Clock Tower: Rewind Review Summary

Despite its dated clunky controls, slow pacing, and intrusive unlock pop-ups, this horror title delivers effective scares, atmospheric tension, and highly replayable randomized gameplay with multiple distinct endings.

Multiple distinct endings: Players mention the game features eight or nine distinct endings that depend on player choices and actions. This variety adds significant replay value and encourages exploration of different decision paths.

Highly replayable due to randomization: Players highlight that each playthrough offers a new experience because items, rooms, and puzzle requirements change randomly. This semi-randomization keeps gameplay fresh and encourages multiple playthroughs.

Overall excellent and enjoyable: Reviewers consistently praise the game as very good, enjoyable, and one of the best in its genre. It is described as a satisfying experience that holds up remarkably well over time.

Effective scares and jump scares: The game is noted for being surprisingly scary, with well-placed jump scares and random RNG elements that keep players on edge. The horror moments are genuinely creepy and contribute to the tense atmosphere.

Rewind mode is appreciated: The Rewind mode is praised as a quality-of-life feature that helps with trial-and-error sections and offers a different way to play. It is considered a nice optional addition that enhances the experience.

Controls are dated and clunky: Multiple reviews highlight that the control scheme is outdated, awkward, and cumbersome, making the game hard to get used to. Issues include uncomfortable pad and keyboard controls, and unsmooth cursor movement.

Game pace is too slow: Players frequently complain that the game's pace is unnecessarily slow, with slow animations and drawn-out actions making gameplay feel sluggish and frustrating. This may not appeal to modern players.

Obstructive unlock pop-ups: Full-screen pop-up notifications for unlocking features or cutscenes block the view, ruin immersion, and can even lead to death. These notifications linger for several seconds and are considered obnoxious.

Endings require a guide: The game's strict ending conditions are unfriendly, making it hard to achieve desired endings without a guide. Replaying the same beginning segment repeatedly is necessary for all endings.

Performance issues and crashes: The game suffers from graphical issues, crashes, and lag that are more frequent than in the original or emulated versions. This indicates poor optimization.

Point-and-click survival horror: The game is consistently described as a point-and-click survival horror experience, blending classic adventure mechanics with horror elements. This genre combination is a core aspect of the game's identity.

Multiple endings with choices: The game features multiple endings, with most reviews noting nine distinct endings (eight visible and one secret) that change based on player actions. This provides significant replayability and encourages exploration of different choices.

Randomized elements and RNG: The game incorporates random elements, including item placements, room locations, and enemy spawns, which vary between playthroughs. This RNG adds unpredictability and replay value, but some players may find it frustrating.

Rewind mode included: The game includes two main modes: the original and a new Rewind mode, which allows players to rewind a few seconds of gameplay. This feature is highlighted as a quality-of-life improvement, making the game more accessible.

Scissorman stalker mechanic: A central feature is the Scissorman, a pursuer who chases the player from room to room and cannot be fought, only fled from or hidden from. This stalker mechanic creates tension and is a defining element of the horror experience.

Performance issues with slowdown and lag: Multiple reviews report noticeable slowdown and lag, especially during heavy on-screen action, which is more frequent than in the original game. This affects overall gameplay smoothness and is a common complaint.

Steam Deck compatibility issues: Initial reports indicate the game did not work on Steam Deck, though later feedback suggests it functions. This inconsistency may confuse potential buyers using that device.

No technical issues reported: A minority of players report no bugs or performance problems, indicating that the experience may vary depending on hardware or settings.

Mouse sensitivity problems: One user reports a mouse sensitivity issue, which can hinder precise control and affect gameplay, especially for aiming or menu navigation.

CRT filter quality poor: The built-in CRT filter is considered worse than what typical SNES emulators offer, disappointing players who value authentic retro visuals.

Recommended for horror fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of survival horror and classic horror genres. Reviewers emphasize its appeal to enthusiasts of retro horror experiences.

Not worth full price: Several reviewers advise against purchasing the game at full price, suggesting it is overpriced for its content. They recommend waiting for a sale or discount before buying.

Recommended for retro enthusiasts: The game is particularly recommended for those who appreciate retro games and can tolerate archaic mechanics. It is seen as a nostalgic trip for connoisseurs of classic titles.

Recommended for Clock Tower fans: Fans of the Clock Tower series are strongly encouraged to purchase the game. It is considered a must-have for long-term fans or those who missed it due to region locks.

Not for modern gamers: The game may not appeal to younger or modern gamers due to its slow gameplay and dated mechanics. It is best suited for those with nostalgic feelings or a tolerance for old-school quirks.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 11.0h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

Clock Tower Rewind has a steep learning curve and slow pacing early on, but players who persist and acclimate to its mechanics find it engaging and addictive.

Friction: slow animations; lack of tutorial and objectives; steep learning curve; unintuitive mechanics; backtracking; pacing issues.

Unlock drivers: getting used to the controls; learning the mechanics; knowing the ins and outs of the game.

Retro Preservationist: Plays the original mode, uses patches to avoid intrusive achievements, and values the historical significance of the release. Motivation: Preserving and experiencing a classic horror game with authenticity, supporting the series' legacy. Stance: sale.

First-Time Newcomer: Plays the Rewind mode, uses QoL features, and follows tips to overcome the learning curve. Motivation: Experiencing a classic horror game with modern conveniences that lower the barrier to entry. Stance: buy.

Achievement Hunter: Grinds for all endings, uses guides, and avoids the overlay by switching to patched versions or waiting for fixes. Motivation: Completing all achievements and endings, but hindered by intrusive UI elements. Stance: no buy.

Steam Deck: The game is generally reported to work on Steam Deck without major issues. One user encountered a launch failure that was resolved by reinstalling the game. No external launchers, anti-cheat problems, or unreadable UI were mentioned.

External guides: The primary complaints center on the need for external guidance to uncover hidden mechanics and endings, compounded by a language barrier in the in-game guide, and a critical alt-tab bug that breaks text readability. These issues create a moderate dependency on external data for learning and navigation.

Port of 1995 SNES original: The game is a port of Clock Tower: The First Fear from 1995 on SNES, originally a Japan-exclusive Super Famicom title. It is a re-release of the first game in the Clock Tower series.

Remaster with extras: The game is a remaster of the 1995 horror classic, including extras like motion comics, a music player, artbook, soundtrack, and an interview with Hifumi Kono. It is a restored classic with additional content.

First official western release: The game is the first official release of Clock Tower outside Japan, with an English translation and distribution in the west. This is significant for players who never experienced the original on SNES or PS1.

Inspired by Dario Argento films: The game is inspired by Italian Giallo cinema, specifically Dario Argento's films Phenomena and Suspiria. The plot and characters are strongly influenced by these horror movies.

Short game length: The game is short, taking about 3-9 hours to complete, with 4-8 hours typical for first-time players. It is not very long even when aiming for 100% completion.