Dark, Depressing, and Silly | I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream Retrospective

It's Halloween time, and while the typical thing to do is look at some spooky games, I'm going down the darker and more somber route with the 1995 adventure game I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. Based on the Harlan Ellison short story of the same name, this classic point-and-click game features one of the grimmest and darkest stories I've ever seen in video games, but it also features odd graphical mistakes, goofy glitches, and occasionally poor characterizations and dialogue. So how does this game hold up? Let's find out in my retrospective on I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream #IHaveNoMouthandIMustScream #Cyberdreams #HarlanEllison
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TIMECODES
00:00 - INTRO
02:23 - DEVELOPMENT
06:17 - GAMEPLAY
10:18 - AESTHETICS AND PRESENTATION
14:19 - GORRISTER'S STORY
18:29 - ELLEN'S STORY
23:29 - BENNY'S STORY
27:33 - NIMDOK'S STORY
33:01 - TED'S STORY
37:29 - ENDGAME
43:42 - CONCLUSION
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SOURCES / RECOMMENDED READING:
Game Informer: I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream (bit.ly/3oL0evp)
Bloody Disgusting: ‘I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream’: The Most Disturbing, Nihilistic Video Game of All Time? (bit.ly/35Sx7h0)
PC Gamer:Saturday Crapshoot: I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream
The Guardian: Q&A: Harlan Ellison (bit.ly/3kL4bxI)

[@RacerC45]

Why hasn't Ellison done more acting in his life? He seemed perfect for it.

[@oshwaflz]

im guessing he simply didnt need/want to. hes very bombastic in interviews though so having emotion in his voice seems to come naturally

[@FirePhoenix39]

Funnily enough, he did voice acting for Scooby Doo Incorporated, playing himself of course.

[@thefiretailedweasel6206]

Fr bro should've been a voice actor

[@artonprenga3791]

Ellen's dialogue is so funny for the wrong reasons, like how quickly they shift in how they speak is so jarring. I still remember the scene in the elevator when Ellen starts to realize what's happening, the voice actress putting on a good performance of someone panicking and feeling terrified, and then you select "Fight back" and Ellen goes "Take this sucka!!" and the contrast in voice work is so goddamn funny to me

[@strain42]

Dude, you did NOT have to go as hard as you did on this video, but dang, you did and you knocked it right out of the park. Wonderful analysis, well told insight, and most importantly...you had Ted get eaten by wolves. I approve. Seriously, you did an amazing job on this one.

[@CloudConnection]

Thanks so much dude! I'm proud with how this one turned out. Plus, Ted deserved it

[@aerth6946]

The SMT guy!

[@fe1ixgaming]

⁠@@dontworrybout2664harlan ellison would hate you

[@VikingVern7]

A remake of this game or at least a thorough touch up of this game would be cool.

[@AliceGrimm97]

Considering that Nightdive Studios now owns the rights to the game, I can see that happening someday.

[@Kissingerzones1311]

​@@NoSignofSanitybro he's dead

[@LordDeucalion]

All they would need to do is update the graphics, tweak the gameplay, remaster the audio for everyone but AM

[@hindenpeter1]

​@@Kissingerzones1311 let me guess, they mentioned something about Ellison

[@Mister_Mindgames]

Even though Ted's Part is generally boring and has no real moral/confrontation, I feel like this depicts his character very well. Where as the others are living in the past, He is stuck in his own little made up world, possibly as some sort of coping mechanism. However, the devs could have totally given him a better story, like for instance, he has to face some of the people he's conned, or being given the option to confront his feelings for ellen.

[@Wolfkaosaun]

Okay yeah I've never played this game and so far I'm extremely intrigued by it

[@CloudConnection]

It's super intriguing for sure. It doesn't always do the original story justice, but it's definitely got some interesting ideas.

[@creed8712]

@@CloudConnectiondoesn’t do it Justice but it’s also basically a sequal

[@Deo4et]

Sequels are never better than the original anyways

[@changvasejarik62]

One of the few games I kind of want remade. Mostly from a narrative perspective because between the book and game there is untapped potential to expanded on not only with Ted and Benny. But also with gorrister once being a conscientious objector, nimdok’s return to the group leaving him pale from horror, hell show the group dynamic and how they interact.

[@steveb1972]

Truly amazing that Ellison wrote one of the most iconic episodes in Star Trek - The City On The Edge Of Forever

[@retrogamelover2012]

I feel like Ted's section could've worked a bit better, if certain aspects properly elaborated on his narcissism and paranoia, especially towards other cast members, like in the book. Like how certain npcs and set-pieces could almost be like how Ted views the other 4 people he was stuck with, or how maybe the whole talk about Ellen's father's quest could lead to him finding out that there was no cure for her ills, as if the fraudulent quest her father went on, was some abstract alegory of the types of cons he made prior to AM's awakening.

