Clock Tower

"Genius...For some...."

Wow, this game was great, I mean I loved almost all of it. One little catch...It isn't for everybody. It's in point and click format. It means basically to move, you click somewhere on the screen, and the cursor from an arrow to three little dots. Not exactly the best for action.

Graphics: 7.0
Okay, this is one of the bad parts of the game. Though the graphics are adequate, they could've been better, but that isn't what this game is about. It has some very nice panning, but it can hurt you, because you can click on the wrong thing trying to get across a room, and inconvenience yourself at most. It has some FMV, but most movement was choppy. Anyway, the graphics will suit you, unless you whine about everything...

Story: 10.0
This is one of the best parts of the game. The plot is, basically, that you are looking for a way to kill an immortal monster Scissorman, who is basically a mass-murderer who uses a giant pair of scissors. It is a great story, that evolves very well throughout the game. I can't tell you anything about it though, you have to play the game.

Gameplay: 9.5
As I said before, it is a click and go format. There are two modes for this format, normal mode, where you walk around, exploring, trying to find ways to escape from the building, or things you might need to help find out how to kill Scissorman. Then there is escape mode, where Scissorman is near and is chasing you (it is accompanied by a certain theme music). Once this begins, you can only click on doors, or items that might help you disable him, places to hide, or some other means or getting away. This is very individual for a console format, and this is the best American Version, but who knows, Clock Tower 3 could rule.

Audio: 7.0
This is Another point where the game is lacking. The reason it is so high because of the great music. The Scissorman theme is really freaky, the opening theme plays at parts in the game, and other freaky music plays at time. It is also usually quiet, so when something like a picture falling off the wall, a door shutting, or even just walking intensify the feel of fright. The voice acting is really, really lacking though...It is all right for the parts when your not scared, but the rest stinks. Trust me, it hurts the game pretty bad. (I'm using blank as in ''insert name here'' to avoid spoilage) Trust me, ''Is that Blanks voice?! Blank, your the murderer?!'' in monotone hurts bad...

Replay Value
There are two characters that you can be, five endings for each, ten hints to collect, and a ''???'' option to unlock. There are many other things to do in the game also, including exploring all the ways to die, finding all the dead people, saving or letting some people die, and figuring out different things to do.

Summary:

Graphics: 7.0
Story: 10.0
Gameplay: 9.5
Audio: 7.0
Replay Value: 10.0
Overall: 10.0

Comments: This is a great game if you like a thinking man's horror. If you want to play a game just for the ''bang-bang, hoards of zombies, puzzles that are about as hard as a three piece jigsaw puzzle'' then don't get this. But, if you enjoy a good, challenging, moderately scary game with a great story line, get this.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/10/01, Updated 05/10/01