Also popularized in this era were the first commercially successful RPG’s including the early installments of the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series. RPG’s have always been known as story-driven titles, and these titles pioneered the filmic ideas of character development and made copious use of cut-scenes and animated endings to tell their tales.

Another genre with a heavy focus on storytelling was the adventure game. Though the gameplay evolved around a simple point and click interface, many games in the genre were very cinematic, with engrossing storylines, fleshed out characters, and lush animated sequences. Games like the SCUMM series (Maniac Mansion, Secret of Monkey Island, etc.) in the late 80’s to mid 90’s exemplified this style, and comprised the most story-driven (and movie like) games ever seen at the time.

The trend of using cut scenes and in game animated endings continued well into the 16-bit era, keeping with the general theme of refining and revamping the revolutions of the previous generation. Cut scenes and endings became more elaborate and more fluid with the trend towards better graphics and more immersive storytelling. For example, the ending to Chrono Trigger, with its swelling score and rich animation, proved a worthy conclusion to the epic, time-traveling, world-saving storyline. In keeping with the growing narrative sophistication of the times, there were multiple versions of the end sequence, based upon the way gamers approached the final boss and several important side quests.

The 32-bit era can be credited with the first truly cinematic games, and the inspiration for today’s story-driven blockbusters. The advent of FMV (full motion video) wasn’t necessarily new on consoles, (it had been used to awful effect in Sega cd games) but it wasn’t until the Playstation and it’s stable of high budget titles (often RPG’s) that put fmv to successful use in elaborate cut scenes and ending sequences. One of the biggest titles that helped to popularize this trend was Final Fantasy 7, widely believed to be the most cinematic game of its time.