PC (Microsoft Windows)2015
199X
In 199X, you control Clara. That's the problem.
Screenshots
5Review History
| LANGUAGE | AUDIO | SUBTITLES | INTERFACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | — | Y |
In 199X, you control Clara. That's the problem.
| LANGUAGE | AUDIO | SUBTITLES | INTERFACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | — | Y |
Essentially a walking sim in RPGMaker, which is something I never expected to see. At least that's how it feels in the first 20 minutes. The first 20 minutes did absolutely nothing to really pull me in either. I suppose a primary reason for that is the writing lacks a level of maturity I've come to look for in games. The 4th wall breaking stuff is done well, but everything else I saw just didn't make me feel like investing more time.
Surely not for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to myself.
Had this game in my backlog damn near a decade. Decided to pick it up and played it for about an hour....and...
...it's honestly fascinating? I couldn't call it refined by any means; this is very clearly some random person's RPG Maker passion project. It's as flawed as that premise would suggest, but it's also strangely heart felt and interesting. It's an interesting game to play if you are pondering how to manage narrative and forth wall breaks in interesting ways, that's for absolute sure.
After an hour, I went to see if the dev ever did another game...and I was disappointed. This is a voice that I want to believe kept making stuff...because while it's funky and weird? It's a great kind of funky and weird.
It's worth the asking price. It's an odd duck, but I don't regret buying it.
The main character hates Pokemon Mystery Dungeon which ALMOST makes me want to not recommend this game.
But I do enjoy pretentious four-wall breaking narratives, even if it was sort of a pain in the ass to navigate the clunky city sections.
Still a worthwhile play.
RIP, Clara.
In the course of playing and even by the end I can't say I ever "got" it or really grasped any one particular message, so much as a melange of themes? But over time it definitely crept its way into my feelings, more than I expected, notably eliciting a weirdly upsetting sense of... wanting? "This isn't how things are supposed to be"...? The game felt longer than it was in a good way, despite being kind of a chore to play, something about it all and about Clara drew me into its scant little world and left an impression.
2/10
[h1]Summary[/h1]
A short RPGMaker narrative adventure game more focused on 4th wall breaking story telling.
[b]Pros[/b]
+ Interesting
[b]Cons[/b]
- Minimal gameplay
[h1]Overview[/h1]
199X is a short RPGMaker narrative adventure game with minimal gameplay that is more about the story and heavily plays with the idea of social norms, emotional manipulation, and mental illness, featuring a ton of 4th wall breaking that is basically the premise of the game. For its time it would have been one of those unconventional experimental indie games but it does have an interesting spin to it, where there are also a lot of gaming tropes thrown in that it kind of makes fun of.
[b]Story[/b]
The game centers on Clara who is suspected to be suffering from schizophrenia, though in reality or maybe even not, you the player are in control of Clara and her decisions and even speak directly into her mind. Although the whole idea is that you are in control of Clara being given multiple dialogue options and decisions you could make along side certain moments where they make a point that you are able to force her to do things. In reality the game is linear and even when you want her to do certain things you simply can't or she will outright refuse forcing you to do the other thing, this is weird as it goes against the premise of the game and for me kind of reinforces that she might just be schizophrenic.
[b]Gameplay[/b]
Gameplay is quite barebones where you will mostly be interacting with objects and annoyingly sometimes multiple times or have a lot of dialogue, having to go back and do almost every option to talk about before being able to move on so exploring every possible interactable is often required. I find some of the things being talked about also a tad bit pretentious and I guess a little cringe.
There are the moments where it does get amusing when they throw some RPG aspects in but they don't happen enough. Though that is not the point of the game so just remember that most of the game is spent interacting with objects, reading through lengthy dialogues, and a lot of walking.
[hr][/hr]
If you find my reviews useful do follow my [b][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/11028547-Dods-Echo-Chamber/]Curator[/url][/b] page for more!
I recommend this game, but only for free or a very low price. I know some people don't like RPG Maker games just because they are made with RPG Maker and they are right in that these games rarely feel like they are different from each other as a result. These opinions are valid. However, short though it may be and lacking in any real sort of gameplay (it plays more like an interactive visual novel), this one kept me engaged by it's above average writing and story quality. As a person who tries to avoid gender politics and the drama that it tends to cause, I appreciate the fact that the lesbian love story was not the central focus of the story, which was both interesting and thought provoking.
Although I didn't really like this game much, the story is at least interesting and the MC despite being insufferable at times, does make you feel for her. That being said, holy crap was this a chore to go through. The music was probably the most grading part of the experience along with that weird DnD experience midways through. Although it's a two hour game; I would recommend skipping out on this one.
e impressionante como eu consegui me apaixonar por um personagem 8bit. clara, i've got you, babe
A tentative yes from me.
This game is a bit sad and it started off slow and tedious. If you play the whole thing it might make you feel something. I ended up liking it but didn't think I would. The time played says 5 hours because I left it running but my actual playthrough was about 2 hours which was just the right length for this game.
It lacks a lot of polish and breaks simple conventions of game design such as when you walk up through a door you'll often come out oriented down on the other side with the room that should have been towards the top of the screen at the bottom or vice versa.
I think if this game were remade with more polish and a different engine with more in general put into it, I would have rated it much higher but as it stands I'll give it a 5.5 out of 10. If you play it, finish it.
Also I guess there are secrets I missed that I cant really be bothered to do another playthrough for right now, maybe someday though if I do replay this.
One of the best game I ever played
the most fundamental thing a good video game can do is tell a story through the ways it lets you interact with it. this does that with no mechanics
Short RPG maker game with a 4th wall breaking protagonist realising you're controlling her layer built in. You could easily do far worse in the abundance of RPG maker games floating around.