[@alexinfinite7142]

Im so glad the with the detail you went into with this video. Ive watched others but this one felt like was just easier to visualize and internalize all the game is. The themes, setting, lay out, and path through start to finish as well as the success and failures of the design. All of it made it concise in a way that i think other people struggled with. Which i guess i understand. Its a very cerebral experience which makes it hard to talk about clearly. Thank you!

[@williamwood3827]

I'm in awe of you. Great research, great script. Please, no matter what your subscriber count is, continue working like this. It's a labor of love, and we appreciate it.

[@elgordobondiola]

Dystopian implies the existance of a topia in the first place. This story just describes hell there is no society.

[@MightyNifty]

Awesome video man! I'd heard of this game before, but now if nothing else I'm super interested in reading the story.

[@CloudConnection]

I'd definitely recommend giving it a read! It's very different from the game in terms of story but it's still incredibly engaging, even for a 50+ year old piece of fiction.

[@calebrose4296]

This video is excellent. Thank you so much for creating this, I can tell it took a lot of work! I’m excited for your inevitable rise to fame!

[@dexterdextrow7248]

Rather liked that novel, if i remember right, I found it was rather interesting. interesting to hear how the video game adaption measures up.

[@torquetheprisoner]

harlon must of loved working on this game for expanding his character's and especially Am wich is harlons self portrait

[@thegreatnahwhaile]

i like hearing what other youtubers have to say about this game, their perspectives on this game that is remarkably fascinating

[@joro8693]

Frustrating how you aren’t being noticed but I want you to know this is a great video and appreciate it, also subscribed waiting for more.

[@svdden_dread]

man you are a Legend , you made my day

[@dardopp224]

This game is so interesting and definitely gives me chills. I absolutely love looking into future dystopian apocalyptic stuff, such as the Matrix and stories like All Tomorrows, and even though they freak me out, they really interest me, I also really love that Harlan Ellison did the voice for AM as well and this is such an interesting game/story overall

[@ivoramirez6996]

How the fuck does this only have 500 views. This is a fantastic video.

[@chumley2504]

Your underrated as hell, good job on the video, I don't see many people talk about IHNMAIMS

[@littlewolfyzapling8810]

16:55 that’s just how point and click games work. using my favourite, Fran Bow, as an example, you can carry a full cauldron alongside so much other stuff in ur mum’s old purse

[@cassietheghost1701]

great video, man! :D

[@epicanarchy7]

500 views on this video is a damn crime

[@connorl3124]

10/10!👍🏻

[@kingdiamondscream]

Dam this is wild they made a game of this story

[@kamehamehuyle9108]

Wow, you need more views!

[@shorthairkorra]

i want this made into a movie but made WELL

[@leeeverett8693]

Excellent!

[@oshwaflz]

i thought gorristers in laws cut out his heart, and AM brought him back but maybe thats my misinterpretation

[@b1akn3ss93]

So … do you know how to unlock the files in the endgame ?

[@fishy658]

wow!

[@poseidon5003]

IF Am is pissed because he can't move and is trapped, how did he grab those 5 people?

[@RacerC45]

Y'know you could've added subtitles for the audio issues.

[@maxwellg.2755]

Random and I know this isn't the key takeaway here... but 2 Ellen's in one game? Might as well named two of the characters John lol

[@shadow_z9367]

i downloaded the game but its in french how can i switch language there is no setting for it

[@theman8039]

mr tom says nice video and also first

[@ricotheskunk3062]

45:08 this is MOBILE?

[@ErisIsAnAbomination]

The way I see it, the game adaptation suffers a LOT when it tries to take narrative liberties, especially with the two “non-canon” endings. The main draw (at least imo) of IHNMAIMS is how unapologetically dark and hopeless it is, and adding out-of-place lore about a colony of humans in space just to inject a “good ending” really cheapened the experience. Having a less overtly positive route would have fit a lot better; maybe all 5 characters surviving and continuing on with newfound empathy and care for each other, despite their situation. Idk, there were some great ideas and work put into this adaptation, but it just needed a bit more.

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

The silly part was always what turned me off about this game. glad someone finally said it. I do appreciate what the overall whole was going for tho

[@jamespaguip5913]

Is the game better or the book?

[@elyg6531]

Book

[@mr_me0wme0w]

absolutely the book no doubt

[@punchingbg2447]

God I’ve only seen this today but I want a newer version of this game. The voices and perfect. The characters and story are fine. I just want this… but like updated graphics wise I feel like a newer audience should see this. But without massive change to original content. At worst change it from point and click esk to an over the shoulder 3rd person camera game. If not P&C would still be fine as well as some adjustments to puzzled and other things to assist a newer version maybe. Granted I know that it did poor at first when it was first made. And may not perform well however many horror fanatics may discover it and enjoy it. That’s just my over eager desire for things I like.

[@Ayahuasca98]

AM is top 10 villains oat