Clock Tower Series

[Lycurgus1985]

Who here has played the Clock Tower series?

To me, this series is the true definition of survival horror. You're just an oridnary everyday person pitted against demonic assailants. You have no weapons at all. All you have is wit and instinct to rely upon. You must run/hide/evade in order to survive, and most of the games in the series have multiple endings which really adds to the replay value.

Now, as far as US release goes, there was:

Clock Tower (PSX)
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within (PSX)
Clock Tower 3 (PS2)

However, there is one game in the series that didn't see release and that would be the original game. You see, here's the history behind all that. The original Clock Tower game was made for the SNES but never saw release outside Japan. Clock Tower 2 made for PlayStation did very well in Japan and was thus released to the US. However, since the original didn't get released here, Clock Tower 2 was simply called Clock Tower in the US. Then in 1998, the company who made the games, Human Entertainment, was going under and before they closed down operations, they made one last installment to cash in on the franchise.

This installment was Clock Tower: Ghosthead. However, this game had nothing to do with the rest of the series and was simply considered a gaiden (side story) to the series. But when it was released in the US, it was deemed Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within. Personally, the only good part about Ghosthead is the first scenario when you have to deal with a possessed albino psycho knife-weilding girl child. :lol

Capcom picked up the rights to the series and thus came about Clock Tower 3 which was the third in the series in all regions instead of really being a sequel claiming to be the original or a gaiden posing as a sequel. The bad thing about this sequel is not only did it rid of the multiple endings aspect of the series, but it also added in boss battles/magical schoolgirl element we could have done without. :rolleyes

Ok, enough droning on about that.

Anyway, you can find an english translated ROM of the original SNES game around the internet.

The main connection between the games (excluding Ghosthead) is the Burroughs family. Now, in the previous games, Burroughs was translated as Barrows which was actually a wrongful translation. Sure, they sound the same but the spelling is different. So, when CT3 came about with the proper translation, most people thought it was a different family.

Ok, enough of me ranting about Clock Tower. I'll let someone else get in a word or two. :P

[xbxDaniel]

A link would be nice if you happen to have one. I didn't entirely like the series or devote much time to them, but I can check out this ROM I guess.

[Supafly345]

That game was terrible. Not scary, not interesting, not fun, not even good graphics to discract you from the shittyness. It was a terrible game that shouldn't have gotten a sequel.

[Lycurgus1985]

That game was terrible. Not scary, not interesting, not fun, not even good graphics to discract you from the shittyness. It was a terrible game that shouldn't have gotten a sequel.

Mind elaborating a bit more SupaFly? I mean, come on, anybody can say THAT much if they don't like the game. All that is game bashing that comes across with a superior attitude. Too many people do this. Elaborate beyond the usual fodder negative comments. I can respect that you don't like the game but I'd like to see more than just the "It's not scary, it's shitty and terrible" bit.

Besides, I didn't know great graphics were essential to the gaming experience. Guess I learn something new each day. :rolleyes

[xbxDaniel]

Everybody's got different tastes. I like a rich plot and interesting gameplay mechanics. Graphics are nice too though.

[Lycurgus1985]

Everybody's got different tastes. I like a rich plot and interesting gameplay mechanics. Graphics are nice too though.

Note that I said I can respect why he doesn't like the game. I simply asked him to elaborate.

Anyway, I'll tell you more through PMs, xbxMCj. I'll give you the ROM and whatever you'll need to play the very original game. Hopefully you'll enjoy it. If not, oh well.

[Supafly345]

Mind elaborating a bit more SupaFly? I mean, come on, anybody can say THAT much if they don't like the game. All that is game bashing that comes across with a superior attitude. Too many people do this. Elaborate beyond the usual fodder negative comments. I can respect that you don't like the game but I'd like to see more than just the "It's not scary, it's shitty and terrible" bit.

Besides, I didn't know great graphics were essential to the gaming experience. Guess I learn something new each day. :rolleyesI was saying that if a game is THAT BAD, it better have some good graphics to excuse the shittyness within. I don't think I should have to PROVE THAT I HAVE AN OPINION, but okay, I'll do it anyway.

The damn little guy was probably the most easily bamboozled cripple in a videogame ever to be taken down by a single punch from a teenage girl. You could usually just walk right by him, and since he was the only animate disaster to pose to you, that dropped the scariness down to a negative 1, meaning it was more goofy funny than it was scary. And it only got a 1 out of 10 on the goofy funny.

