A remastered 16-bit survival horror game
Clock Tower: Rewind is a 16-bit survival horror game, remastered from the original 1995 Japan release. You play as Jennifer, a teenage orphan who needs to find a way out of the nightmarish Barrows family manor. You must search and uncover the house's secrets while evading the murderous psychopath, Scissorman.
Clock Tower: Rewind prioritizes stealth mechanics over combat, as you have no weapons and any ability to fight back. It also has a tense soundtrack and challenging puzzles to keep you moving and not being caught. The game lets you choose between Classic and Rewind modes, which feature several improvements.
The clock is ticking
Clock Tower: Rewind is divided into two modes: Classic and Rewind. The former enables you to play the original unaltered version of the game, while the latter features numerous extra content such as a new animated intro, music player, and save states. It also features improved dialogue sequences and better graphics. Both versions require you to finish the game before time runs out, or you’ll be locked inside the manor forever.
Depending on your choices, the ending may be different. In the Rewind version, you’ll also encounter randomized gameplay elements and unexpected jumpscares, which will keep it unpredictable with every playthrough. The gameplay is easy enough, requiring only tapping to move around and interact with things. However, the game suffers from occasional bad dialogue and wooden voice-acting, and some voice lines are nonsensical and suffer from poor translations — leaving you confused at times.
The game storyline is good enough to keep you occupied to push through, as it gets darker the longer you play the game. The soundtrack for both modes is top-notch, with Rewind getting additional music as you explore the map. You can also watch behind-the-scenes interviews, browse through the art gallery, and listen to new music in the Extras menu that can be accessed when you’re not playing the game.
A great point-and-click horror game
Clock Tower: Rewind manages to get both fans of the original and new players by retaining all the classic elements in Classic while giving it a facelift with improvements in Rewind mode. The adventure gameplay is easy yet tense, and the 16-bit art style gives a lo-fi feel to it. However, some dialogue suffers from wooden acting and poor English translations. Thankfully, the main storyline is very intriguing and unpredictable.
