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
- The game features a compelling and dark narrative that expands on the original short story by Harlan Ellison.
- The voice acting, particularly by Harlan Ellison as AM, is excellent and adds depth to the characters.
- The game successfully explores complex themes of morality, guilt, and redemption through its unique character arcs.
- The gameplay is often frustrating due to outdated mechanics, pixel hunting, and the potential for dead ends that can lock players out of progressing.
- Many puzzles lack clear logic, requiring players to rely on trial and error or walkthroughs to complete the game.
- The graphics and interface feel dated, which may deter modern players from fully enjoying the experience.
- story1,766 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, drawing from Harlan Ellison's original short story to explore dark themes of despair, humanity, and the consequences of choices through the narratives of five tortured characters. While the game expands on the original material, providing rich backstories and character development, many players find the gameplay mechanics frustrating and outdated, often recommending the use of a guide to fully appreciate the story. Overall, the narrative is considered a standout feature, making the game a compelling experience for fans of dark sci-fi and psychological horror.
“The story is top tier, and I felt very immersed in the characters.”
“Although an impressive story, the themes presented and discussed are heavier than in most point and click adventure games, but if you want to experience a discussion on human choices and their consequences, 'I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream' is a great choice and for that I highly recommend it.”
“The atmosphere and story of the game is really cool, but the gameplay hasn't aged too well.”
“As a fan of the original story and the radio adaptation, I was shocked to find that this game, despite its input from original author Harlan Ellison, completely misunderstands what made the other versions so terrifying in its existential torture.”
“Unfortunately, the game renders Ellison's most basic themes unrecognizable and instead offers a laughable imitation of the actual story.”
“The story itself can be a bit confusing jumping from one person's story to another with their being subplots that I couldn't really care for.”
- gameplay322 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure, but it suffers from significant issues due to its age, including clunky mechanics, numerous bugs, and frustrating puzzles that often require guides to navigate. While the story and atmosphere are praised, many players find the gameplay tedious and outdated, with pixel-hunting and non-intuitive interactions detracting from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, some appreciate the game's unique moral choices and narrative depth, making it a mixed bag for those willing to endure its gameplay shortcomings.
“Playing this was an amazing experience. Before playing this game, I read the short novel, which helped me get more into the story. I recommend you do the same; it really immerses you in the narrative. The details are amazing, the character design is top tier, and the voice acting is great. The gameplay is complex and very hard to figure out, but it's possible (I used a guide). Overall, 11/10.”
“The highlight about the gameplay is that it implements a morality system complete with multiple outcomes and multiple endings... in a 1996 DOS game!”
“Being a point-and-click adventure game, most of the gameplay is about solving puzzles and occasionally interacting with other characters to progress the story.”
“However, I'd recommend going in with the knowledge that the game is old enough that you're inevitably going to face some technical difficulties, and potentially ones big enough to ruin your gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay has a lot of jank; puzzles range from simple to ungodly convoluted with very trial-and-error type problems that only make sense in the context of 'this is a video game'.”
“As interesting as the premise and story of this game is, the gameplay makes it aggravating and not worth playing.”
- graphics270 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of this game, originally released in the mid-90s, are widely regarded as dated but charming, with many players appreciating the nostalgic pixel art and atmospheric design. While some technical bugs and pixel-hunting frustrations are noted, the visuals effectively contribute to the game's dark themes and storytelling. Overall, despite their age, the graphics are considered to have aged well and still resonate with fans of retro gaming.
“This game is fantastic -- the storytelling, characters, settings, graphics, and voice acting are all stellar.”
“Gorgeous pixel graphics, amazing story about the perseverance of human kindness even in the worst situations.”
“I personally really love old game graphics/animations so I find this game super charming and pleasing to look at because the art and color palettes used are honestly really good.”
“The graphics are dated but that's to be expected because the game came out in 1995.”
“This game has almost my same age, definitely ain't Fortnite... the mechanics and graphics have not aged well.”
“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.”
- music200 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its dated MIDI quality and occasional repetitiveness, which can detract from the overall experience. However, some praise the soundtrack for effectively setting the atmosphere and enhancing the storytelling, particularly highlighting its chilling and immersive qualities. While the voice acting is generally well-received, it can sometimes be overshadowed by the music and sound effects, leading to a less than optimal audio balance.
“From the chilling melodies to the jarring dissonance, Ottman's music will crawl under your skin and stay there.”