I admit luring the scissorman into a "KABONG" log on the head trap and others was very fun, but its only fun so many times.

And even though I haven't played it since 1999, here's a quick list of misc things I can think of off the top of my head that were wrong with it:
The story was stupid and banal (our "insert realative" is crazy and has a history of violence). The controls were a nightmare. The overabundance of worthless items were basically packing material to fill the game. I couln't tell what was drawn on almost any of the textures. It is rediculously easy. You like it.

Now please give up this delusion that obsessing over some vague crappy game will make you look like a video game elitist.

[Lycurgus1985]

I was saying that if a game is THAT BAD, it better have some good graphics to excuse the shittyness within. I don't think I should have to PROVE THAT I HAVE AN OPINION, but okay, I'll do it anyway.

The damn little guy was probably the most easily bamboozled cripple in a videogame ever to be taken down by a single punch from a teenage girl. You could usually just walk right by him, and since he was the only animate disaster to pose to you, that dropped the scariness down to a negative 1, meaning it was more goofy funny than it was scary. And it only got a 1 out of 10 on the goofy funny.

I admit luring the scissorman into a "KABONG" log on the head trap and others was very fun, but its only fun so many times.

And even though I haven't played it since 1999, here's a quick list of misc things I can think of off the top of my head that were wrong with it:
The story was stupid and banal (our "insert realative" is crazy and has a history of violence). The controls were a nightmare. The overabundance of worthless items were basically packing material to fill the game. I couln't tell what was drawn on almost any of the textures. It is rediculously easy. You like it.

Now please give up this delusion that obsessing over some vague crappy game will make you look like a video game elitist.

First off, I'm not asking you to prove your opinion. I simply asked if you would elaborate. If that's a crime, then take me to the gallows why don't you. :hangman

You could walk right by him?! I think not. You even get close to him and you found scissors implanted into your lower abdomen. And I don't remember any punching involved. Shoving yes. But punching? But I can see how evading Scissorman can be slightly amusing to some.

As for the story, I don't think you entirely recall the story correctly. Then again, you did say you haven't played the game since 1999 so that is understandable. If it didn't interest you, then it didn't interest you.

However, the useless items comment, I don't really agree there. Besides, Resident Evil and Silent Hill are far more guilty of this kind of thing with all those menial tasks to get a key to a locked door when you should just be able blast down the door since you have enough ammo to be your own one-man army. At least in Clock Tower, they key and item was in site and you didn't have to bend over half-ass backwards because the programmers wanted to make the game longer, resulting in some really no-brainer tasks that would be easily solved otherwise in reality.

Graphics, not going to argue that they are very dated. Would have helped if the game shipped sooner because it was a first-gen game. But I personally didn't have problems making anything out myself and the fact that everything looked very basic kind of added to that low budget horror film quality for me but it's all perception really.

Now that last comment is just a misguided potshot. How am I acting like this game will make me some video game elitist? I simply asked you to expand upon your opinion and I'm just a fan of the series. I don't claim this game is God and that I am all-knowing. I think you're taking this a little too seriously and personally.

[darkvare]

i dont like the game because of the main character. i prefer resident evil series, because in that game at least you have some character that had a training in how to take enemies. but the whole thing of some school girl or kid taking the forces of darkness is pretty dumb IMO.

[Lycurgus1985]

i dont like the game because of the main character. i prefer resident evil series, because in that game at least you have some character that had a training in how to take enemies. but the whole thing of some school girl or kid taking the forces of darkness is pretty dumb IMO.

You played the third one, didn't you? :P

Like I said, the whole magical schoolgirl idea they introduced with that one was a really bad move on their parts. They almost turned it into Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

[Marine]

The "ordinary everyday person pitted against demonic assailants"
part sounds almost just like one of those old Lovecraft based games from the nineties.

[Supafly345]

In the PSX version, the funniest moment was when she kicked him in the head after grabbing his scissors. And there was a trap where she would walk behind him and punch him in the head. He went down both times.

[Emu]

I played the SNES version (which everyone told me was the only real man way to experience it) and I was sorely disappointed. I beat the game in about 45 minutes. The game was kinda sorta scary, but that was overshadowed by the awful controls and general ineptitude of the scissor man.

[Lycurgus1985]

I played the SNES version (which everyone told me was the only real man way to experience it) and I was sorely disappointed. I beat the game in about 45 minutes. The game was kinda sorta scary, but that was overshadowed by the awful controls and general ineptitude of the scissor man.

