I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream
- October 17, 2013
- Cyberdreams
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream" is a point-and-click adventure game based on Harlan Ellison's short story, where you guide the last five immortal human survivors through their own personalized torment by the hate-filled supercomputer AM. Each character faces their fears and weaknesses in this post-apocalyptic world, with the hope of someday gaining freedom from their eternal torture. Gameplay features include multiple mode options, customizable graphics, and a deep, thought-provoking narrative.
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Reviews
- story1,118 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is widely praised for its depth and psychological complexity, drawing from Harlan Ellison's original short story. Players appreciate the dark, immersive narrative that explores themes of suffering, redemption, and the human condition through the experiences of five tortured characters, each with unique backstories. While the gameplay can be frustrating and dated, many recommend experiencing the story, either through the game or by reading the original short story, as it remains a compelling and haunting tale that resonates with contemporary issues.
“The story, sound direction, and art design in this game are fantastic.”
“Despite that, I think everyone should experience this story at least once.”
“The story is top tier, and I felt very immersed in the characters.”
“The somewhat common tragedy of a game with an amazing story but not very great gameplay.”
“Overall, I have no mouth and I must scream is a real pain to play through and while it might have an excellent short story behind it, it was executed in the worst way possible.”
“As an admirer of Harlan Ellison's work, I really enjoyed this game; I consider it a powerful adaptation of the short story that inspired it.”
- gameplay227 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is characterized as a traditional point-and-click adventure, but it suffers from outdated mechanics, frustrating puzzles, and numerous dead ends that can lead to repetitive gameplay. While the narrative and atmosphere are praised, many players find the gameplay to be a barrier to enjoyment, often requiring guides to navigate its convoluted challenges. Overall, the game is recommended more for its compelling story than for its gameplay experience, which many describe as clunky and frustrating.
“The gameplay is a classic point-and-click adventure game, and I must say I tend to dislike such games because they often resolve to pixel hunting and guessing what the developer wanted you to do.”
“The gameplay is surprisingly smooth for such an old game, and the only difficulty setting is 'unforgiving', so don't be upset if you utterly lose multiple times before getting just one part of the game down.”
“The gameplay goes beyond typical point 'n' click, featuring a revolutionary (for the time) morale system, where your actions and the choices you make dictate the outcome for the character.”
“However, I must admit that the gameplay is really contrived.”
“The gameplay can be buggy sometimes, but it is a low price for what the narrative beholds.”
“The gameplay is annoying.”
- graphics174 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while clearly dated and reflective of its 1990s origins, are often praised for their charm and ability to evoke a strong atmosphere that complements the storytelling. Many reviewers appreciate the retro pixel art and pre-rendered backgrounds, noting that they contribute to the game's eerie and unsettling tone, despite some frustrations with pixel hunting and technical bugs. Overall, the visuals are considered well-aged for their time, enhancing the game's narrative and emotional impact.
“The graphics are amazing; I love the 90s computer graphics aesthetic.”
“The graphics are old but they aged well, giving the game a cool artistic style.”
“The graphics look quite good for its age, though.”
“The graphics are dated but that's to be expected because the game came out in 1995.”
“While its overall atmosphere remains artfully crafted and deliciously gloomy, the game's graphics, point-and-click gameplay mechanics, and overall presentation have aged hideously - the game's 'spooky' parts and cringe-worthy voice acting become just bad enough to be laughable at worst and just plain weird at best.”
“For a game released in '95, the graphics are quite tolerable and don't detract from the experience.”
- music123 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, while others criticize its dated MIDI quality and occasional repetitiveness. The voice acting is generally well-received, adding to the immersive experience, though it can sometimes be overshadowed by sound effects and music volume issues. Overall, while the soundtrack may not be exceptional, it effectively complements the game's themes and storytelling, making it a notable aspect of the experience.
“The music is phenomenal and really adds to the atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack, writing, and voice acting are all excellent (especially Harlan Ellison as the vicious computer AM), and at a low price, it's impossible to not recommend.”
“The music and voice work add to one of the most harrowing, spine-tingling stories in the industry.”
“The music also echoes the age of the game, as the soundtrack is made entirely in MIDI, though the music itself contains nothing exceptional.”
“The only thing I would mention about the music is that there isn’t too much of it, meaning if you ever get stuck for some time, the music will very quickly start to grate on you.”
“The unsettling music of its soundtrack does not help matters and it just makes you feel disturbed and unsettled going through everything.”
- atmosphere101 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its oppressive, dark, and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the storytelling and emotional impact. Many reviewers highlight the combination of unsettling visuals, haunting music, and rich environments that create a unique and eerie experience, despite some dated graphics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's psychological depth and engagement.
“The art and atmosphere match the brilliance of the writing.”
“The atmosphere and story bring the dark and macabre of gaming to a whole other level, and having read Ellison's short myself, the game does a fantastic job representing the work.”
“The atmosphere is relentlessly oppressive.”
“The game has a disturbing, morose atmosphere that is carried by an overall darkened setting throughout each scenario.”
“While its overall atmosphere remains artfully crafted and deliciously gloomy, the game's graphics, point-and-click gameplay mechanics, and overall presentation have aged hideously - the game's 'spooky' parts and cringe-worthy voice acting become just bad enough to be laughable at worst and just plain weird at best.”
