Horror games based on novels are a rarity. Probably the most used author is H. P Lovecraft, but many other horror or science fiction authors never have their works turned into video games. One author whose work was adapted was Harlan Ellison. A very prolific writer who worked on Star Trek, Ellison had a short story that The Dreamers Guild thought could make a excellent story. The result was I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, a point and click game that explored the question of can people move past their earlier mistakes.
The human race has been wiped out, thank to a supercomputer named AM. This monster in robotic form hates the human race, and so he saved five people to torture for as long as it wants. It decides one day that he will put all five into different worlds in hope of making them suffer more. By using their past mistakes and their perceived weakness, AM hopes that their misery will reach new heights. The five characters must adapt and complete their tasks. As they continue, they discover that AM might have a weakness and that the human race could be saved.
The game is your classic point and click, fully voiced. This was nothing new in 1995, but the story presented was. This game did not shy away from some very controversial topics. Nimdock is a scientist who is transported to a very familiar war time setting. Ted, a con artist, must find who is telling the truth in a medieval castle right out of a fairy tale. Gorrister must confront his wife and her family in a deserted cafe. This was some heavy stuff, much more grown up then other horror games at the time.
The puzzles were very interesting. Take Benny, a military men who held his soldiers to an almost impossible standard. He is transported to a cave like society without the ability to speak. He must figure out what is going on in a society where he is considered the lowest member. As he wanders, we learn what he did. When the chance comes to show compassion that he never did, it feels like his story has come to a logical conclusion.
I Have No Mouth benefited from Ellison being involved in the games creation. He even voiced the computer AM, a meta moment for the creator of the world. The game still holds up with it’s questions about power, weakness and the choices we make that turns us into monsters. The game was re released a few years ago By Night Dive Studios so check it out if you want to see a horror game that does not relay on jump-scares or monsters.
