I bet you’re sooo happy, because I am. I hope it sells extremely well on limited run games, I hope they rerelease the other ones too for modern consoles.
@@FumblsTheSniper It’s so clearly a 2000s game and I think that leads people not to take it seriously. People don’t really appreciate cheesy campy games anymore.
A good example of how amazing sprite graphics truly are. The original game looks absolutely gorgeous even to this day while both the sequel and Ghosthead came out of that awkward era of early 3D graphics that don’t hold up whatsoever.
Exactly; if anything, retro graphics like in SNES Clock Tower have come back into style in recent years! Yes, neither CT2 nor Ghost Head have aged very nicely, but Ghost Head in particular looked bad even for the time it came out. On top of being a weak game, oof!
@@tangomushi I mean, there is now a retro 3D movement, judging by all those indie horror games trying to emulate the PS1 era. It suggests that early 3D has something that can be done with it, but it often requires a specific kind of stylization.
@@88Factor Silent Hill 1/2-era 3D graphics do work exceptionally well for horror, I admit. Because the monsters look so... not necessarily bad, but yeah... "low fidelity" your imagination fills in the blanks. The monsters looking like weird inhuman blobs definitely added to the horror! Once you move on trying to make actual human beings though (like Clocktower 2 does) it does look just awful though, IMO.
Gotta respect how enemies in Ghost Head, the enemies don't launch themselves through the door like a force of nature, they just Chad stroll right on through like they pay the rent
Clock Tower 3 has this special place in my heart. I checked it out for the first time on a whim while on discord with friends and we all came away from the playthrough with a massive appreciation for the experience. What started with mildly bewildered amusement ended with a genuine love of a new-found favorite. I love that it goes all in on it's ideas and I find everything about it very endearing.
This was the first and only clock tower game I got to play so I had no preset standards. I thought it was great, a lot of the jank we were pretty used to with games at the time so I looked past that and just thoroughly enjoyed the story and design. Playing this at my friend's house is such a core memory for me, I just wish it had been better received so we could have gotten another entry to this franchise.
As a fan of (spectating) the series, I came into this video expecting two things exactly: the F***ING EXTINGUISHER, and that NightCry was named after how it made fans of the games feel about it. I am pleased.
What a shame that Ghost Head was designed so poorly, the story and concept about serial killer alter ego inside of a schoolgirl was such a fascinating concept (and the voice acting omg) but apparently we can't have these nice things that easily 😵 It would be amazing if Clock Tower made a return some day and got officially localized on Steam, I think the game holds up super well to this day and is genuinely scary.
Conceptually, yeah. Clock Tower 1 (the JP version) in particular had a very amazing atmosphere and the graphic holds up even today. Also, the cover art for the game is absolutely phenomenal. But I tried playing it again just recently but I can't help to think how goofy it was, especially with the chase music, lol. Don't get me started on Clock Tower 3, lmao. It has a lot of goofy moment in it. But then again, those goofy moment is definitely parts of its charm.
@@Vandalgia CT3 felt very "anime." i get that they used mocap and an actual film director (Battle Royale), but going from genuine terrifying horror to... that, just didnt gel well. but damn, a part of me also enjoyed it too so idk lol
I remember the original teasers for Remothered back when it was gonna be a remake of Clock Tower, it was all 2D grungy realistic sorties and backgrounds that look so creepy when animated, I wish they stuck with that idea more....
@@matty6878eah, I feel like part of the issue for CT3 is the disconnect between these really visually inventive and energetic motion capture sequences juxtaposed against the dialogue. I do kind of feel like (putting aside the magical girl stuff) it was almost directed as a silent film project, playing to the strengths of the limitations of motion capture and being appropriate for the era the game takes place in, which was then dubbed over. Someone should have a go at editing the cutscenes to remove most of the dialogue and place pertinent information on insert cards and see what happens. I imagine that it might be possible to make something really interesting, especially if they were filtered visually to give them that old-fashioned look. Obviously, the technology of the time probably couldn't do anything that wild with the camera movement but it's kind of like there were several creative visions butting up against each other that weren't compatible. That being said, it's a beautiful mess and I'm happy with the way they did it, even if it's not traditionally 'good' and derives a lot of its appeal from just how camp and bizarre it is.
@@residentevilclone honestly I stand by my comment man, I love clock tower, I loved haunting grounds. and I love remothered as it filled the gap that games like nightcry couldn't, I guess we've sort of got the dark picture games as the clock tower style horror game but just doesn't feel the same
I think the bizarre Jennifer/Nolan relationship is not even a product of the devs being creepy, but more the trend of making so many protagonists teens for no conceivable reason. It's less of a thing nowadays, at least in games, but it used to be extremely common for characters to be ridiculously young yet never look or act their age. The creators just forget that it's written somewhere they aren't 20+, since they never act like actual teens. Or, well, yeah, it may just be ridiculously questionable writing, can't deny that
Something else you can't forget is the first two games draw heavily from 70s Italian horror movies, with many things pulled straight out of Argento's movie Phenomena. Weird teen girls and studious 20-something-year-old men "relationship" stuff is not a focus of the film but it's straight out of one of those movies tbh. I'm pretty sure that's what they were going for because even then it wasn't a "thing" to just make a plot line like that. (so what I'm saying is yes it's weird and they knew it was weird and there you go)
@@Komix777 That is and isn't true. The so-called national sex age of consent law is 13, but the Child Welfare Act (and individual prefecture laws among others) prohibit sex with minors. It varies across the country between ages 16/18 much like the USA. These days the original law is only really invoked to cover high schoolers so they don't get in trouble with the law if they're caught fooling around. (tho even then there's legal limits within range!) So why was the original law 13 in the first place? It was passed many years ago when the major age of life expectancy was 50. It never left the books, hence other laws rightfully taking its place. As for the video game which features a brutal murderer inspired by Italian horror films, it's obvious everything in the game is supposed to be fucked-up as a virtue of what inspired it. The more you know!
