every bad aspect of the game in one acute point. I cannot stress enough how aggressively terrible the end boss is without needing a soapbox and maybe a half hour of your time. Needless to say, by the end of the third episode as Mulder, I dreaded the thought of a second play through as Scully.

    Oddly enough, on my second fore into the town of Red Falls in Episode 1, I was reminded of the things that filled me with such hope for the game in the first place.

    I was absolutely charmed by the wonderfully written story mixed with survival horror elements reminiscent of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. All of the characters are voiced by their respected actors and there are quite a few cameos that genuinely surprised me. The controls also felt easily forgivable in the beginning and the variation in locations had me excited to see the next place I might get to explore. Even the inclusion of the X-Files episode opening caused me to ‘fanboy out’ a little.

    Sadly, these small glimmers of light were snuffed out by the overwhelming awful boss fights, aggressively terrible camera placement and baffling game play decisions. I would recommend only fans of the TV series play the game but even that feels like it needs to come with a heavy warning that they are might not want to finish it.    … Expand
  3. GeorgeH.
    Mar 29, 2004
    10
    Excellent story-line with challenging puzzles and action sequences. It was a delight.
  4. The_D4RknesS
    Apr 25, 2023
    5
    This game is very bad, especially its camera and its animations / facial expressions, I'm only putting a 5 because the soundtrack is immersive and immersive
  5. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    5
    I remember trying to beat this game as a teen, and dropping it because i didnt know what i was supposed to do. Didnt leave the best impression.

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. PSX Nation
    70
    Every bit as good as the recent "Resident Evil Outbreak" game if not better in some ways.
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  2. PSM Magazine
    70
    It's not the next "Fatal Frame 2," but "X-Files: Resist or Serve" is a decent game infused with an awesome license and a very fair price. [June 2004, p.30]
  3. VideoGamesLife
    70
    It seems Black-Ops has been primarily concerned with making a playable game that isn't too tough to put off the X-Files fan-base that it's clearly designed for, and in the end seasoned players won't find too much here that's new or challenging.
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