For the benefit of those who have not played and would like to read the topic, please mark all spoilers.
The Clock Tower series is a survival-horror game series that originated on the Super Nintendo in 1995 in Japan. It has gone on to be a series composed of six games, though unfortunately nothing from or related to the series has been seen since the spin-off, Haunting Ground (the rights to the series are held by Capcom as it stands).
The entries in the series go as such;
-Clock Tower (1995 original game for the SNES, Japan-only but a fan translation exists.)
-Clock Tower: First Fear (1996 remake of the first game released in Japan on PSX and PC. English translation done recently.)
-Clock Tower II (Known as Clock Tower in America and Europe as it was the first Clock Tower game to release outside of Japan, and released in 1996 in Japan, 97 in America, and 98 in Europe, all on PSX.)
-Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within (Known as Clock Tower: Ghost Head in Japan. Released in 98 in Japan, and 99 in America on PSX. Due to the weird naming system regionally, there are two Clock Tower II's that exist, and both are completely different games.)
-Clock Tower 3 (Released 2002 in Japan and 2003 for in America and Europe, for PS2. First full-3D Clock Tower game, and also is technically the 'last' game in the series proper.)
-Haunting Ground (Demento in Japan. Essentially Clock Tower 4 as it builds off of CT3's systems, even though it's technically a spin-off. Released in 2005 on the PS2.)
There has been a film that has been in development hell for years, but never officially cancelled (last word was in late 2011).
There have been a few games in development that have been directly inspired by the series over the years, the most notable being NightCry, Remothered, and Wretcher.
Typically, if the question gets raised of what are the scariest games of all time, Clock Tower will almost certainly show up somewhere. I have never personally found the series too terrifying, but it can't be understated how the original game especially was much scarier than about any of its competition at the time. It also unfortunately is maybe forgotten by the passage of time for modern audiences (I had a somewhat surprising culture shock when I mentioned this game series in a stream of 100+ horror lovers, and very few of them knew what the Clock Tower series was, and even less had ever played or seen them).
In many ways, I would say Clock Tower is one of the first true horror games. Outside of Alone in the Dark, Sweet Home, Forbidden Forest, and a few other arguable titles, the original game is one of those horror games that pre-dates Resident Evil, and is honestly one of the first very serious attempts to make a horror game rather than a horror-themed game. While scares are subjective, I'd also argue that Clock Tower was much scarier and well-realized than its competition at the time.
This is also where I must shamefully admit I have not yet actually pushed through the whole series yet either. At the time of writing I still must complete the second character route in Clock Tower II (PSX), and play Clock Tower 2: Struggle within in general.
This series is one of those series that I really would like to see a proper sequel for in this day and age, but heavily doubt it'll ever happen proper. The IP belongs to Capcom, and they haven't done anything with it in over 10 years outside of a Haunting Ground cameo in Tatsunoko vs Capcom.
^The cameo in question.
The bright side is it's received a surprising amount of 'spiritual successor' love over the years, with the last big one being NightCry and another one just about to hit known as Remothered: Tormented Fathers. But those are still in the end their own thing and with no big budget backing.
But let's dig in, shall we? To briefly touch on each game in the series.
Clock Tower - SNES
Probably the most recognized entry in the series despite it never releasing outside of Japan. A unique take on point'n'click games where you actively have to avoid a deranged killer who stalks you around the area with giant scissors as you solve puzzles and explore a mansion that you and some other orphan were adopted into.
A fan translation exists.
Clock Tower: First Fear - PSX/PC
An enhanced port of the original game, the main changes were some additional art assets, completely reworked music and audio, a few new secrets and gameplay additions, and some additional places Scissorman could pop-up from.
Was only released in Japan, but a fan translation has been completed as of May, 2015.
Clock Tower II - PSX
Known only as Clock Tower in America and Europe. One of the two 'Clock Tower II' games, this game was the first time the series saw a release outside of Japan officially (which is why it's just "Clock Tower" in America/Europe, and Clock Tower II in Japan). This one is a direct sequel to the first game that occurs one year after the events of the original game. when suddenly Scissorman returns. The series official foray into 3D, and while the graphics are dated the game plays pretty similarly to the original game and is the only example in the series of any sort of direct continuation in the story.
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within - PSX
Known as Clock Tower: Ghost Head in Japan. One of the two 'Clock Tower II' games. More of a spin-off to the series, it has no official ties to the previous storylines, telling the tale of a girl named Alyssa, who was rescued by a couple when she was near killed by smothering. She suffers multiple personality disorder, and deals with murderous visions. We join her as she leaves a mental hospital to stay with extended family in an attempt to deal with her dark urges... But when she gets home, there are body parts laid about. Gameplay is the same, but nothing else is. It's highly regarded by many as the worst in the franchise, and unintentionally hilarious.