Not saying people have to be gung-ho for that sort of relationship now, especially because we know how it's unethical, but adult men courting teenage girls is a historical norm even up until the 1900s. Being bothered by those relationships is understandable, but the obligatory virtue-signaling disgust attitude surrounding it feels really weary to me.
This game would have looked like a painting on CRT TV's, people forget that we got really good at making the most of the resources we had at the time. It's a real shame because it's impressive what a lot of developers pulled off in the 80's and early 90's.
Actually. Those creepy events like the floating puppet and the bleeding painting in Clock Tower: the First Fear actually have a reason for why they happened. Dan has these demonic powers that he uses from a distance to “play with” and torment Jennifer.
Don't know if anyone pointed this out but when it comes to clock tower 3, you were spot on with the theatrics. The Mocap work even included wirework stunts for actions and scenes that normally would just be hand animated to look more natural.
I really love the novel about the story of Jennifer's second adventure with Helen. The symbolism, the interactive aspect, the characters' personalities and twisted urges and secrets... Ah ! The insanity just lurking below !
My best friend growing up was subscribed to the PlayStation Underground so he would get sent RANDOM DEMOS from various publishers. This was a HUGE BOON into what made us such a big fan of the original PlayStation as it allowed us to discover all types of great games through the incredible multitude of demos. Ace Combat 2, Final Fantasy VII, Einhander, Tomba, Bushido Blade, Felony 11-79, and finally, Clock Tower, were some of the games we got to try among the huge variety of demos he would receive. Anyway, Clock Tower on the PS1 was the FIRST GAME that I distinctly remember experiencing a jump scare in (it MIGHT’VE been the original Resident Evil or some spooky game on PC like The 7th Guest instead but Clock Tower’s the one that has stuck out in my memory for some reason).
New watcher here….I was obsessed with this game and as a game developer, I want to make the perfect spiritual successor to Clock Tower. And mark my words, I will do it
I find it very peculiar that the main protagonists in Clock Tower 2 & 3 both have the name Alyssa. I seem to recall my favorite horror series ever called Silent Hill where the series begins and revolves around a young girl named Alessa!!! Is it intentional or coincidence that these names are so similar that they are almost the same with only one letter difference???
@@fpedrosa2076 I thought the first guy was pretty brutal, when you see the sledgehammer swinging at you (as the little girl) in first person (IIRC) and then the camera cuts to her flying through the door an laying dead on the stairs with blood all over.
thanks so much for this comprehensive take! really surprised to see Kinji Fukasaku involved in CT3 but the way the "camera" leapt around in those cutscenes was just phenomenal and felt very him
I played Clock Tower 3 as a teenager and had a great time with it! It's one of my favourite games of all time! It just had such a great charm and such unique gameplay. I replayed it a few years ago and it still holds up! That final boss can go die in a fire, though. Lol.
The First Fear is what introduced me to Dario Argento's giallo movies: Phenomena (1985) & Suspiria (1977). Oh also, i got my first 1980's crush Jennifer Connelly.
Nostalgia overdose! I have a very strong memory of purchasing the first clock tower game. I played it in my loft apartment on a very rainy day and it was a wonderful experience I shall never forget.
Interesting thing about Ghost Head is that many Human Entertainment developers went on to form Spike, which handles Fire Pro Wrestling to this day and also have made Danganronpa, where there's scissors-wielding serial killer known as Genocider Syo... Which is Bates's Japanese name in Ghost Head.
was literally thinking fondly of deadly premonition when you were talking about enjoying the campy horror style of clocktower 3 and then got jumpscared by life is beautiful at the end LOLOL (great video by the way, super excited for more horror game content!!)
I enjoyed this a lot. Looks like it's a bit of a different format but it's a style I particularly like (obviously haha). Clock Tower 3 in particular looks really cool and it's interesting that Suigmura was involved in it as he has his hands in all sorts of strange little projects throughout early 2000s Capcom! Definitely would love to see more of these in the future!
THANK YOU. Clock Tower is my favorite game franchise and it hurts so much that people forget about it and that the series is dead.. is good to see it again on discussions
Came here from Super Eyepatch Wolf's recommendation of your content in his "My Favourite Things Summer 2023" vid :) I recognized the name Clocktower and was interested in seeing a video about the game, but this delivered far more than I ever could've expected. So glad I stuck around till the end, it was a seriously fun ride! Hope you're having a nice day :D
Bit of a correction about the sigil stone The sigil stone only activated when Alyssa is in panic mode thus saving her from death it doesn’t prevent damage it specifically prevents death
I always thought Suspiria would translate well into a video game with just a few minor tweaks to the plot, but I never would have guessed it was an inspiration for Clock Tower. If I squint, I guess I can see the influence... but where's the architecture evocative of optical illusions? Where's the peacocks and floral vines motif? The technicolor lights? Hell, even the Clock Tower theme is more reminiscent of Halloween than the Suspiria theme. The Frieberg Academy was a setting unlike anywhere else. So gorgeous you almost don't care about the danger lurking. It's a huge part of what made Suspiria stand out from other horror. This creepy mansion is just... fine I guess.
I'm loving your videos, in binging them right now, they're so well researched. As a kid growing in Mexico, Ghosthead ,with RE, was my introduction to horror in games. I watched my older sister play, no one knew what was happening (we didn't speak English) and we never saw what was after that first scenario. With all those factors in mind, that game terrified me as a kid. I like this franchise a lot and has great music.
