Customer Reviews

Clock Tower

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I will admit this...I have played this game far too much in my lifetime. I've gotten all the endings multiple times, memorized every nook and cranny, and I'm getting the Japanese version in the mail just so I can see the translation differences between the two games. But this game really is something worth all that effort and time I put into it. Now, before I get started, I'll let you know that this game isn't for everyone. In fact, this game seems to elicit a response only from a select group of horror enthusiasts, rather than a widespread throng of gamers in general. But if you're willing to read the review and give the game a chance, read on.

If you played Clock Tower 3 first, please note that this game is nothing like that horrible Echo Night ripoff. The only things that are similar are:

1. Serial killer out to kill the main character.
2. A female main character (Though this game has many more characters to play.)
3. Running away and hiding.

Gameplay mechanics: 4/5

The entire game is controlled using a simplistic point-and-click system, so if you're not into that sort of thing, you've been warned. You have to click on things to either get clues behind the mysterious and twisted Scissorman, or just to save your own life when it's in danger. There is no combat (unlike Ghosthead/The Struggle Within, where you can use guns), but you don't really need it, as that adds to the terror when Scissorman chases you. Though guns don't really work on Scissorman anyway (if you played the game, you know what I mean).

Depending on which character you play, your character will be faster or able to do more things (Jennifer can hide in even the most obscure areas, while Helen can do more 'hit Scissorman' escapes), which, especially in the last area, affects your hiding strategies (though there's still the 'failsafe' in the castle--at least if you aren't on red cursor), which diversifies gameplay.

The idea this brought about was nice, but it could frustrate some gamers (it did to me at first)--especially since it isn't even put in the instruction manual.

Also, the multiple endings adds for some nice replay value, though if you know the game you can breeze through getting them easily. But it's a pain to go through all those 'intermission' scenes again. >.<

A hint: Save in the prologue right before talking to Harris about the statue, so that you can play as whichever character you picked (have one file for Helen, one for Jennifer) without having to sit through as much boring stuff!

Graphics: 2/5

These graphics suck. For their time, they were some of the best, but with some of the stuff they did with the game (not spoiling anything!), I just say that this game was made at the wrong time graphics-wise, and would have been better off on something like the PS2 or even the Xbox 360 (That would have been AWESOME).

The characters look like legos for the most part, but the enviroments were pretty good. The movements were also okay, but overall...yeah. The graphics suck.

Sound: 5/5

The sound--well, what there is of it anyway--is nice and clear. The music was well-composed, and the sound effects were realistic sounding enough, though I wish Scissorman's "SHINK" sound effect was the same one used in the CD dramas rather than the unrealistic shinging that is in the game. But the sound will make you jump, and adds more to the atmosphere than any graphics set can.

Story: 4/5

This story is badly translated, and Human purposely put Cheesy voices to replace the good English dialogue in the original Japanese version, but the plot was essentially the same (some differences in the small details, but if you haven't played the first game on SNES or PSX in Japanese, then you won't have to worry about plotline translation inconsistencies):

Jennifer Simpson was one of two survivors of the Clock Tower Murders a year ago, so she's constantly harassed by reporters and police about the case. She stayed under the wing of a psychology assistant, Helen Maxwell, and tried to live a normal life, despite what happened to her. Just as the nightmares were going away, Scissorman strikes again, and she's not sure if she's going to survive this time...

Typical horror movie plot, but it works for this game. Though the dialogue is really cheesy, and you'll find yourself laughing more at the dialogue than actually getting into the story (unlike me, who got into it regardless). But even if you think the story's stupid, listening to the characters is certain to give you a chuckle. Or make you claw your ears out with plastic sporks. Whichever.

Overall: 5/5

With great sound, frightening atmosphere, and some B-movie moments, Clock Tower is a cult classic that should please the people who decide to dust off the cover and play it.

I liked this game a lot. It is somewhat similar in looks to Resident Evil. But as opposed to the resident evil games, there is no fighting. It is also a pretty easy game. When your enemy, the scissorman is near, creepy music starts to play and you have to hide or do something to make him retreat. It takes place in Norway, and there are several settings, including an office building, a library, and an old mansion. there are (i believe) 8 possible endings. It has some gore, but if you're really into challenging games and shoot-em-ups, this game will probably disappoint. But if you like a more nonviolent (but still scary), puzzle solving game like D, you'll like this.

This survival horror game is quite possibly the best one of all time. It has its downfalls, of course, one of which is the method of movement. Its a point and click based game, like a computer mouse. You get used to it really quick though. The graphics arent THE BEST either, but its PLAYSTATION. What do you expect? Now that I'm done reporting the bad things about it, lets go on to the good things. Every time you play the game, it is COMPLETELY RANDOM when and where Scissorman shows up. This has a tendency to scare the hell out of you (for those of you who have played this game, I HATE turning the light on in the fish tank room in the library...you know what I'm talking about). Your actions and speed determine who lives and who survives. If you think seeing one of your comrades dead is bad, you should sit and watch them get killed! Its quite disturbing actually. And on a final note, I would comment on the music, but there is very little. This game proves with solid evidence that there is nothing scarier than hearing the sound of your own footsteps echoing throughout silent halls....ooh scary. (FACT - this is not really the first CLOCK TOWER game. The original one, which we in the US call "Clock Tower - The First Fear", was released for the Super Famicom in Japan. It was never released here, but you can find a ROM for it in English on www.edgeemu.com)

First off, this definitely is not a game for everyone. If you're looking for mindless(albeit nice-looking) blow-up-some-zombies action, go play Resident Evil. But if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of smooth graphics rendering for an unforgetable psychological experience(also known as get-under-your-skin-and-mess-with-your-head-until-you're-so-paranoid-that-every-little-sound-makes-you-jump), look no further than Clock Tower.