- stability38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, including soft locks and unwinnable scenarios. While some players managed to complete the game without major issues, many reported frequent dead ends and the need for constant saving to avoid losing progress. Overall, the stability of the game is a significant drawback, overshadowing its otherwise engaging narrative and atmosphere.
“No glitches while playing from start to finish.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I experienced consistent performance throughout my gameplay.”
“Gets buggy frequently; I managed to soft lock myself out of endings a few times, so make sure to save a bunch.”
“Add to that the fact that the game has several dead ends you can reach where you cannot progress and you cannot restart the scenario to try again unless you load a save game. There are glitches in the game, at least one of them game-breaking in my case where, in the endgame scenario, a character got stuck on a path and would not move no matter which action I tried to dislodge him, leading to a pretty unenjoyable experience from a gameplay standpoint.”
“This game would have been easily and widely remembered as a classic of the point-and-click genre if it wasn't incredibly buggy on release.”
- emotional24 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game is described as deeply emotional, featuring well-developed characters whose personal struggles and redemptive arcs evoke strong feelings, including heartbreak and discomfort. While it presents challenging dilemmas and intense scenarios, some players find the emotional impact diluted by characters' seemingly resilient responses to their traumas. Overall, it offers a powerful, albeit taxing, emotional experience that can resonate profoundly with players, making it one of the most engaging in adventure gaming history.
“Well-developed, emotionally rich characters.”
“You really do feel for these characters and their fates, and the game is filled with many heartbreaking scenes.”
“Probably the most emotionally engaging experience in the history of adventure gaming.”
“Nimdok is just a boring character with a boring story.”
“The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
“I didn't connect with any of the characters, making the emotional scenes fall flat.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings and branching narrative, encouraging players to explore different choices. While many reviews highlight the enjoyment of revisiting the game to achieve various outcomes, some players note that the differences between endings may not be substantial enough to warrant repeated playthroughs. Additionally, certain gameplay mechanics and bugs can impact the experience, but many still find the replay value to be decent.
“There are many different endings that can be had which brings a lot of replay value to the game.”
“This branching narrative adds replay value and encourages players to think carefully about their decisions.”
“It has also quite a lot of replay value and lots of different endings.”
“And while there is technically replay value in that you can do different choices, it doesn't significantly alter the story in any noticeable way minus forcing you into one of the bad endings.”
“It feels like this was made with replay value in mind, as the game is quite short, but it ends up being rather frustrating, as you can end up getting a bad ending simply because you walked through a door at the wrong time, without the game properly warning you about it.”
“Wild and intriguing, but lacks replay value.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and absurd elements, often juxtaposing serious themes with comedic moments and witty voice acting. Players appreciate the unique and twisted humor, which includes ironic and satirical takes on grim situations, making for a fun yet uncomfortable experience. Overall, the writing and character interactions deliver a distinctive comedic flair that resonates well with fans of dark humor.
“The humor and the allusions are fantastic.”
“I love the voice acting and dark humor.”
“It's a weird game with hilariously bad/amazing voice acting - it's crazy and unique, and I love it.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is solid, with no significant crashes or bugs reported, and it performs well graphically across multiple platforms. While the voice acting is generally praised, some inconsistencies in character delivery detract from the experience, though standout performances, particularly by Harlan Ellison, enhance the game's audio experience. Continuous updates from the developers for compatibility further indicate a commitment to maintaining performance.
“Performance-wise and graphically, it works fine and I didn't encounter a crash or bug anywhere.”
“The script is elevated also by the unique performances of the cast, including none other than Harlan Ellison who voices AM.”
“Setting that aside, I don't think those elements made their way into the game (excepting a vocal performance by Ellison).”
“The voice acting is mostly quite good, but there are some issues that are more related to how it's implemented than the actors' performances, like how characters often go from sounding really authentically distressed in one line, then way too upbeat in the next.”
“For additional value, the dev is continuing updates for ScummVM for compatibility and performance on multiple platforms.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and requiring excessive time investment, often leading to frustration due to pixel hunting, illogical puzzles, and the need for frequent saving. While some players appreciate the engaging story and replayability, many find the overall experience slow-paced and lacking in rewarding gameplay, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This is every bit as tedious as it sounds.”
“There is very little logic in what you are supposed to do and it often feels tedious.”
- character development10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting its depth and complexity, particularly in relation to the storyline and character arcs. While some felt certain relationships, like that between Ted and Ellen, lacked sufficient exploration, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich narrative experience that enhances player engagement. Additionally, the improvements made to character development compared to the original short story have been positively received, solidifying the game's status as a classic in storytelling.
“The character development in the game is also praiseworthy.”
“In conclusion, 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' is a game that excels in storytelling and character development while also presenting some challenges in terms of gameplay and interface.”
“The character development and rich lore will leave you begging for more.”
“Some of the lore and character design isn't intact.”
“This is extremely unfortunate as there seemed to be a lot of character development going on between Ted and Ellen, but this never gets explored enough.”
“It's a game so far ahead of its time with regards to storyline, concepts, and character development; it's almost difficult to come to terms with.”