Clock Tower (2) on Playstation was an amazing game! I remember playing it at night as a young teen getting jumpscared every time Scissorman popped out or murdered someone right in front of me. It has a special in my heart! I wish i could find it again to buy. I unfortunately sold all my PS1 games while i was broke in college. But, I shall always love my adventure fighting the Scissorman across Europe.
I didn't even know this same company who did the Clock Tower games also did that obscure Gilligan's Island game. Dad was a fan of the show and had me rent the game. It's kind of a strange game back when I played it as a kid and never knew Clock Tower and Gilligan's Island had a connection 'til now. And also...27:40 what?! Mojo Jojo's voice actor does Bates here AND he's behind the Ghost Face voice from Scream?! Wow.
Okay... minor point in the struggle within.. the Japanese version takes place in Osaka, but the English takes place in California. Based off what the detective said (Monterey police force) this is more central (though most people would say north even if it near San Francisco)... Monterey Bay is the same place finding dory takes place... while San fan does have a large Chinese town, it would make more sense to put the game in Los Angeles (actual southern CA) were Little tokoyo is located that has japanese characters all over Or just put it back to osaka
I was about to say, "wasn't it in Morro Bay...?" But turns out that while there is a Morro Bay, California irl, the institute in Finding Dory is based partly on an aquarium in Monterey Bay, like you said
The element of reuinting spirits with lost items to aid them in their journey to the afterlife, remjnds me of the series Echonight. Love your content, i just subscribed and cant wait to support your content more and more ♥️
I'm really digging Clock Tower 3 presentation! The theatrical dialogue and the way the characters are animated is very charming! 30:53 I will never forget Ghost Head's clunkiness from the Retsupurae riffing videos from years ago! OH GOD! Now I understand why the let's player was constantly backtracking!
It felt uncanny in a bad way imo, the way characters start exaggeratedly run away and scramble their arms takes away all the horror and makes it look like an unintentional slapstick comedy, plus Alyssa and Dennis feel like Hermione and Ron ripoffs 😂
And here I thought they named her "Alyssa" because it sounded close to "Alessa" and "Alexia" to try and bring home some of those Silent Hill and Resident Evil vibes xD
All of the adults in Clock Tower 2 are creeps. It's actually a theme. I don't know about Gotts and Helen certainly isn't but even Edward's caretaker, I forget her name, is canoncially a creep herself. Edward even uses his power of corruption to warp people into being creepers.
Gotts is a solid dude who respects Helen's bravery and way of doing things, and is very humble with his profession. He can't even take alcohol very well, he'll trip down the stairs in a Scissorman encounter if he drinks
@@matty6878 Apparently so, cause when you do it disrupts your panic event when you run down the stairs, he falls down them and you have to button mash to avoid an insta-kill, otherwise i think it plays normally and you just run down the stairs
Wow those scenes in Clocktower 3 look incredible! I'm actually amazed they managed to get the character models so animated and lively like that, which isn't even guaranteed these days.
I found your channel while I was looking for Clock Tower retrospectives. I've gotta say, your videos are really well made and interesting! Keep up the good work!
Fantastic video, thanks for making it! Clock Tower on the SNES (via fan translation) was the first proper horror game I ever played and I always wanted to check out the rest of the series. I had no idea Ghost Head was such a stinker, but CT3 looks like an absolute delight.
What a wonderful video! I didn't even know there was a CT II other than The Struggle Within. I'm starting to watch your videos during my break time at work :) Great job!!
Just discovered your channel! In a strange way, one idea that I would love Clock Tower to return as is the same point and click style but in the form of a Telltale game!
Got some of those games and clock tower 3 is one of my fun faves. Love your voice, your narrative, personality and fun factor! You are such a natural doing these kind of videos, can't wait for more! Amazing job! 🌹
Cheers for making this video! I feel that Clock Tower deserves more attention for the good it brought, especially the first game. It truly is rather obscure, as I didn’t hear about it until last year when SNESDrunk mentioned it. Thanks to Clock Tower Deluxe, I was able to enjoy it this year, and it certainly delivered with fantastic atmosphere, music, and buildup.
Seeing that kid flail around rolling on the bed while being chased by Alyssa and speaking in a clean, distinct, and calm British accent is so funny. Crazy cutscene. Like flying around the room and saying “oh by the by your mother asked me to give you this key” in a proper British accent is so fucking funny
OMG someone batting for the defense of Clocktower 3's vibes is a breath of fresh air! I think one of the strengths of the original is leaning on on a super-stylized, Dario Argento kind of aesthetic for the game. While CT3 doesn't literally do that, I love its commitment to having its own over-the-top style. I think after CT2 and Ghost Head, it was really important for have a voice beyond a generic "survival horror video game" kind of vibe. While not scary like CT1, it keeps the same gonzo "expect the unexpected" feeling that reminds me of the creativity the first game had.
Out of nowhere it just popped into my head "wtf happened to the clock tower franchise?" And I'm so glad I found this video, I'm totally subscribing and keeping an eye out for more videos, just loved it
If anyone is wondering the music and sound effects are different in the ps1 port same with the fog in the bathroom. Also the Dan cutscene wasn’t in the original game it was added later for consistency. I believe there was a video that detailed these differences.
