199X
- December 10, 2014
- evantognotti
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"199X" is a single-player Science Fiction RPG, built using the RPG Maker engine, that offers a 2-3 hour narrative experience. As the player, you control Clara, a girl who feels controlled and must regain her independence. The game features an intriguing story, a good soundtrack, and moments of humor and high emotion. Visit to listen to the soundtrack.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and emotional narrative that deeply engages players, making them care for the main character, Clara.
- The unique fourth-wall-breaking mechanic allows players to feel a personal connection to the character and the story, creating a memorable experience.
- The soundtrack is well-composed and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game, contributing to its emotional impact.
- The gameplay is minimal and often feels tedious, with slow movement and a lack of meaningful choices that can frustrate players.
- The dialogue can be overly lengthy and repetitive, requiring players to exhaust all options before progressing, which disrupts the flow of the story.
- Some players may find the themes and writing pretentious or heavy-handed, which could detract from their enjoyment of the game.
- story172 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "199x" is a compelling and emotionally charged narrative that heavily emphasizes themes of mental illness, social norms, and personal agency, often breaking the fourth wall to engage players in a unique storytelling experience. While the gameplay is minimal and linear, many players found the writing and character development to be strong enough to keep them invested, despite some critiques regarding pacing and character depth. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a thought-provoking story rather than traditional gameplay mechanics.
“199x is a short RPG Maker narrative adventure game with minimal gameplay that is more about the story and heavily plays with the idea of social norms, emotional manipulation, and mental illness, featuring a ton of 4th wall breaking that is basically the premise of the game.”
“The story is well written and it has a nice twist in the end.”
“More interactive story than game, 199x blurs the line between player and character and proves to be not only an interesting story, but also a fine example of how to deftly employ simplicity, metafiction, and minimalism to put a story center-stage.”
“Unfortunately, I wasn't 'wow'd' in the way many other players seem to have been by the story.”
“It's vague, boring, nonsensical; the story never really amps up, it just sort of wanders in boring circles that don't explain anything.”
“The world is empty in the sense that you can barely interact with or get near anything; the text just pops up by walking near something, the controls are floaty, the dialogs and monologs are poorly written, and the dialog options are pretty much the same.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "199x" is minimal and largely revolves around interacting with objects and navigating dialogue, resembling an interactive visual novel rather than a traditional game. Players can expect a linear experience with basic mechanics, as the game emphasizes storytelling over gameplay, which some find engaging while others consider it tedious and lacking depth. Overall, it is best suited for those seeking a narrative-driven experience rather than conventional gameplay.
“But the story and narrative more than make up for the barebones gameplay as they're truly good: the plot is slowly revealed as days go by and you find out more about Clara, her past and what's happening to the city.”
“Despite having no mechanics, it focuses on telling an amazing and deep story with no fourth wall from beginning to end.”
“Not much for gameplay but a very interesting story that makes you want to keep going.”
“Gameplay is quite barebones where you will mostly be interacting with objects and annoyingly sometimes multiple times or have a lot of dialogue, having to go back and do almost every option to talk about before being able to move on so exploring every possible interactable is often required.”
“From the boring, uninspired gameplay, to the weird and annoying soundtrack that could've been sung by chipmunks, to the contrived story that never bothered to make any sense, it was honestly annoying to play and near impossible to complete.”
“199x is a game without mechanics, both in title and in gameplay.”
- music49 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its uniqueness and emotional depth, while others find it poorly executed and mismatched with the game's tone. Many appreciate the free DLC soundtrack, which features a variety of styles, but some criticize it for being repetitive or amateurish. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has detractors who feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“Please play this game, it has a beautiful soundtrack, it's short, has a great story, and is very much unforgettable.”
“The music is great and the story is something that will stay with me for a long time.”
“The soundtrack was probably my favorite part of the game, very rare and exciting!”
“The music was probably the most grating part of the experience along with that weird D&D experience midways through.”
“From the boring, uninspired gameplay, to the weird and annoying soundtrack that could've been sung by chipmunks, to the contrived story that never bothered to make any sense, it was honestly annoying to play and near impossible to complete.”
“For another thing, the game's music is honestly kind of awful at times. Now again, to be clear, the entire game's soundtrack isn't all bad; there are definitely some okay songs in it, but I noticed that there are some loops that are like 10 seconds long in scenes where you will be there for around 5 minutes, and it's not exactly a smooth loop either.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game "199x" is widely praised for its deep emotional narrative, effectively exploring themes of social norms, mental illness, and personal connection. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, and many describe it as an emotional rollercoaster that fosters a strong attachment to the main character, Clara. Its unique storytelling approach and heartfelt moments make it a standout experience for those seeking an impactful, story-driven game.
“Something about the character directly communicating with the player allows for a more emotional connection than I've experienced before in a video game.”