Clock Tower 3 - PS2
The first game in the series to change-up the gameplay, giving you direct control over the character rather than it being a point'n'click. Also tells a different story than the previous games, and has mixed response from its fans, in big part as the game is rather silly in many ways. Stars a girl named Alyssa (not the same Alyssa as Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within) who comes back to her mom's home from boarding school after being explicitly told to not come home for a few weeks. Of course, shit goes down, as we begin to travel through time to encounter mass murderers, and punish them as we find out we're a magical girl! No, I'm not making that up.
Haunting Ground - PS2
Known as Demento in Japan. A spin-off, but really an evolution of Clock Tower 3. It's a game that deals with the horrors of being chased and perversion as we join a girl named Fiona who wakes up trapped in a castle stark naked with some twisted people who all for one reason or another want her womb. Her only aid through all of this is her dog, Hewie, while she must face the horrors of the castle, hide, and escape her potential terrible fates. For better or worse, probably more well known in this day and age than the rest of the series by a more general audience.
Clock Tower: The Movie
A movie in development hell that will probably never see the light of day. Was announced in 2008, last word we've heard was in late 2011, but the person who was last directing it kind of died so...
NightCry - PC
Spiritual successor by the director of the original Clock Tower game, it was a PC (released)/mobile (still to release) game following a group on a cruise ship when a murderous some mystical Scissorwalker begins to kill them all off. It certainly was rough around the edges and unapologetically old-school, but it still retained some of the series charms through all of that and actually had a pretty decent story for the series standards.
Remothered: Tormented Fathers - PC
Started in 2007 as a fan reimagining of the original game with an interesting 2D style, has evolved into a game in development that's inspired by the series in 3D. Planned to be a trilogy, and its Early Access version literally releases the day after I make this topic, so to see if it can hold the name as being a good spiritual successor to the series.
Wretcher - PC
Another indie game inspired by the series, but to be seen if it'll ever see the light of day. It's had a demo out for a while though: http://wretcher.com/#download
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With the upcoming release of Remothered: Tormented Fathers, and generally just lack of discussion and really acknowledgement of the series, let's discuss this often underlooked series.
The Clock Tower series is a survival-horror game series that originated on the Super Nintendo in 1995 in Japan. It has gone on to be a series composed of six games, though unfortunately nothing from or related to the series has been seen since the spin-off, Haunting Ground (the rights to the series are held by Capcom as it stands).
The entries in the series go as such;
-Clock Tower (1995 original game for the SNES, Japan-only but a fan translation exists.)
-Clock Tower: First Fear (1996 remake of the first game released in Japan on PSX and PC. English translation done recently.)
-Clock Tower II (Known as Clock Tower in America and Europe as it was the first Clock Tower game to release outside of Japan, and released in 1996 in Japan, 97 in America, and 98 in Europe, all on PSX.)
-Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within (Known as Clock Tower: Ghost Head in Japan. Released in 98 in Japan, and 99 in America on PSX. Due to the weird naming system regionally, there are two Clock Tower II's that exist, and both are completely different games.)
-Clock Tower 3 (Released 2002 in Japan and 2003 for in America and Europe, for PS2. First full-3D Clock Tower game, and also is technically the 'last' game in the series proper.)
-Haunting Ground (Demento in Japan. Essentially Clock Tower 4 as it builds off of CT3's systems, even though it's technically a spin-off. Released in 2005 on the PS2.)
There has been a film that has been in development hell for years, but never officially cancelled (last word was in late 2011).
There have been a few games in development that have been directly inspired by the series over the years, the most notable being NightCry, Remothered, and Wretcher.
Typically, if the question gets raised of what are the scariest games of all time, Clock Tower will almost certainly show up somewhere. I have never personally found the series too terrifying, but it can't be understated how the original game especially was much scarier than about any of its competition at the time. It also unfortunately is maybe forgotten by the passage of time for modern audiences (I had a somewhat surprising culture shock when I mentioned this game series in a stream of 100+ horror lovers, and very few of them knew what the Clock Tower series was, and even less had ever played or seen them).
In many ways, I would say Clock Tower is one of the first true horror games. Outside of Alone in the Dark, Sweet Home, Forbidden Forest, and a few other arguable titles, the original game is one of those horror games that pre-dates Resident Evil, and is honestly one of the first very serious attempts to make a horror game rather than a horror-themed game. While scares are subjective, I'd also argue that Clock Tower was much scarier and well-realized than its competition at the time.