I wanted to like this game for its metanarrative but I just couldn't get into it.
This game was actually ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ gross. The ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ music was so ♥♥♥♥ that I just had to replace the files with my own. The sprites are just from the default RPG Maker assets, and the game just looks like actual ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥. And don't get me started on that damn ending, I tried to play a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ RPG, not a dating simulator. ♥♥♥♥ this game.
Interesting game with an engaging story that offers you choices but then has you question free will. It has encounters uncomfortable topics through sarcasm and engages you into fleshing out your character through exhaustive dialogue. Pixelated, simple game mechanics, short gameplay-around 3hrs. Good purchase, worth the price.
Now this is something I haven’t played before… At first, it seems like yet another generic RPG maker game, but it’s far from that. There’s almost no combat, so it’s mostly a story-based title, using that engine. But it’s good. At least the main concept. Clara is a girl suffering from schizophrenia. But she’s not the only protagonist. The other protagonist is the voice in her head, controlled by the player. Scratch that, YOU are the voice! I really enjoyed this concept, even if the main story outside of that is more generic. Of course, this means the game breaks the 4th wall a lot, so this one is a must if you’re into that. It lasts a couple hours and it’s cheap, plus the soundtrack is free DLC. I was genuinely surprised, although most of your choices don’t matter much. But it’s a unique experience for sure, and for that alone I can recommend it.
ty
this game smell like green day dookie album
Absolute masterpiece :)
Very dark, but cute game.
One of the best games I have ever played.
epic gay
Overall: 5/10
Not missing out on much if you pass it but since you can sell a couple steam cards and pick it up for free, may as well have a go. 199X revolves around the idea that the game character is aware that they are being controlled by the player. While not super original, it is well-executed.
Interesting story, very relaxing game while still keeping your attention
Unfortunately I wasn't "Wow'd" in the way many other players seem to have been by the story. It starts off very interesting and wanted me to read more, but I feel it started to sidetrack too much and the plot came to a near standstill. The game starts off saying how it'll speak of very distressing issues, but after some time it felt like majority of the game dialogue was bland smalltalk.
[b]Positive[/b]
- Music is quite nice, even though I find it usually didn't fit the scenery or mood. Sometimes the main character is sad, but the background music borders on uplifting.
- The story has an interesting concept.
[b]Neutral[/b]
- There's too much "garbage area" of items and houses you can't interact with. I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't for the fact it slowed down gameplay. The city you walk around is too big and the same copy-pasted houses gets confusing.
[b]Negative[/b]
- The main character moves agonizingly slow. Most of your tasks involved going to buildings that takes you minutes to walk to. Then you interact there for a few minutes and have to walk just as slowly. Most of the time it takes you longer to walk than completing the plot point.
- While the main plots of the story goes on with the interesting/serious issues, the story then decides to sidetrack to the characters playing a game. ([spoiler]DND[/spoiler]) It's very barebone, involves [b]A LOT[/b] of walking and has a teeny bit of character development. It also distracts from the mood of the seriousness as I guess this is supposed to be funny? It didn't fit the mood and goes on for too long. It's where I stopped playing as the game was getting boring and the story came to a halt.
- There are some terrible color choices in the gane. Especially one room that has bright blue floor cowered in salmon colored swirls. My eyes hurt! It kept hurting even after turning off the game.
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Bad
It's a bit messy, but the story and soundtrack really make up for it. If you're okay with just getting a short game as a story experience rather than a gameplay one, I would recommend it.
Cool little game :)
It's a pretty cool game, besides the music. It kind of ruined the game, and you can't turn it off. Overall, there's a good story behind it and the most awesomest thing in this game that it breaks the forth wall a lot.
Just finished this game. While pretty bare-bones, and with some issues, I enjoyed it as an exploration of a character in the vein of anygood walking simulator. It's a postmodern short story in video game form, and definitely worth the two bucks.
That said, time for the problems:
-Considering that walking around the city takes most of your game time, the walking speed is really kind of slow.
-For such a small game world, it's surprisingly easy to lose track of where you are in the first couple of days. Street signs would have been helpful.
-If you save and return later, there's no way of finding out exactly what your next objective is without wandering around the city hoping to bump into it. Same if you missed the dialogue box telling you where to go in the town.
-Some of the collectible tapes are entirely missable. That's just a big pet peeve of mine.
If those issues don't bother you much, and you're interested in games that look at games as a literary medium, then this is 2 dollars and 2 hours well-spent.
A beautiful game about games
1999X is essentially a game about playing games, very 4th wall breaking, almost in the same kind of storytelling vibe as The Stanley Parable. The game sways towards being pretentious at times, but the likeable characters and well written story bring it back. Honestly I was very impressed with how well the game was presented. It took me about three hours to beat it, that's with taking breaks and aimless wandering around, but it felt like the perfect amount of time. The lo-fi soundtrack is great too.
If I'm going to nitpick, I'll say that I wish there was more stuff to actually do. I mean, at the beginning of the game, they encourage you to try interacting with lots of things to see what happens, but in reality, there's not much you can interact with in the game. Which is kind of disappointing, especially when you take into account how good the writing is. Also, there was a decent amount of backtracking/walking. Which is fine, I always just don't care for that as much.
Overall, if you want something with a cool and original narrative, that isn't bogged down by its own heaviness, you should pick it up. Seriously, it's like, $2. And you get three albums from the same people who did the soundtrack in the free DLC, so seriously, what have you got to lose?