I'm so glad I am not the only one who struggled within the confines of Clock Tower: Ghost Head (see what I did there? ;) ) I have reviewed all three Human Entertainment Clock Tower games on my channel, and by far Ghost Head was the worst of the bunch! I cannot even begin to tell you how frustrated the game made me, and not even sure how I managed to get through it (oh wait - I didn't. After getting a few of the endings, and having the samurai armour fall on me THAT FAR INTO THE GAME AND BEING A DEAD END, I gave up.) Anyway, if you want a laugh, the review I did of Ghost Head always makes me laugh when I revisit it. But this isn't about me - it's about how I am sad that I have gotten through all of your amazing content. I can't wait to see more stuff from you in the future!
Really great video! For once youtube recommendation wasn’t just bad but straight up diamond! You have a lovely, soothing voice and great and objective way to view things! Great job, keep it up!
Came across your channel while looking for content about Haunting Ground and I just spent almost an hour watching your video about Clock Tower (which made me really want to play especially 1 and 3, thank you very much). Congrats for the excellent video! I'll definitely watch more of your content. Cheers!
TANGO I FORGOT TO COMMENT WHEN I WATCHED IT! But I watched it again, and you did an incredible job on everything! Loved it, can't wait for more Tango content on YT!
Oh NightCry wasn't in this video (outside of being mentioned in the end) but this was still enjoyable from start to finish. The Ghosthead segment made me chuckle quite a few times
I had a lot to say about NightCry and so covered it separately from Clock Tower haha! NightCry's vid is up now and I'm currently working on Haunting Ground thank you for watching!!!
Recently discovered your channel, and been loving the horror game reviews! Gotta say I loved NitroRad's reviews of these older horror games that went to become cult classics, and seeing someone else talk about them is quite refreshing.
I can't think of Clock Tower 3 without thinking: DENNIS. Haven't played the game in over a decade and that bastard haunts me. (Great video, BTW. Now I'm glad Ghost Head is the only game I never managed to play.)
42:00 I know almost nothing about this game, but I love these two already. They look like such fun main characters to play! And in a horror game too??? Wow! Thank you for the video!
I loved this video!! I played clock tower 3 when I was young and absolutely loved it, and have played it thru several times since then. Its so interesting and goofy. Have you seen how Alyssa has new outfits when you finish it? Overall, It’s super cool to see how the franchise has changed since it started. You remind me so much of myself and hanks for an awesome video ❤️
Some fun little facts:the additions In the PS1 version were cut content In the original SNES versionl, and the scene of Dan rising out of Dan was added to create a tie In for the sequel. These also exist In the PC port.
I have never gone past chapter one in Clock Tower Ghost Face. I don't know if it is possible for someone who has never played it in the era before internet to understand how frustrating those traps are. You can die from ghost dishes if you open a kitchen cabinet. It made me laugh a lot because it is very dumb, but after a while it was just frustrating.
CLOCK TOWER: THE FIRST FEAR IS FINALLY GETTING RELEASED IN THE WEST ALMOST 30 YEARS LATER AHHHHHHHHHHH
I bet you’re sooo happy, because I am. I hope it sells extremely well on limited run games, I hope they rerelease the other ones too for modern consoles.
This is literally the best new years gift of 2024, Im absolutely gonna buy a copy when it comes out
Dreams really do come true guys. We just gotta believe
crazy!
I so hope the remake gets popular and there might even be a new game. Really excited
As a silent hill fan I forget there’s fans of a horror series who has suffered more.
Fatal frame got put in limbo for years as well. Dino Crisis and Onimusha are both afterthoughts.
Obscure, despite a very solid attempt not to, feel into complete obscurity. I could only find one let’s play of it on TH-cam until 2016-2017.
@@FumblsTheSniper It’s so clearly a 2000s game and I think that leads people not to take it seriously. People don’t really appreciate cheesy campy games anymore.
@@A_TH-cam_Commenter at least fatal frame is getting remasters
Ever heard of Galerians?
A good example of how amazing sprite graphics truly are. The original game looks absolutely gorgeous even to this day while both the sequel and Ghosthead came out of that awkward era of early 3D graphics that don’t hold up whatsoever.
Exactly; if anything, retro graphics like in SNES Clock Tower have come back into style in recent years! Yes, neither CT2 nor Ghost Head have aged very nicely, but Ghost Head in particular looked bad even for the time it came out. On top of being a weak game, oof!
@@tangomushi I mean, there is now a retro 3D movement, judging by all those indie horror games trying to emulate the PS1 era. It suggests that early 3D has something that can be done with it, but it often requires a specific kind of stylization.
@@88Factor Silent Hill 1/2-era 3D graphics do work exceptionally well for horror, I admit. Because the monsters look so... not necessarily bad, but yeah... "low fidelity" your imagination fills in the blanks. The monsters looking like weird inhuman blobs definitely added to the horror! Once you move on trying to make actual human beings though (like Clocktower 2 does) it does look just awful though, IMO.
And now this game will have a relaunch!
I really miss prerenderized backgrounds =(
Gotta respect how enemies in Ghost Head, the enemies don't launch themselves through the door like a force of nature, they just Chad stroll right on through like they pay the rent
Bates' voice acting really is brilliant. Ghostface is the perfect evil inner voice for a teen girl.
Clock Tower 3 has this special place in my heart. I checked it out for the first time on a whim while on discord with friends and we all came away from the playthrough with a massive appreciation for the experience. What started with mildly bewildered amusement ended with a genuine love of a new-found favorite. I love that it goes all in on it's ideas and I find everything about it very endearing.
This was the first and only clock tower game I got to play so I had no preset standards. I thought it was great, a lot of the jank we were pretty used to with games at the time so I looked past that and just thoroughly enjoyed the story and design. Playing this at my friend's house is such a core memory for me, I just wish it had been better received so we could have gotten another entry to this franchise.
As a fan of (spectating) the series, I came into this video expecting two things exactly: the F***ING EXTINGUISHER, and that NightCry was named after how it made fans of the games feel about it. I am pleased.
