The X-Files: Unrestricted Access
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games, Software |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | The X-Files: Unrestricted Access |
| Parent | Fox Interactive |
The X-Files: Unrestricted Access is an interactive database application for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh, released by Fox Interactive as a companion product to the television show The X-Files. Launched in 1998, this software compiles comprehensive data from the initial four seasons of the series. Development was handled by Fox Interactive, with Richard Dowdy credited as the writer.
Gameplay
Unrestricted Access differs from conventional video games by functioning as an interactive reference tool that presents text, video clips, and images related to the show's mythology, characters, and individual episodes spanning the first four seasons. All material is directly extracted from the episodes themselves.
The software is distributed across two CD-ROMs: the first disc installs both the application and Internet Explorer 4, which is necessary for navigating embedded hyperlinks within the program; the second disc contains the database content. Additional bonuses include themed wallpapers and screensavers inspired by the series.
Release and reception
When released in 1998 for both Windows and Macintosh platforms, The X-Files: Unrestricted Access garnered mostly favorable critiques. Reviewers highlighted its meticulous detail and appealing visual presentation. Nick Smith from AllGame assigned it three-and-a-half out of five stars, emphasizing its affordable pricing—roughly half that of standard computer games at the time—and praised the provision of downloadable updates to maintain current information. Mike Flaherty of Entertainment Weekly rated it a B, appreciating its comprehensive nature but noting some images suffered from poor quality.
A critique in The Michigan Daily awarded two-and-a-half stars, recognizing the strong conceptual foundation but pointing out usability challenges linked to dependence on Internet Explorer. The review concluded that this program chiefly attracts devoted followers of the television series.