I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream Review (FOOPO)
Reading the many reviews so far, you might have come to believe that this game is extremely difficult to beat without a guide, and concerning the best ending, you might think its straight-up impossible. Although point and clicks are my jam, and I'm experienced with the genre, I believe this characterization is unfair.
My above playtime represents how long it took me to reach, WHAT I THOUGHT, was necessary for the "good" ending. Your playtime will likely be halved if not quartered if you understand these few, spoiler-free components and mechanisms:
-The color behind the character's portrait is the "spiritual barometer." It indicates, in increasingly lighter shades of green, what decisions are moral and edifying for the scenario arc. A perfect play-through ends in white, with one notable exception I'll explain later.
-The spiritual barometer, while a helpful guide, does not lock you out of any endings. I was under the impression that all scenarios must become white, but that's not the case.
-Regardless, if you're intent on the challenge of an all-white blind run, know that it is impossible, in the current version, for Ellen's scenario to end in white. (had I known that I would have saved many hours).
-If you fail a scenario, you'll know, as the character will once again be selectable. If you succeed, they will disappear, and you can progress to another.
-Lastly, it's important to address the bugs. Accounts are over-blown, albeit they exist; in my experience they are sparing and rarely game-breaking. SAVE OFTEN, and it won't be an issue.
Ultimately, this game's appeal comes from its esoteric author and disturbing qualities. Both of these factors resulted in cut content and, thus, often-elusive puzzles. I highly recommend this game for the voice-acting, story, ambiance, design, and YES, the puzzles. They are among the best in the genre, with some exceptions. Though, none are absolute hindrances to a fun play-through. At the very least, play the game! Get whatever ending you get (nothing is worst than canon) and, if you wish, use a walkthrough to experience the others. Remember, the author originally mandated the impossibility of beating the game. Don't spend twenty hours on it like I did! I enjoyed it because I love Ellison's work and personal stubborness.
SLIGHT SPOILER:
What I mean when I reference the troubled development is that the game was once significantly more disturbing. Especially in Gorrister's scenario, things like the bloody key and the beef heart were last-minute changes to a more cohesive, and gruesome plot. These are among the most confusing parts of the game, so don't blame yourself for not intuitively guessing them. Also the endgame has a myriad of useless interactions, likely from abandoned mechanics.