Its an aight game nothing special about it tho the music is trash tear the lowkey im a feminist female lesbian protagonist thing is a lil bit too edgy for me the overal storry is interesting at most tho the gameplay is just walk here and chouse 1 of the 3-4 options given id like to reccomend it but i kinda cant cause its not really a proper game the most gamey thing in it is the D&D section. just to note i did kinda like the game not saying its bad and stuff just cant reccomend it
199X made me more attached to Clara than any other character. Please play this game, it has a beautiful soundtrack, it's short, has a great story, and is very much unforgettable.
I am so grateful for this experience. It's not for everybody, obviously. I kind of want to play a second time, but don't know if I have the heart <3 But then, I'm a queer woman, and so is the protagonist, so we kinda bonded over that.
I am so so sorry Clara
I love you too
[lets go]
First note, it seems this game entry in Steam is now being used almost exclusively to promote music by a B-grade artist, rather than any merit in terms of contributing to the video gaming industry.
RPG Maker strikes again! This is another low effort retro-pixel JRPG ripoff spamming the Steam catalog, made with the RPG Maker video game construction kit... in their own words, "Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child."
This isn't even a good RPG Maker game. This one removes the interesting aspects of JRPGs like combat, progression and so on in favour of attempting to use the narrative of the game to broadcast some moralistic SJW friendly story about the authorities having it out to get women. Which is just awful in terms of the actual story, the obvious motivation behind it, and the appalling implementation. Tinfoil hat SJW agendas have never been a good idea, let alone in video games. The same is true for "edgy" games like Feminazi, it just has no place on Steam.
Gamers who want a good retro gaming experience would be better off playing the original Final Fantasy games or one of the better RPG Maker games.
Should you buy this? Absolutely not.
The idea was neat, original enough, but it got pretty boring due to the empty squared mapping and default RM controls. Also, the text box was too transparent to read easily with some decor.
Now given the (relatively) sensible price, that wouldn't have been so bad. I found the characters interesting, after all. However, I just wasn't into it.
Probably because it was made for a player that would identify with the avatar's personality or feel her attractive enough to overlook other things?
Given the topics, the atmosphere and the swearing, the graphics lacks something...a little shade there and there, less toon-like sprites, etc. But I understand that the author is mainly a writer so they didn't want to focus too much on graphics. That's okay. It just feels weird in some maps. A little like watching Dora and hearing her drop the F word just because.
As a side note, being neither a man nor a woman with a kick for molestation or humiliation, the universe presets annoyed me a little. But that's not necesarily a bad thing I guess, since that might actually have served the plot if I'd played further.
However, I dropped 199X and doubt I'll be coming back to finish it.
What decided me were the endless walking, the difficutly of reading the message box and the fact I could neither relate, or feel attracted, to the avatar at all.
This game has nothing going for it at all. From the boring, uninspired gameplay, to the weird and annoying soundtrack that could've been sung by chipmunks, to the contrived story that never bothered to make any sense, it was honestly annoying to play and near impossible to complete. The subtitle for this game, "a game without mechanics" doesn't quite tell the whole story; what it should be is "a game not worth playing". To top that off, it also contains a healthy dose of ham-fisted SJW nonsense that made me groan when I read it. Just an awful experience from start to finish.
0/10
I'd seriously recommend this game for the story, the music, the feels... gosh, the feels... It's a game where you can be truly invested in the main character, Clara. You're basically her rock in the middle of chaos and- it's just a really good game. 11/10
Well done devs, unique game! 8/10
i've never written a review for any of the games i own but I just needed to say i really, really loved this game. a+ soundtrack.
i'm sorry, clara.
I've been meaning to review this game for a while, as I've completed it some time ago. And yet, what can one say about this game? Well, I'll do my best to elucidate the matter. I'll try to avoid spoilers as well, which is kinda tricky with this title.
199X is a story-driven RPG Maker game; there's no real combat, it's all about the tale being told. The tagline, "In 199X, you control Clara. That's the problem." is awesome, and isn't just a witty non-sequitur. Your control of Clara really IS the problem, as Clara is mortified to find that an unseen stranger is suddenly in control of her limbs and is "speaking" to her inside her head. It's a clever idea and quite well-executed, with the player gradually building a rapport with Clara. In my playthrough, we became quite close and worked hard together to try to set things right in her little slice of the odd, dystopian future this game presents. If I may gush for a moment: Clara is a very endearing character and her personality is established quite quickly. This leads onward to many other developments and by the time I was halfway through, I got to feeling like I'd known her for years. Call me sily if you like, but in my experience, Clara becomes as a friend.
The plot is quite odd and tense, and often dark; there are many twists and turns along the way. The cast of characters is mostly likeable and quirky, all led by a wonderful protagonist and the banter you can strike up with her. These interactions are dripping with sarcasm and self-reference, all the while being beautifully balanced by an array of very deep, personal reflections and no shortage of moral and philosophical quandary.
It runs smoothly enough, though I did have a quite frustrating recurring bug throughout my playthrough. After the introductory phase of the game, moving Clara around the overworld is laden with lag; mostly, I'd just hold whatever arrow key was needed and release it based on an estimate of where Clara would stop. I got used to this suprisingly quickly and was so engrossed by the game's story that I pretty much blocked it out after a while. I don't know if this is a common glitch; I'll try to remember to update this review upon a future revisiting.
It's hard to say much else about this game without getting into spoiler territory, being as it is entirely story-driven and tells quite a strange one, at that. In short and in earnest, I truly love this game. It held not only held my attention and kept me invested in the plot, but it's had quite a lasting effect on me.
Very highly recommended.