This is also where I must shamefully admit I have not yet actually pushed through the whole series yet either. At the time of writing I still must complete the second character route in Clock Tower II (PSX), and play Clock Tower 2: Struggle within in general.
This series is one of those series that I really would like to see a proper sequel for in this day and age, but heavily doubt it'll ever happen proper. The IP belongs to Capcom, and they haven't done anything with it in over 10 years outside of a Haunting Ground cameo in Tatsunoko vs Capcom.
^The cameo in question.
The bright side is it's received a surprising amount of 'spiritual successor' love over the years, with the last big one being NightCry and another one just about to hit known as Remothered: Tormented Fathers. But those are still in the end their own thing and with no big budget backing.
But let's dig in, shall we? To briefly touch on each game in the series.
Clock Tower - SNES
Probably the most recognized entry in the series despite it never releasing outside of Japan. A unique take on point'n'click games where you actively have to avoid a deranged killer who stalks you around the area with giant scissors as you solve puzzles and explore a mansion that you and some other orphan were adopted into.
A fan translation exists.
Clock Tower: First Fear - PSX/PC
An enhanced port of the original game, the main changes were some additional art assets, completely reworked music and audio, a few new secrets and gameplay additions, and some additional places Scissorman could pop-up from.
Was only released in Japan, but a fan translation has been completed as of May, 2015.
Clock Tower II - PSX
Known only as Clock Tower in America and Europe. One of the two 'Clock Tower II' games, this game was the first time the series saw a release outside of Japan officially (which is why it's just "Clock Tower" in America/Europe, and Clock Tower II in Japan). This one is a direct sequel to the first game that occurs one year after the events of the original game. when suddenly Scissorman returns. The series official foray into 3D, and while the graphics are dated the game plays pretty similarly to the original game and is the only example in the series of any sort of direct continuation in the story.
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within - PSX
Known as Clock Tower: Ghost Head in Japan. One of the two 'Clock Tower II' games. More of a spin-off to the series, it has no official ties to the previous storylines, telling the tale of a girl named Alyssa, who was rescued by a couple when she was near killed by smothering. She suffers multiple personality disorder, and deals with murderous visions. We join her as she leaves a mental hospital to stay with extended family in an attempt to deal with her dark urges... But when she gets home, there are body parts laid about. Gameplay is the same, but nothing else is. It's highly regarded by many as the worst in the franchise, and unintentionally hilarious.
Clock Tower 3 - PS2
The first game in the series to change-up the gameplay, giving you direct control over the character rather than it being a point'n'click. Also tells a different story than the previous games, and has mixed response from its fans, in big part as the game is rather silly in many ways. Stars a girl named Alyssa (not the same Alyssa as Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within) who comes back to her mom's home from boarding school after being explicitly told to not come home for a few weeks. Of course, shit goes down, as we begin to travel through time to encounter mass murderers, and punish them as we find out we're a magical girl! No, I'm not making that up.
Haunting Ground - PS2
Known as Demento in Japan. A spin-off, but really an evolution of Clock Tower 3. It's a game that deals with the horrors of being chased and perversion as we join a girl named Fiona who wakes up trapped in a castle stark naked with some twisted people who all for one reason or another want her womb. Her only aid through all of this is her dog, Hewie, while she must face the horrors of the castle, hide, and escape her potential terrible fates. For better or worse, probably more well known in this day and age than the rest of the series by a more general audience.
Clock Tower: The Movie
A movie in development hell that will probably never see the light of day. Was announced in 2008, last word we've heard was in late 2011, but the person who was last directing it kind of died so...
NightCry - PC
Spiritual successor by the director of the original Clock Tower game, it was a PC (released)/mobile (still to release) game following a group on a cruise ship when a murderous some mystical Scissorwalker begins to kill them all off. It certainly was rough around the edges and unapologetically old-school, but it still retained some of the series charms through all of that and actually had a pretty decent story for the series standards.
Remothered: Tormented Fathers - PC
Started in 2007 as a fan reimagining of the original game with an interesting 2D style, has evolved into a game in development that's inspired by the series in 3D. Planned to be a trilogy, and its Early Access version literally releases the day after I make this topic, so to see if it can hold the name as being a good spiritual successor to the series.
Wretcher - PC
Another indie game inspired by the series, but to be seen if it'll ever see the light of day. It's had a demo out for a while though: http://wretcher.com/#download
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With the upcoming release of Remothered: Tormented Fathers, and generally just lack of discussion and really acknowledgement of the series, let's discuss this often underlooked series.
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