You're so right. I can never look at a fire extinguisher the same ever again in my life. Agony
i came expecting the medieval armor set ending and i was not disappointed :)
What a shame that Ghost Head was designed so poorly, the story and concept about serial killer alter ego inside of a schoolgirl was such a fascinating concept (and the voice acting omg) but apparently we can't have these nice things that easily 😵 It would be amazing if Clock Tower made a return some day and got officially localized on Steam, I think the game holds up super well to this day and is genuinely scary.
Conceptually, yeah. Clock Tower 1 (the JP version) in particular had a very amazing atmosphere and the graphic holds up even today. Also, the cover art for the game is absolutely phenomenal.
But I tried playing it again just recently but I can't help to think how goofy it was, especially with the chase music, lol.
Don't get me started on Clock Tower 3, lmao. It has a lot of goofy moment in it. But then again, those goofy moment is definitely parts of its charm.
@@Vandalgia CT3 felt very "anime." i get that they used mocap and an actual film director (Battle Royale), but going from genuine terrifying horror to... that, just didnt gel well. but damn, a part of me also enjoyed it too so idk lol
I remember the original teasers for Remothered back when it was gonna be a remake of Clock Tower, it was all 2D grungy realistic sorties and backgrounds that look so creepy when animated, I wish they stuck with that idea more....
Reminds me of Danganronpa
@@matty6878eah, I feel like part of the issue for CT3 is the disconnect between these really visually inventive and energetic motion capture sequences juxtaposed against the dialogue.
I do kind of feel like (putting aside the magical girl stuff) it was almost directed as a silent film project, playing to the strengths of the limitations of motion capture and being appropriate for the era the game takes place in, which was then dubbed over.
Someone should have a go at editing the cutscenes to remove most of the dialogue and place pertinent information on insert cards and see what happens. I imagine that it might be possible to make something really interesting, especially if they were filtered visually to give them that old-fashioned look.
Obviously, the technology of the time probably couldn't do anything that wild with the camera movement but it's kind of like there were several creative visions butting up against each other that weren't compatible.
That being said, it's a beautiful mess and I'm happy with the way they did it, even if it's not traditionally 'good' and derives a lot of its appeal from just how camp and bizarre it is.
OK, but the lines:
"you're tough"
"(giggle) no, you're just weak"
always crack me up
the only clock tower spin off ill accept is haunting ground
Preach! Really looking forward to deep diving into that one. But first... NightCry. Pray for me. 😅 Thank you for watching!!!
Remothered is a good successor though
@@leo3prosPRODUCTIONS2 💀
YAS do Haunting Ground!
@@residentevilclone honestly I stand by my comment man, I love clock tower, I loved haunting grounds. and I love remothered as it filled the gap that games like nightcry couldn't, I guess we've sort of got the dark picture games as the clock tower style horror game but just doesn't feel the same
I think the bizarre Jennifer/Nolan relationship is not even a product of the devs being creepy, but more the trend of making so many protagonists teens for no conceivable reason. It's less of a thing nowadays, at least in games, but it used to be extremely common for characters to be ridiculously young yet never look or act their age. The creators just forget that it's written somewhere they aren't 20+, since they never act like actual teens. Or, well, yeah, it may just be ridiculously questionable writing, can't deny that
Something else you can't forget is the first two games draw heavily from 70s Italian horror movies, with many things pulled straight out of Argento's movie Phenomena. Weird teen girls and studious 20-something-year-old men "relationship" stuff is not a focus of the film but it's straight out of one of those movies tbh. I'm pretty sure that's what they were going for because even then it wasn't a "thing" to just make a plot line like that. (so what I'm saying is yes it's weird and they knew it was weird and there you go)
Meh, moral hypocrisy, this stuff happens all the time...
@@Komix777 That is and isn't true. The so-called national sex age of consent law is 13, but the Child Welfare Act (and individual prefecture laws among others) prohibit sex with minors. It varies across the country between ages 16/18 much like the USA. These days the original law is only really invoked to cover high schoolers so they don't get in trouble with the law if they're caught fooling around. (tho even then there's legal limits within range!) So why was the original law 13 in the first place? It was passed many years ago when the major age of life expectancy was 50. It never left the books, hence other laws rightfully taking its place. As for the video game which features a brutal murderer inspired by Italian horror films, it's obvious everything in the game is supposed to be fucked-up as a virtue of what inspired it. The more you know!
What makes things worse is they went the route of Corpse Party before that was a thing...
Not saying people have to be gung-ho for that sort of relationship now, especially because we know how it's unethical, but adult men courting teenage girls is a historical norm even up until the 1900s. Being bothered by those relationships is understandable, but the obligatory virtue-signaling disgust attitude surrounding it feels really weary to me.
This game would have looked like a painting on CRT TV's, people forget that we got really good at making the most of the resources we had at the time. It's a real shame because it's impressive what a lot of developers pulled off in the 80's and early 90's.
Actually. Those creepy events like the floating puppet and the bleeding painting in Clock Tower: the First Fear actually have a reason for why they happened. Dan has these demonic powers that he uses from a distance to “play with” and torment Jennifer.
Mad respect to clock tower for straight up putting Jennifer Connelly in the game haha. Great video!
Don't know if anyone pointed this out but when it comes to clock tower 3, you were spot on with the theatrics. The Mocap work even included wirework stunts for actions and scenes that normally would just be hand animated to look more natural.
I really love the novel about the story of Jennifer's second adventure with Helen. The symbolism, the interactive aspect, the characters' personalities and twisted urges and secrets... Ah ! The insanity just lurking below !