This game is a very interesting and entertaining story for the first two hours and then [spoiler] an unflinching series of gut punches for the last hour. [/spoiler]
I haven't played a game before that has made me so invested in a character. Something about the character directly communicating with the player allows for a more emotional connection than I've experienced before in a video game.
It's only $1.99 off of sale and even less on sale. I would definitely recommend trying it out if you're interested in an emotional story-driven experience.
The [spoiler] Dungeons and Dragons [/spoiler] sequence was easily my favorite, it kept me smile throughout.
This game is very self aware.
It's vauge, boring, nonsensical, The story never really amps up, it just sort of wanders in boring circles that don't explain anything. There's an uneasy undercurrent in the game with suspicions mounting that the creator may have been r,a,p,e,d (steam censored it for some reason) or molested. In short it's just not fun or engaging and it just wastes your time.
Уберите ♥♥♥♥♥ от меня это дерьмо
Good!
Nettes Spiel mit sehr interessanter Story. Wie auch in anderen User-Tags erwähnt "kurz". Es lädt aber dadurch zum nochmaligen Spielen ein. Vorallem dann, wenn man nicht beim ersten Durchspielen alle Audiobänder gefunden hat.
Tags: Adventure - RPGMaker & Topdown
Additional Tags: Delete Local Content & Remove from Library.
TLDR: 199X has some nice dialogues and some quirky interactions especially with the main protag but ultimately the world stage is too nonsensical, feels too superficially implemented and empty. As if it is all just a cutout to showcase a few things. It has next to no replayability. I got my money's worth but it has no replay value and it is cluttering my library.
Simple low ambitions topdown adventure with a few brilliant moments but involves too many themes at once and only brushes each of them superficially. Characters behave with personalities and motivations of their own and come alive more than you would expect for this tier of games. Probably worth your time if you can track a free copy or get it on sale.
Review: Does not fullscreen correctly. Game does not advertise any controller support which seems odd for a RPGMaker game. Stock assets. Horrible amateur music. Hub area is full of empty buildings and long empty streets. Some quality control issues with dialog including typos and the butchering of a few words here and there. The world setting makes no sense upon any closer scrutiny. Game cleverly meshes a bunch of themes together and makes the time period very abstract and ultimately meaningless letting you just enjoy the game for what it is. The interaction between the themes and the dialogue and the player are well handled and interesting. Most conversations have a pretty early plot hook to keep and hold your attention. There is a stake, or a suspense to each small acts. Navigating from act to act is tedious even though the game constantly tries to hold your hand and remind you where to go.
Conclusion: Along with games like: Actual Sunlight or You are not a Banana this is the kind of experience you have once and never replay but still can create a somewhat distinct impression on you.
there is a girl there that swears xd
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ITS 2 AM AND IM SITTING IN MY ROOM ALONE CRYING HOLY CRAP! This game will blur the lines between fiction and reality. It breaks all the rules and changes the relationship between game and player like nothing I've seen since undertale. The music is great and the story is something that will stay with me for a long time. I can't beleive I just stumbled upon this gem. If you think you can handle it please please play this game. You'll love it. Pinky swear ;)
It is difficult to say anything about this game that other reviews haven't. The trailer and screenshots should give you an idea of how it looks. The music is uncomfortable, but it does fit the theme pretty well. Except for some collectibles (that do unlock a secret), the game is pretty much a walking simulator, very reminescent of To The Moon. Nothing plays badly, but it's barebones.
However, what makes this game is its writing. Clara really does come to life as you "play her", and with the out-of-body premise where you essentially play as yourself, it's an oddly intimate experience. I found myself thinking in the terms "her world" and "we", because of how the game presents the situation you're in. Clara's reactions to what is happening are heartfelt and her inputs are always interesting. The options the game gives you in term of "your own" dialogue and choices never felt out of place either, which made the feeling of actually playing yourself that much stronger. I could probably analyse it further, but I will leave it at this: If you're looking for a good, well written story, you will find it here. That is also the sole reason why it's worth playing. For me, it really was.
In the end, 199X made for a unique experience with a premise and story that truly [i]makes[/i] the game. I felt feelings, I was impressed, and I'm happy to recommend it.
While not impressive from the technical standpoint - RPG Maker is a ****y as ever - the game is suprisingly good. The story is well written and it has a nice twist in the end. I liked it.
Mais um jogo que utiliza de storytelling aliado ao mundo dos games para criar uma experiência imersiva. Gostaria que o jogo tivesse legendas em português mas isto não atrapalha em nada o modo como é contado.
Se assemelha muito ao estilo antigo de "point and click" em que você ia andando por um ambiente para "montar" a história e progredir no jogo. Há poucas escolhas que possam causar alguma mudança no real na história pois o enredo segue o script do roteirista.
Gostei tanto que queria uma sequência. A personagem principal é apaixonante e se você prestar bem atenção verá que o jogo te leva a refletir que cada um tem um mundo interno submerso gigante, que quase nunca é explorado do lado de fora onde só vemos a "casquinha" de alguém...
199X starts off with a trigger warning. Yeah, it’s going to be that kind of game: a homebrew RPG Maker affair with stock graphics and a preachy message that aims to make the player feel like an awful human being.
Not even fifteen minutes in, you find yourself trapped in a hospital that an invisible narrator won't let you leave until you’ve explored five nearby hot spots. Which is fine; this is a thing that happens. Only 199X demands more of you. If you want to do something as monumental as go outside, you need to advance every dialogue option for every hot spot, revisiting and exhausting every conversation bracket available because it’s very important you take the time to digest every little thing the game has to say. Only then are you permitted to leave. I’ve been in these kinds of situations before, so I settled down and prepared myself for a couple of hours of being arrogantly lectured by a clumsily constructed video game. Only, that never happened.
