Fans of Full Motion Video (FMV) games, like me, should be happy knowing these interactive movies are making a comeback. Before all two of you reading this that are also fans get too excited, one of the titles I am talking about is Corpse Killer. Not exactly the best this genre has to offer (that would be Dracula Unleashed if anyone is wondering). Anyhow, on with the fun.

Where it began

Interactive movies, aka Full Motion Video games, were a short lived by product of the early days of 16-bit CD-ROM technology. I know, there were optical drive machines prior that did FMV but it didn’t break into the mass market till the 16-bit era so that is where I focus in these things. Okay, Sega launched their Sega CD attachment and were in a position that Nintendo technically was not a competitor (the TurboGrafx-16 with CD-ROM attachment wasn’t much competition). Sega needed something unique to help them stand out – they licensed a few live action games that were produced for a failed console years before and used them to spearhead the Sega CD. Unfortunately, gamers were not all that interested in the limited gameplay, repeating situations, and short game play most FMV games offered.

Digital Pictures to the rescue

Digital Pictures was home to the owner of many FMV games that were developed for the NEMO game console (a console by Hasbro of all companies). Game companies are known for their games and Digital Pictures were hellbent on making their name stand out.

Besides Sewer Shark and Night Trap, which Sega were more than happy to license, Digital Pictures went on to release a game called Double Switch starred Corey Haim and R. Lee Ermey, and another title called Corpse Killer which starred Bridget Butler and Vincent Schiavelli among others.

The return not many asked for

On PlayStation 4, in partnership with Limited Run Games fans will get a chance to enjoy Corpse Killer. According to Retro Game Network, Screaming Villains are working their magic on this release and creating the definitive edition. Fans may remember Screaming Villains for their work on remastering Night Trap and Double Switch in the past. These guys know their jobs and do it exceptionally well (how about a Dracula Unleashed update?). At least this update is in good hands.

Corpse Killer was a rail shooter pitting you against zombies. Digital Pictures went all out for this release back in the day, much like they did with most of their releases, and it showed in the locales in the game. Too bad there is not exactly a lot of game here (as is the case with most rail shooters).

That other game

Double Switch, another Digital Pictures original and Screaming Villains update, is coming to the Nintendo Switch console. According to Nintendo Everything, Double Switch: 25^th Anniversary Edition for the Nintendo Switch is only confirmed as a digital release at this time. This version is also slated for third quarter 2019 release so not much longer to wait before we can help Haim again in his quest to escape the Edward Arms mansion.

As usual, you can grab Double Switch and Corpse Killer (June 30^th) on Steam for physical editions of the originals or updates, check eBay out.

So, who else is excited for these titles?

Carl Williams

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