Clock Tower

"Could have been a classic"

I suppose this is regarded as a bit of an oldie now, but never has a game scared me so much. Resident Evil and Silent Hill are the pinnacle of the survival horror genre but for the sheer fear factor they don't compare to Clock Tower. Not even close! Out of all the games you have played, how many have you turned off due to being totally scared? None? Okay, I think you know what game to buy next.

The game begins in Norway with a fantastic intro, which sees the star of the game Jennifer climbing desperately up a cliff to escape from a masked beast behind her. As she nears the top, Jennifer manages to grab hold of a crate which drops down the cliff and explodes on her pursuer, sending him crashing down in flames. At the end of the intro (it's much longer but I won't spoil it), the narrator spits out in his most threatening voice 'CLOCK TOWER'. Its one of the greatest intro's I've ever seen.

Lets deal with the games flaws first: Graphics! Being made in 1996, not too much is expected and the in-game graphics are very cumbersome and awkward. A point and click interface dominates throughout and can determine wether the game is for you or not. The graphics are in 3-D but rarely is the full screen taken up possibly because of fuzziness or all the other problems the Playstation had in its early days. They do the job however, and can easily be overlooked.

The aim of the is escape. Sounds fairly simple and 2-D but JESUS CHRIST is your attacker a terrifying bastard. When you are attacked first you really will jump. The sound of the shears (your attackers weapon) and the explosive music that accompanies his presence is incredible. You must escape him by either running (he's very slow) or by seeking a hiding place. If you hide there is a great chance of being caught and you can never really hide in the same place twice.

The locations are fairly good to be fair. An office, a library, a clock tower (that was expected), a friends house, a castle and other locations that are dispersed throughout the game. The music fits each mood very well especially the title music which is genuinely haunting. The attack music is explosive and really gets your heart beating.

There are 4 playable characters and it will depend on how you play if you get to use a certain character at all. The game isn't linear. There are 10 endings which is a mean feat for any game,as well as 10 hints which have to be collected throughout and these give hints on how to unlock certain endings and little tips .At times the game will be frustrating and even boring. Just play past the start and you'll be rewarded with a quality title that very few people have finished.

Bad points:
Graphics are poor
Voice acting is laughable
Can be very slow moving at times
Point and click will put many people off

Good points:
Scary-scariest game ever
Strong story
You'll care about the characters
FMV
10 endings

A must buy for anyone who is a fans of cinematic games. It's got blood, death, surprises, its got alot.Just overlook its little exterior flaws; its the personality that counts

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/06/02, Updated 03/06/02