My best friend growing up was subscribed to the PlayStation Underground so he would get sent RANDOM DEMOS from various publishers. This was a HUGE BOON into what made us such a big fan of the original PlayStation as it allowed us to discover all types of great games through the incredible multitude of demos.
Ace Combat 2, Final Fantasy VII, Einhander, Tomba, Bushido Blade, Felony 11-79, and finally, Clock Tower, were some of the games we got to try among the huge variety of demos he would receive.
Anyway, Clock Tower on the PS1 was the FIRST GAME that I distinctly remember experiencing a jump scare in (it MIGHT’VE been the original Resident Evil or some spooky game on PC like The 7th Guest instead but Clock Tower’s the one that has stuck out in my memory for some reason).
New watcher here….I was obsessed with this game and as a game developer, I want to make the perfect spiritual successor to Clock Tower. And mark my words, I will do it
So Nightcry but good?
I'd love a good remake of Ghosthead
Period
how is it going
@@Purple_Sloth I actually am designing a separate horror game right now…the clock tower reboot would be like my dream project…
I find it very peculiar that the main protagonists in Clock Tower 2 & 3 both have the name Alyssa. I seem to recall my favorite horror series ever called Silent Hill where the series begins and revolves around a young girl named Alessa!!!
Is it intentional or coincidence that these names are so similar that they are almost the same with only one letter difference???
When I first played CT3, what I was struck most with was how brutal the subordinates were in their murder cutscenes, at least the first 2.
I remember the acid killer being really harsh. It was still over the top like everything else, but still managed to be creepy.
@@fpedrosa2076 I thought the first guy was pretty brutal, when you see the sledgehammer swinging at you (as the little girl) in first person (IIRC) and then the camera cuts to her flying through the door an laying dead on the stairs with blood all over.
thanks so much for this comprehensive take! really surprised to see Kinji Fukasaku involved in CT3 but the way the "camera" leapt around in those cutscenes was just phenomenal and felt very him
Right? His personality really shines through in the cutscenes. Rest in peace ❤️
I played Clock Tower 3 as a teenager and had a great time with it! It's one of my favourite games of all time! It just had such a great charm and such unique gameplay. I replayed it a few years ago and it still holds up! That final boss can go die in a fire, though. Lol.
Thanks for this. A chilled retrospective of a series I've been fascinated with but yet to dive in.
Boy literally dressed like scissorman: "gee whiz guess I escaped the tragedy too!" 🤦♀️
The First Fear is what introduced me to Dario Argento's giallo movies: Phenomena (1985) & Suspiria (1977). Oh also, i got my first 1980's crush Jennifer Connelly.
Nostalgia overdose! I have a very strong memory of purchasing the first clock tower game. I played it in my loft apartment on a very rainy day and it was a wonderful experience I shall never forget.
Interesting thing about Ghost Head is that many Human Entertainment developers went on to form Spike, which handles Fire Pro Wrestling to this day and also have made Danganronpa, where there's scissors-wielding serial killer known as Genocider Syo... Which is Bates's Japanese name in Ghost Head.
was literally thinking fondly of deadly premonition when you were talking about enjoying the campy horror style of clocktower 3 and then got jumpscared by life is beautiful at the end LOLOL (great video by the way, super excited for more horror game content!!)
Hahaha hell yes!! More Deadly Premonition fans, let's go!! Thank you so much!
I enjoyed this a lot. Looks like it's a bit of a different format but it's a style I particularly like (obviously haha). Clock Tower 3 in particular looks really cool and it's interesting that Suigmura was involved in it as he has his hands in all sorts of strange little projects throughout early 2000s Capcom!
Definitely would love to see more of these in the future!
THANK YOU. Clock Tower is my favorite game franchise and it hurts so much that people forget about it and that the series is dead.. is good to see it again on discussions
Came here from Super Eyepatch Wolf's recommendation of your content in his "My Favourite Things Summer 2023" vid :) I recognized the name Clocktower and was interested in seeing a video about the game, but this delivered far more than I ever could've expected. So glad I stuck around till the end, it was a seriously fun ride! Hope you're having a nice day :D
Bit of a correction about the sigil stone
The sigil stone only activated when Alyssa is in panic mode thus saving her from death it doesn’t prevent damage it specifically prevents death
I always thought Suspiria would translate well into a video game with just a few minor tweaks to the plot, but I never would have guessed it was an inspiration for Clock Tower. If I squint, I guess I can see the influence... but where's the architecture evocative of optical illusions? Where's the peacocks and floral vines motif? The technicolor lights? Hell, even the Clock Tower theme is more reminiscent of Halloween than the Suspiria theme.
The Frieberg Academy was a setting unlike anywhere else. So gorgeous you almost don't care about the danger lurking. It's a huge part of what made Suspiria stand out from other horror. This creepy mansion is just... fine I guess.
Clock Tower has "Alyssa" and Silent Hill has "Alessa?"
I'm loving your videos, in binging them right now, they're so well researched. As a kid growing in Mexico, Ghosthead ,with RE, was my introduction to horror in games. I watched my older sister play, no one knew what was happening (we didn't speak English) and we never saw what was after that first scenario. With all those factors in mind, that game terrified me as a kid. I like this franchise a lot and has great music.
Clock Tower (2) on Playstation was an amazing game! I remember playing it at night as a young teen getting jumpscared every time Scissorman popped out or murdered someone right in front of me. It has a special in my heart! I wish i could find it again to buy. I unfortunately sold all my PS1 games while i was broke in college. But, I shall always love my adventure fighting the Scissorman across Europe.
