Clock Tower

About Clock Tower

Clock Tower (1995) is Human Entertainment's Dario Argento-inspired point-and-click horror game, in which the orphan Jennifer flees the unstoppable Scissorman through the Barrows mansion.

Clock Tower in Depth

In September 1995 Jennifer Simpson and fellow orphans Laura, Anne and Lotte, from the Granite Orphanage in Romsdalen, Norway, are adopted by the wealthy recluse Simon Barrows and taken to his mansion, known as the Clock Tower after its dominant feature. When Mary, the woman who brought them, takes too long to find Mr. Barrows, Jennifer goes looking, and one of the other children is killed by a stalker called Scissorman. Jennifer must explore the mansion to find a way out, heading for one of nine possible endings.

The player moves a cursor to direct Jennifer, investigating objects, opening doors and storing items, whose positions change with each playthrough. She can walk or run, but running drains stamina, recovered by sitting on the floor, and her portrait in the corner shows how she is coping. Jennifer cannot fight Scissorman: when he appears the game enters panic mode, and depending on her health she may trip, slow down and be killed. The only defence is to find hiding places or use traps in the environment, and if caught, rapidly pressing a button gives a chance to break free. Famitsu's reviewers stressed how frightening it was, one saying it would make players weep, and how the slightest mistake led to a game over. It is considered an influence on horror games and a pioneer of survival horror.

Making Clock Tower

Director Hifumi Kono wanted to pay homage to Dario Argento, especially Phenomena, borrowing its occult themes, distressed young women and bright colours in fog, and to make a game that felt like the old horror films he loved. It was an experimental project with a small budget and staff, and colleagues doubted a game about running from an enemy could work. Limited resources meant no mouse support and a much smaller map, though the 2D mansion was designed within a 3D space. Released for the Super Famicom in 1995, it sold well. Retrospective reviews praised its haunting atmosphere while finding the puzzles and exploration tedious; Hardcore Gaming 101 called it "one of the most thrilling experiences the [horror] genre can offer".