Clock Tower: Rewind finally brings the 16-bit shears to the West
The survival horror pioneer gets its first official English release with new content, save states, and the unstoppable Scissorman.
Most survival horror protagonists get a shotgun or at least a sturdy wooden plank. In Clock Tower, you get a panic button and the ability to run away. After years of existing in the West primarily through fan translations and expensive import copies, the 1995 Super Famicom classic has finally received an official localization.
As detailed on the Xbox store page, Clock Tower: Rewind brings the original 16-bit terror to a global audience. This release marks the first time the game has been officially translated and released outside of Japan. It is a preservation effort that keeps the original pixel art intact while adding the necessary bells and whistles to make it playable for a modern audience.
Two Modes, One Big Pair of Scissors
The package splits the experience into two distinct paths. Original mode presents the game exactly as it appeared in 1995, offering the authentic, unadulterated experience. For those of us who have grown soft over the last three decades, there is Rewind mode. This version introduces quality-of-life features we have come to expect, including save states and various gameplay refinements.
WayForward has padded the release with significant bonus material rather than simply dumping the ROM onto a digital storefront. The release includes a new animated intro, motion comics with voiceovers, and vocal theme songs performed by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Emi Evans. You also get an art gallery and creator interviews, which provides welcome context for a game that relies so heavily on its specific atmosphere.
Run, Hide, Repeat
For the uninitiated, you play as Jennifer, a teenage orphan trapped in the Barrows family manor. The gameplay loop involves point-and-click exploration and frantically hiding from Scissorman, a slasher villain who proves that walking speed is no impediment to being terrifying. The game utilizes randomized gameplay elements and multiple endings to maximize replayability.
The addition of save states in Rewind mode is particularly welcome here. Clock Tower is known for being unforgiving, and having the ability to retry a segment without restarting the entire run is a feature that respects the player's time. It is nice to see a pioneer of the genre finally get the treatment it deserves, complete with the option to listen to the haunting sound effects in a dedicated music player.
Comments ()