I didn't even know this same company who did the Clock Tower games also did that obscure Gilligan's Island game. Dad was a fan of the show and had me rent the game. It's kind of a strange game back when I played it as a kid and never knew Clock Tower and Gilligan's Island had a connection 'til now. And also...27:40 what?! Mojo Jojo's voice actor does Bates here AND he's behind the Ghost Face voice from Scream?! Wow.
The announcement of "Clock Tower: Rewind" brought me. I look forward to play this game for the first time
Okay... minor point in the struggle within.. the Japanese version takes place in Osaka, but the English takes place in California. Based off what the detective said (Monterey police force) this is more central (though most people would say north even if it near San Francisco)... Monterey Bay is the same place finding dory takes place... while San fan does have a large Chinese town, it would make more sense to put the game in Los Angeles (actual southern CA) were Little tokoyo is located that has japanese characters all over
Or just put it back to osaka
I was about to say, "wasn't it in Morro Bay...?"
But turns out that while there is a Morro Bay, California irl, the institute in Finding Dory is based partly on an aquarium in Monterey Bay, like you said
The element of reuinting spirits with lost items to aid them in their journey to the afterlife, remjnds me of the series Echonight. Love your content, i just subscribed and cant wait to support your content more and more ♥️
Clock tower one for me is the best. The atmosphere is so beautiful. The 2D was so well done.
I'm really digging Clock Tower 3 presentation!
The theatrical dialogue and the way the characters are animated is very charming!
30:53 I will never forget Ghost Head's clunkiness from the Retsupurae riffing videos from years ago!
OH GOD! Now I understand why the let's player was constantly backtracking!
In Clock tower 3 they were copying the game EchoNight with the concept of help ghosts and time travel.
It felt uncanny in a bad way imo, the way characters start exaggeratedly run away and scramble their arms takes away all the horror and makes it look like an unintentional slapstick comedy, plus Alyssa and Dennis feel like Hermione and Ron ripoffs 😂
And here I thought they named her "Alyssa" because it sounded close to "Alessa" and "Alexia" to try and bring home some of those Silent Hill and Resident Evil vibes xD
Wow this is such a great retrospective, both fun and in-depth! Thank you so much!
All of the adults in Clock Tower 2 are creeps. It's actually a theme. I don't know about Gotts and Helen certainly isn't but even Edward's caretaker, I forget her name, is canoncially a creep herself. Edward even uses his power of corruption to warp people into being creepers.
Gotts is a solid dude who respects Helen's bravery and way of doing things, and is very humble with his profession. He can't even take alcohol very well, he'll trip down the stairs in a Scissorman encounter if he drinks
@@lowhp_comic wait gotts can drink in the game? was that at the old dude's house? i swear i never encountered that part.
@@matty6878 Apparently so, cause when you do it disrupts your panic event when you run down the stairs, he falls down them and you have to button mash to avoid an insta-kill, otherwise i think it plays normally and you just run down the stairs
@@lowhp_comic oh ok, i think i remember that part. thats a pretty cool detail.
Wonderful retrospective! Great pacing, editing, music choice, all around a great video :D
Thank you so much 😭
Wow those scenes in Clocktower 3 look incredible! I'm actually amazed they managed to get the character models so animated and lively like that, which isn't even guaranteed these days.
I found your channel while I was looking for Clock Tower retrospectives. I've gotta say, your videos are really well made and interesting! Keep up the good work!
Fantastic video, thanks for making it! Clock Tower on the SNES (via fan translation) was the first proper horror game I ever played and I always wanted to check out the rest of the series. I had no idea Ghost Head was such a stinker, but CT3 looks like an absolute delight.
What a wonderful video! I didn't even know there was a CT II other than The Struggle Within. I'm starting to watch your videos during my break time at work :)
Great job!!
Just discovered your channel!
In a strange way, one idea that I would love Clock Tower to return as is the same point and click style but in the form of a Telltale game!
I got soft locked in The Struggle Within in the third chapter because I wasn't Bates at the right time during chapter 2.
Got some of those games and clock tower 3 is one of my fun faves. Love your voice, your narrative, personality and fun factor! You are such a natural doing these kind of videos, can't wait for more! Amazing job! 🌹
One of the best TH-cam posts I have ever seen. So good I watched Phenomena immediately. You have a true gift. You are a genius.
"Some of them are good, and some of them are... NightCry." - This is factually correct, and you should say it. (Great vid overall)
Damn your choice of music in this video is awesome, I love the Code Veronica Residental building.
that "you're just weak" scene made me guffaw
Cheers for making this video! I feel that Clock Tower deserves more attention for the good it brought, especially the first game. It truly is rather obscure, as I didn’t hear about it until last year when SNESDrunk mentioned it. Thanks to Clock Tower Deluxe, I was able to enjoy it this year, and it certainly delivered with fantastic atmosphere, music, and buildup.
I'm sorry, I grew up with Clock Tower (2) and as a kid I *always* thought Jennifer was 21 and over.
SHE'S *HOW* OLD AGAIN!? 15?! WHAT EVEN THE FUCK
She would not be in an orphanage if she was 21, so it makes sense she is still a teenager given where she is.
Seeing that kid flail around rolling on the bed while being chased by Alyssa and speaking in a clean, distinct, and calm British accent is so funny. Crazy cutscene. Like flying around the room and saying “oh by the by your mother asked me to give you this key” in a proper British accent is so fucking funny
OMG someone batting for the defense of Clocktower 3's vibes is a breath of fresh air!
I think one of the strengths of the original is leaning on on a super-stylized, Dario Argento kind of aesthetic for the game. While CT3 doesn't literally do that, I love its commitment to having its own over-the-top style. I think after CT2 and Ghost Head, it was really important for have a voice beyond a generic "survival horror video game" kind of vibe. While not scary like CT1, it keeps the same gonzo "expect the unexpected" feeling that reminds me of the creativity the first game had.
