The story behind Clock Tower is a bit weird, to say the least. While the sequels to the game saw a release in other markets, the original…didn’t. It came out at a time when the SNES was phasing out, so it only came out in Japan. Which is a shame because, for a game of its type, Clock Tower became something special.
WayForward understands this, and decided to give the game a proper re-release with Clock Tower: Rewind. It not only faithfully follows the original release, but also includes oodles of bonus content. This includes exploring beautifully animated cut scenes, as well as playing a pre-release demo and watching a review with creator Hifumi Kono. For good measure, you can also play the original game, as well as its remake.
That said, it’s an acquired taste. As great as it is with its horror, it’s also very slow paced. And some of its puzzles absolutely frustrate, when all you want to do is move ahead. It’ll take a while to dig into its multiple endings – though some players will like that.
Regardless, from a historical perspective, it’s great to see Clock Tower: Rewind. It’s not a game for everyone, but it offers plenty of spookiness and abundant extras. Plus it’s only $20, a far cry from what the original Super Famicom game sells for.
Clock Tower: Rewind Introduces the Scissorman
So there’s definitely a story to Clock Tower: Rewind. You play as Jennifer, an orphan who finds herself at Barrows Manor after a tiring journey. It’s here she runs into other orphaned girls, but also hears about the dreaded Scissorman. As you might guess, he’s a psychotic with a giant pair of scissors. (And no, not for cutting “grand opening” ribbons – they’re for much more sinister use.)
Over the course of the game, Jennifer has to make do with her encounters with Scissorman. See, she’s not able to fight back, and sometimes there’s no option to run. That means occasional button mashing and puzzle solving, to get to the bottom of the mystery. It’s an old kind of gameplay system, and far different from, say, Silent Hill 2 Remake.
And that will clearly create divide with players. Some will enjoy the slow, creepy tedium that Clock Tower: Rewind. Others, however, will find frustration with the game’s pacing and puzzles. It clearly isn’t for everyone. Still, WayForward does follow the blueprint of the original Super Famicom release. And that’s honorable, to say the least.
The gameplay, while slow moving, is definitely intriguing for players that invest in it. And yes, the encounters with Scissorman are absolutely nerve-wracking. That’s the intent, after all.
As I mentioned above, there are extras aplenty here. You’ve got some awesomely made motion comics, along with a great art gallery and an older demo of the game to try. The video interview with Hifumi Kono is excellent, and you can play the unaltered original game as well. But it’s just as slow, you were warned.
So, yeah, Clock Tower: Rewind isn’t for everyone. But those that enjoy a slower-paced horror fest will find plenty to dig into here. Just beware. Scissorman is not playing around.
A Well-Done Remaster
Man, WayForward sure knows how to take care of a classic. They’ve proven as such in the past, and continue to do so with Clock Tower: Rewind.
The new visuals, while not a major overhaul, look great. They really bring out the details of the Manor, and damn if Scissorman doesn’t appear more menacing than ever. The transition pieces are also nice, and the anime sequences are dazzling. I almost want an anime movie, tell you what.
The audio is good too. You’ve got solid sound effects that really build up the creepy ambience. And, yeah, Scissorman sounds scary as hell. Not to mention the thematic music that kicks in. And the voice acting! Nice!
It won’t change the game, but the atmosphere remains just as rock-solid as the original release. And did I mention that’s included as well? Nice package deal.
Save the Clock Tower!
Will you enjoy Clock Tower: Rewind? It depends on your style of play.
If you like fast-moving horror with jolts and creeps aplenty, this ain’t it. It’s a slow-moving game with puzzles to solve and a mystery to dig into. However, if that old-school approach is your thing, you will absolutely love this.
Kudos to WayForward for not only handling the original material with care, but adding extra goodies as well. Watching Kono speak about his work is masterful, and really makes you wonder why the original game never came out here.
Again, Clock Tower won’t win everyone over. But those who enter its halls and absorb the mystery won’t regret it. Even after Scissorman offs you. Ouch.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to WayForward for the review code! You can play Clock Tower: Rewind now for Xbox, PlayStation,Nintendo Switch and PC!
Need more spooky gaming? Check out our review of RetroRealms, featuring Halloween and Ash vs. Evil Dead!
