An Outcry

About

An Outcry is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Quinn K. and was released on January 5, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "An Outcry," guide a shut-in through a horror-filled night in a text-heavy RPG, made in RPG Maker 2003. With multiple impactful routes, 5 endings, and a haunting soundtrack, ensure the Unnamed's survival amidst strange occurrences and deep anxieties. Explore the complex narrative through almost 100 illustrated cutscenes, spanning approximately 4 hours of gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

story12 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

An Outcry features a deeply engaging narrative that intertwines gameplay with emotional storytelling, making players reflect on serious themes such as identity and societal issues.
The game is praised for its stunning pixel art, atmospheric music, and well-crafted characters, creating a haunting and immersive experience.
It offers unique gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to refuse dialogue options, which enhances the player's connection to the protagonist's journey and struggles.

Some players found the combat system tedious and unrewarding, detracting from the overall experience, especially for those expecting traditional RPG mechanics.
The pacing of the dialogue can be slow, with a lack of a fast-forward option, leading to frustration during repeated playthroughs to explore different endings.
Certain themes and writing styles may not resonate with all players, leading to mixed feelings about the narrative's execution and character development.

story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's story is a complex and thought-provoking narrative that explores heavy themes such as identity, adversity, and societal issues, particularly through the lens of a nonbinary protagonist facing existential threats. Set in a dilapidated Vienna, it combines elements of horror and political allegory, using gameplay mechanics to enhance the storytelling experience. While some players find the narrative compelling and well-crafted, others criticize its execution and character development, leading to mixed opinions on its overall impact.
- “The story is wonderfully written and the characters feel like real people.”
- “It's a thoughtful concise game that makes good use of the mechanics of RPG Maker to support the story it wants to tell.”
- “Great and absolutely haunting story, really cool aesthetic and catchy soundtrack.”
- “The story deals with very heavy subjects, especially during the ignore route.”
- “A plainspoken summary of the story for people who are confused (light spoilers): the unnamed, a nonbinary person who is on the brink of becoming homeless, discovers on the night of an election which may put fascists back into power, that a group of supernatural birds have arrived all across Austria to 'debate' their existence and the existence of anyone who does not fit into their vague concept of 'birdness.' Of course, this debate mostly consists of the birds threatening and enacting violence toward their target for not being able to 'prove' they deserve to exist.”
- “It's a game that expertly wields the storytelling tools it has on hand, crafting an experience that's equally human and abstract, though it defies the kind of absolutist narratives that many may have grown conditioned to expect.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the narrative, with many reviewers noting its atmospheric and haunting qualities. The soundtrack is described as memorable and engaging, often elevating the overall experience and complementing the game's art and writing. While some found the music occasionally grating, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive and compelling atmosphere.
- “Top-notch soundtrack that actually had me listening to it instead of just putting on my own playlist in the background.”
- “An outcry is a fantastic game that pulls you in almost instantly, with awesome pixel art, great atmospheric music, and a haunting narrative that sticks in your mind long after you're done playing.”
- “Music is mid and gets grating after a bit.”
- “The music is moody, atmospheric, and a bit jarring, and the paths each had some important things to say about themselves.”
- “The music stands out to me right away.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The gameplay is intricately woven into the narrative, emphasizing exploration of dialogue branches and character interactions, which enhances the storytelling experience. While it features traditional turn-based RPG mechanics, the game diverges from typical RPG conventions by minimizing leveling and equipment, focusing instead on unique gameplay elements that reflect the protagonist's journey of self-assertion. However, some players found inconsistencies in dialogue options and a lack of replayability, which detracted from the overall experience despite the game's compelling narrative and innovative use of mechanics.
- “What I loved the most is how the gameplay is part of the narrative itself.”
- “It's a thoughtful, concise game that makes good use of the mechanics of RPG Maker to support the story it wants to tell.”
- “Super tightly-focused RPG, heavier on narrative but with an incredibly compelling use of game mechanics to tell its story and open up unexpected routes.”
- “Talking is not the only gameplay element; we also have a typical turn-based RPG combat with ATB, but compared to a classic RPG, you don't gain experience, you don't level up, and you barely get any equipment.”
- “I think there are some things that frustrated me in terms of the gameplay mechanics, such as the dialogue options being inconsistent. Finding out if there was an 'X/C' dialogue option or a 'hidden' dialogue option basically requires going into every dialogue individually and testing out every path, and the replayability of the game just wasn't high enough for me to go through that.”