I don't know how I found your channel but I am hyped that I did!
I found this video while looking for haunting ground content. Amazing work thank you for a stellar video keep it up. Also nice accent
Out of nowhere it just popped into my head "wtf happened to the clock tower franchise?" And I'm so glad I found this video, I'm totally subscribing and keeping an eye out for more videos, just loved it
If anyone is wondering the music and sound effects are different in the ps1 port same with the fog in the bathroom.
Also the Dan cutscene wasn’t in the original game it was added later for consistency.
I believe there was a video that detailed these differences.
Wait this was 1 year ago.
Yes I didn’t comment 1 year ago.
Cant wait to see what you think of the remake
Bro I found your vids on accident and now I don't ever wanna leave again. *subs*
the way i got so happy when i heard resident evil code veronica music at 6:48
I'm so glad I am not the only one who struggled within the confines of Clock Tower: Ghost Head (see what I did there? ;) )
I have reviewed all three Human Entertainment Clock Tower games on my channel, and by far Ghost Head was the worst of the bunch! I cannot even begin to tell you how frustrated the game made me, and not even sure how I managed to get through it (oh wait - I didn't. After getting a few of the endings, and having the samurai armour fall on me THAT FAR INTO THE GAME AND BEING A DEAD END, I gave up.) Anyway, if you want a laugh, the review I did of Ghost Head always makes me laugh when I revisit it.
But this isn't about me - it's about how I am sad that I have gotten through all of your amazing content. I can't wait to see more stuff from you in the future!
Really great video! For once youtube recommendation wasn’t just bad but straight up diamond! You have a lovely, soothing voice and great and objective way to view things! Great job, keep it up!
Came across your channel while looking for content about Haunting Ground and I just spent almost an hour watching your video about Clock Tower (which made me really want to play especially 1 and 3, thank you very much). Congrats for the excellent video! I'll definitely watch more of your content. Cheers!
TANGO I FORGOT TO COMMENT WHEN I WATCHED IT! But I watched it again, and you did an incredible job on everything! Loved it, can't wait for more Tango content on YT!
I’ll never get over the Acid guy, I love him so fucking much.
Yeah I'm subscribing. Glad to see Clocktower still gets talked about.
Oh NightCry wasn't in this video (outside of being mentioned in the end) but this was still enjoyable from start to finish. The Ghosthead segment made me chuckle quite a few times
I had a lot to say about NightCry and so covered it separately from Clock Tower haha! NightCry's vid is up now and I'm currently working on Haunting Ground thank you for watching!!!
Your channel was everything I never knew I needed ❤ video essays about video games?? About horror games?? Amazing. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for playing Ghost Head so we don't have to! xD Great video, it was a treat to watch while working on assignments!
And we are back with Clock Tower Rewind. Probably the closest thing we'll ever get for a Clock Tower Remake.
Yesh, the Samurai death is peak dev trolling.
Much of the issues that ghosthead has with the zombies could have been solved if they allowed you to use guns regardless if you are Alessia or Bates.
Never played these games but watched a few reviews, love your perspective and the fact that you show a lot more gameplay footage.
Another banger from Tango! Thanks for the awesome vids! Keep em comin!!
love this video, ty for taking the time to make it! i only played clocktower 3 and couldnt get the final boss (': but i loved the rest of the game
Recently discovered your channel, and been loving the horror game reviews! Gotta say I loved NitroRad's reviews of these older horror games that went to become cult classics, and seeing someone else talk about them is quite refreshing.
I really like your covering of this franchise, so much that I think I'll play the first one
Great video. I found your channel because of the Night Cry video and can happily say I am here to stay love all your content so far. ^^
I can't think of Clock Tower 3 without thinking: DENNIS. Haven't played the game in over a decade and that bastard haunts me. (Great video, BTW. Now I'm glad Ghost Head is the only game I never managed to play.)
42:00 I know almost nothing about this game, but I love these two already. They look like such fun main characters to play! And in a horror game too??? Wow!
Thank you for the video!
Oh shit, first time I heard there were more of these games. Really great vid!
Great retrospective. Thanks for making 😊
Hammerdude made me throw my remote on accident. A jumpscare he did lunging at you from the screen, as you walkthrough a doorway.
Not me tryna sleep but then seeing you post this
Wayforward is doing a port of the first game, out early 2024 for all platforms 😊
I loved this video!! I played clock tower 3 when I was young and absolutely loved it, and have played it thru several times since then. Its so interesting and goofy. Have you seen how Alyssa has new outfits when you finish it? Overall, It’s super cool to see how the franchise has changed since it started. You remind me so much of myself and hanks for an awesome video ❤️
amazing retrospective. very glad i found ur channel :)
I went listening to the NightCry video to sleep and woke up to the acid bath cutscene. I'm not complaining, I just think it's funny.
Some fun little facts:the additions In the PS1 version were cut content In the original SNES versionl, and the scene of Dan rising out of Dan was added to create a tie In for the sequel. These also exist In the PC port.
I have never gone past chapter one in Clock Tower Ghost Face. I don't know if it is possible for someone who has never played it in the era before internet to understand how frustrating those traps are. You can die from ghost dishes if you open a kitchen cabinet. It made me laugh a lot because it is very dumb, but after a while it was just frustrating.
I love the use of FFX2 music on your video!
hell yes! FFX and X-2 are damn near masterpieces!
Damn 😉 This video was awesome 👍 Thanks 💕
Greetings from the Netherlands ( a big Clock tower fan )