The Super Famicom classic title, Clock Tower, is finally coming to Western audiences. This collaboration between Capcom, Sunsoft, WayForward, and Limited Run Games was unveiled at the LRG3 presentation event, where fans of survival horror games had a reason to celebrate at the news that this esteemed classic is undergoing a comprehensive remaster for modern consoles.
Prior to this, the game had only been available through fan translations, a relic from a time when many games never made it out of Japan.
“Starting with River City Girls Zero, we’ve been bringing these Japanese-only releases to a Western audience,” exclaimed the WayForward CEO and Founder Voldi Way, expressing excitement over the endeavor.
It’s essential to note that this 1995 release isn’t the same as the PlayStation 1 game Clock Tower, which was released just a year later in 1996. The franchise has spawned four games to date, with Clock Tower 3, released over two decades ago, being the most recent entry. The series has lain dormant since, with this new announcement effectively breathing fresh life into the franchise.
The forthcoming remaster, set to be released in early 2024, is expected to provide a fresh lease of life to the Super Famicom version of Clock Tower. It’s presently being developed for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Not only does this mark the first official translation and release of the original Clock Tower in the North American and European territories, but it also promises to enhance the gameplay, graphics, and sound of the original version while incorporating modern features.
Among these enhancements, players can look forward to a new vocal theme song by Mary McGlynn, who’s renowned for her work on the Silent Hill series, a new animated opening, motion-comic cutscenes, a bonus art gallery, border artwork, save states, and multiple language options.
The developers are ensuring that the game maintains its authentic gameplay while augmenting the original experience with modern conveniences. For instance, there will be a modernized control scheme and new animation. But, the story, which revolves around the protagonist Jennifer Simpson, remains the same.
Simpson, an orphan adopted by the Barrows family, who finds herself trapped and stalked by a killer known as Scissorman within the confines of the Barrows Mansion. Jennifer must navigate through the mansion, evading Scissorman while seeking an escape.
With this remaster, eager fans are eagerly looking forward to experiencing this classic survival horror game in a new light, appreciating the strides that horror games have made since the foundational titles like Sweet Home, Alone in the Dark, and Clock Tower. Despite their age, these games remain valuable pieces of horror gaming history, and this new initiative from the collective effort of WayForward, Limited Run Games, Capcom, and Sunsoft ensures that they continue to endure in the annals of gaming lore.
In the meantime, those looking for a scare have plenty to sink their teeth into this year. After welcoming the release of Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, survival horror aficionados can look forward to Alan Wake 2 and Alone in the Dark on October 17 and 23, respectively.