There’s a saving grace to 199X: it builds around a reasonably clever setup, and and it is brilliantly written. You control 20-something Clara. And that, as the game’s byline goes, is the problem. You’re not actually playing as Clara, but rather as yourself, exerting an external force that guides her every move like an ethereal puppeteer.
For her part, Clara wakes up in a hospital room without the ability to move by her own power and, after an understandable bit of panic, seems to take to her situation quite well. Though you interact with each other through the game’s limited conversation branches, the exchanges are lively and full or personality. An early test of your newly-hijacked body asks you to wander over and examine a fire extinguisher. Should you continue to enforce a keen interest in fire safety equipment, that moment develops into an in-joke between the two of you.
Full Review // http://www.honestgamers.com/13417/pc/199x/review.html
This game is amazing. Youll probably fall in love with the main character though, be aware of that ;-;
the graphics are pretty ♥♥♥♥
the sound is pretty wierd
the gameplay is a generic rpg maker game
I think you should play this for the sole purpose of getting a wierd experience, which doesn't make sense.
10/10 would do satan again
E mais para uma historia que um jogo ... mas bem interessante ...
this game was amazing but had a couple quirks with the map, but the story and dialoge was well worth it
Brilliant. This game is just brilliant. It's short. It's deep. Play it. Stick with it. You won't regret it.
This isn't a game, it's a story that you do not have much control over. It's an extremely simple playthrough. However, it's a great story that is worth the two hours or more you'll be spending on it. It also includes a selective soundtrack that really ties it all together. By the end, you may feel a little bit...lost? I'm not sure if that's the right word, but I'm looking for something other than "emotional." Highly recommend 199X if you're looking to change your perspective as a player.
Developer Evan Tognotti calls 199X a “game without mechanics” but, strictly speaking, this is not a game. And if you’re looking to play a game, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Rather, this is a story -- a good story at that. A story in which you are given the illusion of control, but have none. Which is all the more ironic in that you’re supposed to be controlling Claire -- she’s unable to act without you. And yet, over and over again, you will be stifled because Claire has it in her mind to do something else. Your entire enjoyment of 199X will depend entirely on whether you’ll enjoy the story.
So how is the story? It’s pretty good. Brilliant, in fact.
I found myself immediately taking a liking to Claire, a lesbian who’s found herself without memory in a place where she’s been involuntarily institutionalized. Claire hears a voice, and that voice happens to be you.
199X touches upon several themes: nostalgia, unrequited love, the paradox of choice. Typically, I hate games made from RPGMaker -- when I see these recommended to me on Steam, I typically choose “No thanks”. But I really can’t think of any other art style that would work here.
The title “199X” is fitting. You inhabit a dystopian universe that looks wistfully on 90s culture as a golden age, and yet knows so little about it. There’s allusions to Final Fantasy VI and lo-fi indie rock. If you’re over the age of 30, some of this stuff will hit you in the feels.
What makes this game so great is that you really do get inside Claire’s head. The game is divided up into 7 days, and at the end of each day, you must rest. When you rest, you get to dream with Claire, and you uncover just a little bit about her.
The pain that Claire feels seems real. This is a woman in search of connection. Each time she seems to get close to someone, something traumatic happens. You begin to wonder if there’s something about Claire that causes these events to unfold.
This is one of the few “games” that I started and finished with absolutely no breaks. It took me around three hours to complete it.
199X made me reflect on many things: desire, loss, and memory. It made me think about mortality and destiny. This wasn’t an easy story to interact with, but it was worth it.
I'm not very good at descriptions and stuff but I really liked this game. It is creative and has an intesting story that I honestly don't think I've seen before. Definitely worth a play (and plus it like $2 so you really don't have much to lose to play this). And totally didn't (did) make me cry. (I'm baby lol)
But yeah TL;DR good game + cheap price = I recommend it <3
This game made me an emotional wreck. Its nice an simple playthrough yet the story has so many implications that in the end hit you with the feels like a stone brick to the face.
Went into this game skeptical, but was very happy with the game, It really makes you think about how you play games.
I'm not one for RPGMaker games, but this one is a bit interesting. It doesn't feel much like a game, but rather a story with a strange twist of reality. I don't see much for replayability, but the first run through is worth the small price tag.
After playing the game for the second time, I realised that this game should have rather been a visual novel.
The story is great and I really loved it.
THe game mechanics is what was wastefull and sad. I understand why the developer chose to do it that way, but I feel that he is better at making a great story, rather then making the game itself.
P.S: Please do not take my "Time Played" into consideration, as I played most of this game offline.
Просто 19 чесов и все
It looks like i haven't played this game much but i have my wifi is just crappy. As many people have said this game is very basic in it's mechanics and art style. How ever i really enjoyed the game and it's simplicity. There is a lot of fourth wall breaking and the game tackles some heavy subjects but i say it's worth the 2 bucks. After i finished the game i was crying so if you're looking for an interesting experience buy this game. It deserves the praise. P.S:sorry for my crappy english
So, as you can tell this is a positive review, However i want this to be listed as a sort of list of negitives, so if you're looking for that, stop here.
To start, the game is /very/ rpgmaker..ey. It's not like To The Moon or Lisa, where they somewhat mask the engine, this game goes full force and uses very very rpgmakery textures and from what i understand, a stock conversation engine, This isn't nessicarly a bad thing, but it's the type of thing that you might not like.