- “It will be outright mean and antagonistic to the player for making the wrong decision once or for not knowing about a hidden mechanic.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a striking contrast between oppressive gloom and vibrant moments of safety, enhanced by stunning pixel art and a haunting soundtrack. Reviewers praise its ability to evoke strong emotions and immerse players in a narrative that explores deep themes, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a rich, atmospheric environment that captivates and resonates long after gameplay.
- “The atmosphere for the most part is pretty gloomy, but there are sections where the unnamed feels safer, with colors popping up their brightest, setting the tone perfectly. There are also a lot of visual novel-style CGs and cutscenes done with gorgeous animated pixel art that provide some really powerful visuals.”
- “An outcry is a fantastic game that pulls you in almost instantly, with awesome pixel art, great atmospheric music, and a haunting narrative that sticks in your mind long after you're done playing.”
- “The atmosphere for the most part is pretty gloomy, but there are sections where the unnamed feels safer, with colors popping up at their brightest, setting the tone perfectly. There are also a lot of visual novel-style CGs and cutscenes done with gorgeous animated pixel art that provide some really powerful visuals.”
- “It is set in Vienna today and has an atmosphere that oscillates between oppressive and picturesque.”
- “One of the most positive aspects of this story is the dense, oppressive atmosphere, which is underlined very well by the reduced color palette and the sound design, as well as the electronic or rock music.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
45%
22%
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming and haunting art style, featuring vibrant colors that enhance the atmosphere, especially in safer sections. The use of animated pixel art in cutscenes and visual novel-style CGs contributes to a powerful visual experience, effectively complementing the game's surrealist RPG Maker vibe and narrative depth. Overall, the visuals are considered beautiful and integral to the game's aesthetic and storytelling.
- “The atmosphere for the most part is pretty gloomy but there are sections where the unnamed feels safer where the colors pop up their brightest, setting up the tone perfectly. There are also a lot of visual novel style CGs and cutscenes done with gorgeous animated pixel art that give off some really powerful visuals.”
- “The charming art style, the music, the characters... everything was so full of life.”
- “The art style totally nails the surrealist early RPG Maker vibe it's going for, and the writing tackles its subject matter(s) in a tasteful way that doesn't dumb down the severity of the issue(s).”
- “In the form of scripting, world design, and graphics.”
- “The art style totally nails the surrealist early RPG Maker vibe it's going for and the writing tackles its subject matter(s) in a tasteful way that doesn't dumb down the severity of the issue(s).”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its realistic world and characters, impactful music, and poignant moments that resonate deeply with players. While some found certain routes emotionally challenging and the narrative intensely written with significant themes, others felt a lack of emotional engagement. Overall, the game evokes a range of feelings, from helplessness to profound connection, depending on the player's experience.
- “The world and characters feel real, the music is great, and there are some heart-wrenching moments.”
- “The ignore route was too emotionally difficult for me to go through, and that is a compliment.”
- “Intensely, poetically written narrative that makes a pretty damn good political commentary as well as touching heavily on themes of body dysphoria and transphobia.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever satire and subtle wit, which effectively balances the heavier themes and emotional realism. Players appreciate the engaging character writing and the ability to evoke laughter amidst poignant moments, creating a multifaceted experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The twists kept me on my toes, the satire kept me laughing, and the realism actually hurt.”
- “Still, an outcry drew me in with its character writing, subtle humor, sound art and score, and tasteful handling of its topics.”
- “It's cool, funny, heavy, nostalgic, and sad.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unfulfilling, as battles lack rewarding experiences and do not provide experience points. The rhyming dialogue of enemies adds to the confusion, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the RPG mechanics.
- “I think that the premise is interesting; however, having all your enemies' dialogue in rhymes and prose means that it’s not always clear, and it can sometimes be tedious.”
- “I mean, it's supposed to be an RPG similar to Final Fantasy that's clearly aping the visual style of Undertale, but there's no experience points, and the battles aren't rewarding to fight—only tedious at best.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game offers multiple endings, providing some replay value; however, inconsistent dialogue options can frustrate players, making it tedious to explore all paths. As a result, some users feel the overall replayability is limited.
- “It seems there are multiple endings, so there's a bit of replay value to it as well.”
- “The game offers a variety of choices that encourage players to explore different paths, enhancing its replayability.”
- “With different character builds and strategies to try, the game keeps you coming back for more.”
- “I think there are some things that frustrated me in terms of the gameplay mechanics, such as the dialogue options being inconsistent, making it necessary to go through every dialogue individually to test out every path. The replayability of the game just wasn't high enough for me to go through that.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers highlight that the character development is deeply intertwined with the game's overall design, including its world, music, and themes, creating a resonant and immersive experience.
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their growth feel authentic and impactful.”
- “The way the game intertwines character backstories with the main plot creates a truly immersive experience.”