“199x is easily the single most emotional game I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing, and the simple, personal connection that being inside someone's head during every moment of the game forces you to create blew me away.”
“It has an emotional and deep story that will make you truly care for the main character, Clara, for whom you will feel attached.”
- humor17 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark, surreal, and reference-based comedy, often shifting seamlessly between disturbing and funny moments. While some players appreciate the witty banter and unique humor, particularly in the context of emotional storytelling, others find it inconsistent and potentially distracting from the game's serious themes. Overall, the humor is seen as a defining aspect that adds both charm and complexity, appealing to those who enjoy a mix of lightheartedness and deeper emotional undertones.
“Many of the dialogues between you and Clara are quite funny, a sort of bickering, if you will.”
“The whole thing seamlessly goes from disturbing to surreal to funny without breaking a sweat, and it expertly breaks the fourth wall whenever necessary.”
“It has moments when it is adorable, moments when it is hilarious, and moments when it is very emotionally gripping.”
“It also distracts from the mood of seriousness, as I guess this is supposed to be funny?”
“The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected clever jokes, but instead, the humor is juvenile and misses the mark completely.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being unimpressive and basic, often relying on stock RPG Maker assets with a cartoonish style that doesn't align with its more adult themes. While some reviewers acknowledge clever use of graphics at certain points, the overall consensus is that the visuals lack depth and customization, which may detract from the experience for players seeking high-quality graphics. However, many agree that the game's strong narrative compensates for its graphical shortcomings.
“But I really can’t think of any other art style that would work here.”
“The graphics were good and cleverly used at points in the game.”
“Despite the cartoonish graphics, it is actually more adult-themed, touching issues of relationships, existence, and perspective.”
“Given the topics, the atmosphere, and the swearing, the graphics lack something... a little shade here and there, less toon-like sprites, etc. but I understand that the author is mainly a writer, so they didn't want to focus too much on graphics.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be that kind of game: a homebrew RPG Maker affair with stock graphics and a preachy message that aims to make the player feel like an awful human being.”
“The graphics are poor, the collisions aren't well done, lots of things strangely done... but you know what?”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players feeling that while the initial experience is worthwhile, there is little incentive to play again. Some mention the presence of multiple endings, which adds a slight degree of replay value, but the emotional weight of the story often discourages a second playthrough. Despite its low price, the consensus is that it lacks significant replayability.
“Well worth the price, and with multiple endings it even has a bit of replay value.”
“While I will say that a game like To the Moon beats this game in quality, this game is five times cheaper than To the Moon, which tends to make it a lot more playable, and honestly for two dollars I think you can take the gamble.”
“It has next to no replayability.”
“I got my money's worth, but it has no replay value and it is cluttering my library.”
“I found myself almost crying at Clara multiple times throughout the game, and while there may be some replay value, I simply could not make myself play again, as I would feel as if I was disrespecting Clara's story in doing so.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, with cumbersome navigation between acts and poorly scaled level designs that disrupt immersion. Despite its visual appeal, the gameplay is often described as monotonous and lacking engaging mechanics.
“This game is a bit sad and it started off slow and tedious.”
“Navigating from act to act is tedious even though the game constantly tries to hold your hand and remind you where to go.”
“Level designs are plodding and tediously large, often failing to properly account for scale and feeling contextually disruptive through a consistent juxtaposition of styles for narrative’s sake.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as surreal and disturbing, enhanced by strong dialogues reminiscent of Beckett and a unique soundtrack blending indie, dark wave, and psychedelic rock. However, some players feel that the graphics are lacking and that repetitive conversations detract from the overall experience.
“Manages to craft a surreal and somewhat disturbing atmosphere.”
“It's got a good atmosphere.”
“Given the topics, the atmosphere and the swearing, the graphics lack something... a little shade here and there, less toon-like sprites, etc. but I understand that the author is mainly a writer, so they didn't want to focus too much on graphics.”
“It manages to craft a surreal and somewhat disturbing atmosphere.”
“What the atmosphere lacks in means of display, it most certainly compensates for with dialogues worthy of a Beckett play and a soundtrack - an original compilation of Kearney, concerning indie, dark wave, and psychedelic rock genres which is distributed free with the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is described as minimal and underwhelming, with players noting that while dialogue and concepts are well-executed, the overall story mechanics and character depth are lacking. The experience is further hindered by poor environment design and shallow character designs, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with character progression.
“The character development is rich and engaging, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters throughout the story.”
“I appreciate how the character arcs evolve over time, making each decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“The depth of the characters is impressive, with well-written backstories that enhance the overall narrative experience.”
“It's very barebones, involves a lot of walking, and has only a tiny bit of character development.”
“I must confess that the story mechanics themselves are rather crippled compared to the excellently displayed dialogue and concept depth, with lacking environment design and some shallow character designs.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game performs adequately with smooth gameplay; however, some players have reported frustrating recurring bugs that can detract from the experience.