Another thing that's bad about this game is the writing isn't exactly perfect... The main character at the start sort of reminded me of a bad fanfiction, She swears.. A lot, Now to be clear i don't think that swearing is bad or anything (Hell irl i do it more than anyone else that i know) But in writing i allways find that it makes characters just seem wierd.
another point on the writing is that it has a lot of kinda "refrence" humor, Which reminded me of the really bad parts of to the moon, Though i will say that due to the nature of the game.. it's kind of hard to avoid it.
For another thing the games music is... Honestly kind of awful at times, Now again to be clear the entire games soundtrack isn't all bad, there are definatly some okay songs in it, But i noticed that there are some loops that are like 10 seconds long in scenes where you will be there for around 5 minutes, and it's not exactly a smooth loop either.
Now then, as i gave it a positive review, Positives!
The game overall has very very good pacing, I beat the game in one sitting in about 2 hours, and i felt like it was quite well done, I will say that the ending was quite sudden but.. GIven how it was, i think that was both intentonal and good.
The games writing does actually get quite smart and good the more that you play it, as i said the game is definatly not perfect in this regard, but when you learn the character, she does tend to act like, you know, a real person, which is interesting.
i absolutly adored the way that you walk around in the game, with having a very consistant small town that you have to walk around, getting directions such as "go to the red house on the third street" it's quite intersting wandering around looking for stuff like that.
And finally, the price, This game honestly gave me something to think about for just two dollars. While i will say that a game like to the moon beats this game in quality, this game is five times cheaper than To The Moon, which tends to make it a lot more playable, And honestly for two dollars i think you can take the gamble.
overall i'd give the game a cautious recomendation, If you think you'd enjoy the game based on the description and trailers, i can't imagine you would dislike the game. Though if you have to choose between this and to the moon, choose to the moon
Also as a very, very major complaint there is a spoiler below.
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WHY THE ♥♥♥♥ DOES THIS ♥♥♥♥♥ THINK THAT POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON IS A BAD GAME, THIS GIRL LOST ALL OF MY ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ INTREST AS SOON AS SHE SAID THAT POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON IS TERRIBLE, DOE SHE EVEN PLAY ANY ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ DUNGEON CRAWLERS AS ITS A ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ GREAT ONE, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT ♥♥♥♥ THEN YOU ARE JUST A ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ BAD PERSON.
Los primeros minutos son increíblemente divertidos, y conforme la historia avanza te golpeas con una pared de sentimientos. Magistralmente escrito y ejecutado. En general una excelente narrativa y un excelente soundtrack
Ce jeu est un véritable ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ général allant jusqu'à prendre le risque de briser le quatrième mur avec le joueur. Je l'ai trouvé court à mon goût, mais le scénario vient palier à ce souci
More interactive story than game, 199X blurs the line between player and character and proves to be not only an interesting story, but also a fine example of how to deftfully employ simplicity, metafiction, and minimalism to put a story center-stage. 199X is an enjoyable game, and well worth the low price of entry.
What an emotional rollercoaster this game is. I laughed, I cried... and cried some more.. and then had an existential crisis. 10/10
199X has a very compelling story to tell and makes the player very uncomfortable, unless you're into BDSM. If you're not, this could crawl under your skin. This is actually a lot better than I expected it to be, and I want to see more from the developer. If you get triggered by things like rape or molestation, this isn't for you. That isn't to say that this has one of that in here, but they do have equivelents to that. Overall, I enjoyed it.
The curator review ""199X advertises itself as a 'game without mechanics,' which is probably because it is another crappy Steam Greenlight game made in RPG Maker. It is a 'lightly interactive' game (aka players basically press the arrow keys) and features a whooping one protagonist. Again, this is because this is a horrible excuse for a 'game' made using a horrible excuse for a 'game engine.' Not only that, but the developer of this game has the utter gall to charge for this couple hour 'interactive experience.' Although is (sic) is only $2 US, it is still disgusting people are being charged for this crap."" Sums this crappy game up perfectly.
This is a short, cool, and suprisingly gut wrenching little game.
And you should take 3 hours to play it.
My only caviots would be:
SPOILERS FOR FF 6 DEAR LORD!
In the D&D part go to the bottom left of the town to 'go north'
Have a tissue nearby.
Sohbetler biraz İngilizce gerektiriyor. Ancak anlamak hiçbir şeyi değiştirmiyor.
Anladıkça üzen bir oyun.
Despite the poor taste in game-engine (rpg maker), I feel this was a wonderful story and wish I could see more of it. This is a very little viewed perspective of video games. I love how this made me felt and I'd buy a sequel at the drop of a hat. :') <3
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I got this game thinking it would be a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ RPGmaker game. I was wrong. Stop what you're doing and buy this right now.
Before playing, I was a huge fan of portal. Now this is my new favorite game. (And I hate RPGmaker games.)
Ten out of ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Ten.
PROS
-Everything.
Cons
-Can get a bit SJWish at times
-No map
-Most of the game is walking (There is no run button)
-Can only run in windowed mode.
UPDATE: You can enter fullscreen mode by pressing alt + enter. It's not explained anywhere in the game so I'll leave it as a con.
UPDATE part 2: I F * C K I N G L O V E T H I S G A M E
Nothing special about graphics but, it's a really good game. I liked it it was emotional, best part about game is that you can choose what to say, but it doesn't really affect the story. I also really liked the music it was good even though i don't listen to this kind of music.
God this game. Its going to stick with you awhile after you play it. The feelings are real and heartfelt and jedehehdeh
Picked it up for €0,49, yet I would've gladly paid more. Very enjoyable experience.
You playing the game is the problem. You wanting to see the game to the end is making the problem worse, making an endless loop that ends in 3 hours.