“The gritty atmosphere, music, and writing in this game are all 10/10's.”
“The music is amazing and the game is fully voiced; Harlan Ellison himself voices AM and does a phenomenal job doing so.”
“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.”
“Sound and audio are another problem to the list as the soundtrack is pretty forgettable and the audio for this is poorly mixed, e.g., voices, items, and even just stuff going on in the area as the volume for how loud each of these things are is just horribly matched.”
- atmosphere156 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive, and unsettling qualities, effectively complementing the narrative and enhancing the psychological horror experience. Reviewers note the rich environments, eerie sound design, and a sense of dread that permeates the gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding dated graphics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, creating a unique and haunting experience that resonates with players.
“The art and atmosphere match the brilliance of the writing.”
“Together, they create an atmosphere so thick you could cut it with a knife.”
“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 game has a disturbing, morose atmosphere that is carried by an overall darkened setting throughout each scenario.”
“The atmosphere is dark, lonely, and grim.”
“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.”
- stability60 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which can lead to frustrating dead ends and gameplay interruptions. Many players report needing to rely on walkthroughs to navigate through these issues, while others experience game-breaking glitches that hinder progress. Despite some enjoying the narrative and atmosphere, the overall stability of the game is a significant drawback, with many feeling it detracts from the experience.
“No glitches playing from start to finish.”
“No glitches playing from start to finish.”
“And frankly, this game is buggy to the point where I have to resort to a walkthrough just to avoid being deadlocked in a situation where I have to repeat the same scenario again and again for the last hour.”
“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, and the fact that the game will not let you know you've reached such a dead end, and you have 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.”
- emotional44 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is described as deeply emotional, featuring well-developed characters and heart-wrenching narratives that explore challenging themes of redemption and suffering. While it offers powerful moments that can evoke strong feelings, it may be emotionally taxing for sensitive players, with some reviewers noting a disconnect between the characters' struggles and their emotional reactions. Overall, it is considered one of the most emotionally engaging experiences in adventure gaming, though players are advised to be mindful of their emotional well-being while playing.
“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.”
- humor32 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, with many players appreciating the unique voice acting and witty writing. While some moments provide levity amidst darker themes, the overall tone is described as weird and chaotic, making it a standout feature for those who enjoy unconventional humor. Players recommend it for its hilarious and often outrageous content, especially at its low price point.
“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 - it's so fun and serious and funny and dark and weird and scary and awesome.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings and branching narrative, encouraging players to explore different choices. While many reviews highlight the replay value, some note that the variations in story outcomes may not be substantial enough to warrant repeated playthroughs for everyone. Overall, players can enjoy a decent level of replayability, especially if they appreciate exploring different paths and solving puzzles.
“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.”
“The only problem I had were game-breaking bugs so I had to start all over; however, the replayability is quick once you know how to solve certain puzzles and get through certain decisions.”
“Wild and intriguing, but lacks replay value.”
- grinding24 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 effort, often necessitating the use of guides to navigate its illogical puzzles and pixel hunting. While some players appreciate the engaging story and replayability, many find the overall experience slow-paced and frustrating, with a lack of clear direction and numerous glitches. Overall, it demands a significant time investment and dedication, which may deter casual players.
“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.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players reporting smooth performance and no crashes or bugs. While the voice acting is praised, some inconsistencies in character tone detract from the overall experience. The standout performance by Harlan Ellison adds depth, though the writing quality is seen as lacking.
“Performance-wise and graphically, it works fine and I didn't encounter a crash or bug anywhere.”
“With some compelling art, disturbing themes, and an incredible voice performance from all the cast, with the standout being Harlan Ellison himself as AM, this game still has its magic and scary relevance in today's obsession with AI.”
“Special shoutout to Harlan Ellison (author of the short story) as AM, who completely disregards the expected sci-fi computer voice in favor of a performance that really emphasizes how insane AM is.”
“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.”
“Setting that aside, I don't think those elements made their way into the game (excepting a vocal performance by Ellison).”
“There were strong vocal performances but mostly hack writing.”
- character development16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The character development in "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" is highly praised for its depth and complexity, contributing significantly to the game's storytelling. While the rich lore and character arcs, particularly between Ted and Ellen, leave players wanting more, the overall design and voice acting enhance the immersive experience. However, some players feel that certain aspects of character development are not fully explored, which detracts from the potential impact.
“The character development and rich lore will leave you begging for more.”
“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.”
“Tl;dr some of the lore and some 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.”