Yes, I do admit Scissorman can be rather lame in the original SNES game and it can be really short. Then again, that's probably why there are multiple endings.

But yeah, in the SNES version, Scissorman was a COMPLETE pushover. But his brother Dan... *shudders*
Unclean...

Supafly, those moments you mentioned from the PSX version, I do not remember those moments and I play the game quite a bit. I know you could sneak up on him and hit him with shit but there was no punching back of heads or kicking him in the head as far as I remember.

[Supafly345]

I remember, very vividly, grabbing his scissors when he tried to attack me, then kicking him in the face. Mostly because it was the best the game could do as far as fun was concerned.

[Chojin]

He's right. Scissorman was really easy to avoid as long as you weren't in 'danger' cause you could just mash shit when he got close and you'd fight him off. The male character would just punch him in the head a few times.

It would be nice if they'd make a survival horror game with ordinary people but not have it be done by the fools who made this series.

[Lycurgus1985]

He's right. Scissorman was really easy to avoid as long as you weren't in 'danger' cause you could just mash shit when he got close and you'd fight him off. The male character would just punch him in the head a few times.

It would be nice if they'd make a survival horror game with ordinary people but not have it be done by the fools who made this series.

Well, I guess I would have found out about the punching bit if Scissorman had ever put Nolan or Gotts in a panic mode situation. However, usually he never got that close or he knew where I was hiding and killed me.

Mainly what gets me with this game is partially due to the fact it's like being in an interactive slasher movie and the jump factor in many moments of the game. One that comes to mind is when you're in the castle and Scissorman jumps out of it. I still remember this one time I was playing the game with some friends and my friend Dave kept egging me on to check out the picture. I refused but got fed up and did so. What happened next was a near coronary/funny experience. As soon as Scissorman sprung out of the painting, EVERYONE in the room let out a quick scream and jumped.

But I see where you guys are coming from though.

Maybe Haunting Ground would be more up your alley. It improves upon the Clock Tower formula quite a bit. Then again, can't guarantee you'll like it either. :P

[Chojin]

I rented Clock Tower when it first came out and it gave me my only panic attack I've ever had :<

I was trying to sleep and kept thinking I could hear scissors ;<

[Lycurgus1985]

I rented Clock Tower when it first came out and it gave me my only panic attack I've ever had :<

I was trying to sleep and kept thinking I could hear scissors ;<

Sounds like something that happened to me. I saw the game in GameStop (when it was still Babbage's) about 1998 and immediately bought in on impulse. It had me sold. So, I take it home and decide to play it. I turn off the lights, turn up the volume and immerse myself. When I had my first encounter with Scissorman, I was so freaked that I panicked myself and hid in the stall on the first floor. Big mistake. I got my ass handed to me.

All that night I had nightmares of Scissorman chasing my around the neighborhood and through many houses. Not a pleasant night of sleep but I wasn't going to back down from the game so easily.

EDIT: What's wrong with my sig this time? It was just one line of text. :confused

[Chojin]

it was like 10 lines when i changed it.

[Lycurgus1985]

it was like 10 lines when i changed it.

But I changed it to one line after you edited the old one. Odd.

[Chojin]

Maybe you still haven't read them.

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[ArrowX]

The end of the original clocktower was hilarious! First you set a giant fetus monster on fire then your push Bobby into some hears in the clocktower then you electrocute their mom.

You can also beat the first clocktower within 5 minutes.

[Lycurgus1985]

The end of the original clocktower was hilarious! First you set a giant fetus monster on fire then your push Bobby into some hears in the clocktower then you electrocute their mom.

You can also beat the first clocktower within 5 minutes.

Well, if you go for G/H ending you can beat it in 5 minutes. More like 10-15 anyhow in actual real-time. :P

But I liked the B ending more where you shove Mary onto the power box in the clock tower and gets billions of volts pumping through her body. It's particularly funny because all the while, on the bottom of the screen, Mary's "I'll kill you!" line is present despite the fact that she's dying. I love irony. :)

[darkvare]

It would be nice if they'd make a survival horror game with ordinary people but not have it be done by the fools who made this series.
there is this game called obscure, you get to chosse from 5 different characters and they all are students is even 2 player co-op. (xbox and ps2 only)

[Lycurgus1985]

there is this game called obscure, you get to chosse from 5 different characters and they all are students is even 2 player co-op. (xbox and ps2 only)

What was it like anyway?
I've been contemplating buying it since it's only $20 but I haven't heard much about it. No video stores seem to be carrying it for rent in my area either.