10/10 It was alright to waste some time, I guess.
[h1] A Deep Cyberpunk Journey! 7.5/10 [/h1]
[i] "A game that’s simple yet leaves a lasting impression." [/i]
199X is an interactive experience that blends 90s nostalgia with a cyberpunk aesthetic. Through a concise narrative and unique visual style, the game offers a deep dive into the future, with choices that affect the story's progression and an immersive environment.
Although the concept is interesting, the game could explore its mechanics and world a bit more.
[h1] Let’s start the review! [/h1]
[b] Game Mechanics [/b]
The gameplay in 199X is straightforward, with a focus on exploration and interaction. Each new scene offers choices that influence the progression, but not as deeply as I would have expected from this type of game. The point-and-click mechanics for interacting with the world are simple but effective for the concept.
The choices don’t have a dramatic impact, and the game's pace remains stable, with little variation in the player's actions.
[b] Designs [/b]
Starting with the level design: The game has a linear structure, but with well-crafted environments that clearly convey the futuristic, dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere. Each area has its own distinct aesthetic, but the linearity of progression limits a more open exploration.
Graphics: The game employs a pixelated, low-resolution aesthetic that fits the retro vibe but isn’t without flaws. While the color palette, mainly neon tones, creates an engaging atmosphere, the graphics aren't 100% polished. We can spot repeated tiles in various parts of the city, which detracts from the feeling of a unique, lived-in world. Additionally, many of the sprites appear to be reused from the RPG Maker engine, which shows the limitations of the game's development focus on the story rather than a highly detailed visual experience. Still, the visuals manage to convey the decaying cyberpunk world well enough, despite these shortcuts.
Characters: The protagonist, Clara, is well-developed, with internal dilemmas that reflect the struggles of living in a dystopian world. The game doesn’t focus heavily on secondary characters, but the world around Clara contributes to the construction of the universe and her emotions.
One of the standout aspects of 199X is how it immerses you in Clara’s emotions. If you are someone with a good heart and a clear sense of right and wrong, you will undoubtedly want the best for her. Depending on the connection you feel with the story, it’s entirely possible that the emotional weight of the game will bring you to tears, as it did for me. The depth of Clara’s journey and the way the game unfolds emotionally is truly remarkable.
OST/Sound: The soundtrack blends synthesizers and electronic beats, evoking a sense of solitude and mystery. It complements the game’s atmosphere without becoming repetitive. The music is well-timed, marking transitions between scenes and decisions the player makes.
Scenery: The city itself is rather ordinary, resembling what we see in urban areas today, but it shows clear signs of decay. The lack of maintenance and the emptiness of the streets stand out. Of course, this emptiness is part of the story, so it’s both understandable and justifiable within the game’s narrative. The environment conveys a sense of abandonment, yet it's perfectly aligned with the dystopian theme, making it a fitting backdrop for the events that unfold.
Puzzles: There are no complex puzzles, but the game requires players to pay attention to details and make choices that slightly affect the story’s unfolding. The absence of major logic or action challenges makes the game more accessible but also less exciting for those looking for a more challenging experience.
Story: The story of 199X is intriguing but could have been explored further. The central idea of a dystopian virtual reality and the choices Clara faces are well executed, but the game wraps up relatively quickly without tying up all the loose ends. Still, it’s a narrative worth experiencing, especially for fans of sci-fi and cyberpunk.
[b] Collectables/Achievements [/b]
199X does not feature Steam achievements, but it offers a collectible system in the form of hidden audio tapes scattered throughout the environment. These tapes act as a form of secret discovery, and some of them are quite difficult to find. The challenge of locating these tapes adds an extra layer of depth to the experience, rewarding players with more lore and immersion into the world of the game. However, they can be elusive, so it’s worth taking the time to explore thoroughly.
This game is kind of loosely based on a true story... as stated from the outset of the game, in the early 18th-19th century women around the world was once being treated for a condition known as 'Hysteria' of which the only cure known at the time was to have their private anatomy rubbed by doctors. Now a days we laugh at this psuedo science which originated out of all things from a stupid Egyptian belief that a woman's private area can move and cause her many problems from nervousness, to fainting, to being irritable and so on.
Doctors around the world were hopeless, people were dying everywhere from all sorts of diseases, but doctors were apparently brilliant at solving 'hysteria'. Eventually this coined disease turned epidemic as women thronged in droves to the local doctors to have themselves cured from 'hysteria'. The disease became so rampant that doctors began to experience a whole range of problems themselves particularly arthritis and cramping and begged each other to discover a better way of solving this issue. Soon doctors began to experiment with drilling machines, shower heads and ultimately electronic toys. Eventually it was these toys that began to be marketed out to the average woman and with all these women finally cured from their 'hysteria' it was once again safe for man to step outside.
We laugh at the fact that mankind in general was ever so stupid to believe this, in fact we are often shocked to find out that this was still being practiced medically right up into the 1950's and 1980's in several locations. The game touches on this subject rather tastefully (but still offers a full refund for those that find the matter too distressing), the thing is though, in the game we are set for some time in the future where for one reason or another this pseudo-scientific belief is once again hailed as the cure for all things and practiced through the curing of pod chambers.
If this subject itself was not too touchy enough (no pun intended) the matter of mental disability is also majorly explored. You see our main protagonist of the game is 'Clara' who wakes up in a 'Hysteria Clinic' to find out that she is being treated for 'Schizophrenia', a mental illness where she claims that she can hear a voice calling her and manipulating her movements. This brings us to you the gamer. Yes you are her mental illness, her mysterious voice, her religious calling causing her to do things that she may not normally have done.
