Review: Mouthwashing

Initial release date: September 26, 2024

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Developer: Wrong Organ

Genres: Horror game, Indie game, Adventure game, Adventure

Publisher: CRITICAL REFLEX

Engine: Unity

Do not allow your worst moments define you. But what if your worst moment has doomed the entire crew? This is the predicament we find ourselves in at the start of Wrong Organ’s psychological horror game, Mouthwashing, when Captain Curly attempts to end his life by intentionally crashing the The Tulpur, a Pony Express Long-Haul Space Freighter. His endeavor was unsuccessful.

The freighter’s five crew members are currently stuck in space. Curly was severely burned, left limbless, and unable to talk following the disaster. The crew coldly keeps him alive, pushing medicines down his throat and wondering why they’re bothering after what he done. Meanwhile, they have months of power and limited food supplies. Their only hope is the currently locked-up cargo hold. Jimmy, who has taken over Curly’s job as captain and crew leader, works to access the cargo hold. To their dismay, every one of the thousands of cartons inside contains mouthwash.

Mouthwashing is a short game (around two and a half hours), but it has a big impact. We spend the game switching between playing as Curly in the events leading up to the crash, revealing why he chose to do what he did, and then as Jimmy in its aftermath, which begins with listing off the months that have passed since the crash until eventually we’re counting down to the ‘judgment’ – without knowing what it will be for. Meanwhile, the crew is feverishly attempting to figure out how to live while simultaneously staying together (or not) in the face of disaster.

Mouthwashing’s visuals are stunning, with a PlayStation 1 gaming aesthetic. The use of antique graphics is unsettling, yet the originality in the hallucinogenic visuals and their significance is powerful. From the time the entrance card appeared and revealed that we were crew members aboard a freighter, I knew Mouthwashing was inspired by Alien and its ‘truckers in space’ style – and it works well here too. The inside is futuristic but nostalgic, halfway between atompunk and the dusty, worn aesthetics of the Alien franchise, complete with goofy 70s-style furniture and clumsy equipment. The ship’s design contains continual reminders of the capitalist environment in which Mouthwashing operates, which feels like another callback to Alien. The walls are plastered with the Pony Express emblem, and the ship was created with just the company’s interests in mind (for example, the medical and cargo compartments have locks but not the crew quarters).

The way the ship’s dynamic artificial window feature is used has a significant impact on Mouthwashing’s appearance. We can readily distinguish between the flashback sequences and the present since the windows in the present are fixated on a sunset. This gives the entire ship a deep red hue. It appears gorgeous at first, but as you realize it’s permanently locked like that, it gives the ship a truly apocalyptic appearance and solidifies the crew’s doom.

The soundtrack was also quite successful, employing a variety of styles and instruments to bring each scene to life, whether it was a dreamy, meandering piano track for emotional monologues or a quickening and slowing intense beat to build up a climax of dread. The only voice acting comes from television commercials and radio, once again emphasizing the game’s capitalist themes rather than the actual personnel. Along with the visuals, everything comes together to create something genuinely cinematic.

Mouthwashing’s gameplay consists largely of fetch missions, with the occasional phase when we must sprint through endless corridors surrounding a creature of some sort – whether it’s a stealth section, defending yourself, or evading anything. These felt like tidbits in what is otherwise a really impactful game and could have easily been cut. That being said, they did not destroy the story. I did notice that several portions were quite badly lit, which frequently confused me as to where I was or where I wanted to go next, but that’s the only little complaint I have about Mouthwashing.

Mouthwashing is a horrifying game in the sense that the horror lies in the character’s actions and the unfolding of the tale, not in creatures and jump scares. What’s the saying about devils in hell being among us? The finest part is that many of the more agonizing facts in this terrible narrative aren’t given out plainly; you have to read between the lines and examine certain conversations and actions to get the entire picture. Mouthwashing is a game that can easily be played twice, with the second time revealing details that you missed the first time.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 76%

Controls: 78%

Aesthetics: 80%

Content: 74%

Accessibility: 82%

Value: 75%

Overall: 77%

REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT!

Summary:

“Mouthwashing” adds a surprising twist to simulation with its own dynamics centered on hygiene and humor. The gameplay is basic but interesting, with players given unique tasks to do in a humorous and amusing manner. The controls are fairly smooth, however some mechanics may become repetitive with time. Visually, it is bright and lively, which complements its humorous approach. While the content may feel limited, particularly for those seeking depth, it provides a fun and refreshing respite for casual play and a good laugh.