Your main characters are a young girl, the 15-year-old orphan Jennifer Simpson, and her guardian, the 30-year-old psychologist's assistant Helen Maxwell. Jennifer has survived unmentionable horrors in the past, blocked out of her memory. But as her memories are brought to the surface through hypnosis, she will find that her past is not so far behind her as she would like...

The point and click interface may seem bungling to some, but to others it makes for a unique approach to solving the puzzles presented to you. Music in this game is practically non-existant, only really there to let you know when your killer is coming close. However, sound effects are used to the fullest extreme(sounds that should not be where they are, sounds that should be there but aren't...), which makes the atmosphere dark and very tense. Graphics are decent, although a bit choppy at times. Gameplay and replay value are FANTASTIC. The villian AI will search you out if you wander for too long, and he has more hiding places than you'll know how to deal with. There are ten possible endings, five playable characters, and seemingly endless ways to see people murdered...this is a guaranteed fright-fest. So turn out the lights, grab your baby blanket, and get ready for a ride you'll never forget. And bring a spare pair of undies.

I rented this years ago as one of those "I'll try something random" kind of games. It sounds silly but this game is freakin' scary. Now I'm looking for a copy of the game myself so I can conquer that fear. :-) If you like getting into a game and getting that tight feeling in your chest when you hear the music...the foreboding music...this game is for you.

Not many people have played this game, which is a shame as it's one of the best horror games on playstation. Definitely superior to the Resident Evil series in terms of fear. Probably the 2nd best "scary" game after Silent Hill. The graphics aren't anything special...there's rarely music,and there's only a couple cut scenes, but who cares? It's a solid point and click game. Good list of characters, and you'd be surprised at who Scissorman turns out to be. There's some really cool scenes in here like when you're in an abandoned office building and it's all quiet and suddenly all the computers flash "DIE" and you see the killer at the end of a long hallway. You should probably put on a David Bowie CD or something while playing this because of the lack of sound. The cover is wrong.

I'll start off with the cons of the game: bad voice acting and dialogue. How bad? Just think of Barry from RE and his "Jill Sandwich" comment, and you get the picture. I also wish that they included a skip-scene feature like the one in part 2; hearing it again when replaying the game is annoying, but not a serious problem.

Now, why did I give five-stars? Two words: terror factor. This game did a great job of giving me chills every time I came across Scissorman. "But he literally limps after you!", you say. Yes, he does chase you at a low speed, but if anything, this enhances the creepiness: it's as if Scissorman thinks that killing you is nothing more than a fun game of tag. But don't think it will be easy- Scissorman is not the only enemy, and as one reviewer said, there are "dead-ends" in this game.

The music and sound effects add to the horror: each time Scissorman appears, the foreboding music kicks in, and each "clang" of his scissors will send chills through you. Scissorman is also notorious for appearing unexpectedly, such as leaping out through a painting. I love these random events, because it throws in suspense.

The game has several different endings, and what you do can affect who will live and who dies. Gameplay is adventure styled, with click-and-point controls- controls that don't take long to get used to. Overall, this a horror gaming classic that should be at least rented (unless you absolutely detest adventure-like games).

OK, First off, the game is soo cool! It is an excellent horror/strategy game and is so much fun playing.

The story is a monsterous murderer is on the loose even after his own death(this is actually a sequel to a Japanese game) and it is up to you to find the killer story behind him, then track him down.

The game is indeed jolting.The killer or "Scissorman" is VERY surprising and you never know what to expect. The gameplay is never the same , no matter how much you play.

I highly suggest this game to the adventurous types or anyone that loves Horror games. So please, if you don't have this awesome and exciting game adventure, GET IT! And Remember to turn OFF the Light...

This is a very awesome game. LOL i am fifteen but i got this game when i was about eight when i first started playing these horror games and boy was i scared. Being a RE freak and a horror game freak, this game is the mother of all....

Well basically you run from a killer with a giant pair of scissors which is scary thinking about it. EEK!! gives me the creeps... LOL anyway, the game is really scary especially since scissorman can jump out at any time and attack you. You either run away or hide somewhere to stop yourself from a horrible death. You try to figure out who this guy or what this thing is but now i know what it is... basically i thought at first it was professor barton and boy was i right...

Yet like every good game, all games have their pros and cons but the good news, this game only has two cons...

Pros: 1. The game is very freaky, do what i did, wait until ngith, close all windows in your room, your door, turn off the lights, and crank up the tv stereo. the music itself that plays when scissorman is near will make you jump out of your ksin literally....lol....
2. The game plot is very nicely done, it has very cool and unique characters and the scissorman is a very freaky character...
3. The environments are great, i love this freaking game!!!!

Cons: 1. Sometimes when scissorman jumps out, you sometimes dont really have any hiding places and have to run through ten million doors to find one...
2. Having to use a cursor instead of walking with the d pad, my cursor on the game sometimes screwed up and the character wouldnt run and she kept goign all over the place, i foudn out you have to click it a certain way but dont worry its easy, i was being stupid and not noticing it... lol....

well there ya go, only two cons and a handful fo pros. This a very great game and it started the horror game franchise. If you find this game somewhere definitely buy it!!! trust me it will scare anyone and i mean anyone.... no matter how brave you are...HEEHEH :D

Oh my God, this is one of the best games I have ever played in my life. I am a huge fan of horror movies and games, and this really impressed me. I am also a huge fan of The Clock Tower Trilogy(check out my reviews of Clcok Tower 2 and 3), so this is awesome.

Final Grade:10 out of 10- BUY IT, OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!
Buy or rent: BUY IT, OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE: BUY IT, OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!