The game was principally made by this guy https://twitter.com/evantognotti who goes onto explore various questions about mental illness. Can it be solved? Is trying to solve it a good thing? Should we really avoid people with mental issues? Can a good voice in our head eventually turn bad? Really Bad? What effect does out casting have on mental people? Does a Schizophrenic become dependent on their voice? What happens if they were ever to lose it? Would they lose their identity? Their will to live?
The game has quite a few laugh out loud moments and plays out more like a virtual novel rather than a game where your choice maybe really matters. There is a heavy amount of written profanity in it, so the game and it's message will unfortunately be appealing to a limited few because of this. There are 6 hidden sound tapes to find in this town known as Delilah and though you can play these audio tapes as you travel around town the 'true' significance of these tapes will not be revealed until you have all 6 and can open the 'Secret Room' which reveals some very interesting background information and back story involving the audio tapes which i have never seen in game before until now.
Because of it's original story concept and its novel never done before trick using audio logs I have to reward the game with a thumbs up. However if you are sensitive to coarse language you seriously might want to give this one a miss.
I feel more attached to the protagonist, Clara, than I do to most people in the real world.
10/10
Pretentious RPG Maker Game that covers far too many subjects at once and loses it's narrative rather quickly.
Warning it contains sexual events.
Cant really rate this game. Its ok I guesss ..
199X is a game without mechanics, both in title and in gameplay. The game is essentially a slow walking simulator built in the RPG Maker engine. You control the main character Clara, though in an interesting twist, is self aware but not so much that she is in a video game. To her, that is her world and everything that is in it.
You, as a player, communicate to Clara through text choices. Many of the dialog between you and Clara are quite funny, a sort of bickering if you will. Its through this dialog and interactions between the other characters that the story comes alive. Surprisingly, the story goes quite deep, involving the games soundtrack as part of the story medium.
In the end, 199X is quite an enjoyable short adventure, that I’d recommend to anyone looking for something a bit different.
Heart breaking
You control Clara, a girl admitted in an hospital due to her delusions, you'll soon break out and set out to find a cure for, well, the player actually: that's cause you're actually controlling her, you're the voice inside her head and are able to move her body and influence her actions.
What follows is a slightly interactive game that tackles the themes of human relationships, mental illness and game design in equal part and isn't afraid to break the fourth wall in doing so.
[b]PROS:[/b]
-great soundtrack
-engaging story backed by a truly good narrative
-manages to craft a surreal and somewhat disturbing atmosphere
-Clara is a very well written character with a distinct personality and believable reactions
-uses its 4th wall breaks very well
[b]NEUTRAL:[/b]
-no real gameplay apart from moving around and interacting with objects/ characters (but then it's clearly
explained in the Store page), this is basically a slightly interactive story
[b]CONS:[/b]
-areas feel a bit too big and walking around can get trite at times
-the other supporting characters are quite lacking in depth, it's difficult to care about any of them (even when Clara does)
-unimpressive graphics even for an RPGMaker game
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=660889975
199x is extremely simple as games go, you basically just move around and interact with a few objects or people to propel the story forward. But the story and narrative more than make up for the barebones gameplay as they're truly good: the plot is slowly revealed as days go by and you find out more about Clara, her past and what's happening to the city. The whole thing seamlessly goes from disturbing to surreal to funny without breaking a sweat and it expertly breaks the 4th wall whenever necessary. Clara is also a very interesting character, has a good depth and is hard not to get attached to her as you play the game.
As good as Clara is it's a shame that the other characters you meet are pretty lacking in depth, even those that are supposed to be important in the story: a bit more interaction would have gone a long way in helping the player get attached to them and care about their fate as much as Clara does. The walking around can also get a bit dull as the few areas you travel through feel a bit too huge and, as far as I know, there's no quick walk button.
If you're ok with a game that is just interested in telling you a story then 199x comes fully recommended: there's something in Clara, her narrative and the subjects the game addresses that can easily leave a mark.
When i saw that this game was $2 i thought it was gonna be just an ok game. I wasnt expecting a rollercoaster of emotions that left me in tears. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
;-; <3
The hell's up with the "What People Are Saying" stuff in the description? Isn't that something the devs put up there, why are they posting bad reviews of their own game?
That weirdness aside, it's pretty good. Kinda thought it was gonna be a bit goofier and not quite as serious, but that's not disappointing. It's a bit more thought provoking than a lot of the other, more pretentious games in the genre. And at less than a dollar you don't really have anything to lose. Yeah, I know it says a dollar ninety nine, but this is Steam, who buys games at full price here?
I heavily favor FPS games versus RPG games without a doubt, But after playing 199X i dont know anymore.
I dont usually do reviews like this at all. Just know that this game is so great in it's weird and unique way.
I may have ran into 199X just by randomly browsing through cheap games but damn im glad i bought it.
Clara you are one ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ interesting character.
10/10 would get catch the feels again
That was probably one of the weirdest story-driven games I have ever played.
Pros -
-Crazy awesome soundtrack. A bit repetitive occasionally, but looking back at it, that might have been intentional
-An interesting story
-Some cool characters with interesting backstories
-An interesting surreality concept with cool easter eggs
Cons -
-You only input walking. really. All choices you make are seemingly nonconsequential.
-Occasional extreme confusion as to where you are supposed to walk to next
-Some unneeded NSFW-ish themes
-Some not good story bits
-Some not cool characters with not-interesting backstories
Overall, I hesitantly recommend it. A about 1.5-2 hour story with movement input, a confusing map, and really good music.
absolute scheiße
