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So...thats when everything gets really weird | | jay Harris from Whitehall, MI. USA says (14/Jun/2003): | Clock tower 3 takes a fun little twist on the Uber popular survival horror games, although this one is more about survival than any other. You are Alyssa, a fifteen year old girl who discovers she comes from a long lineage of teenage girls possesses the spooky power of, well, running and hiding. The upside of this is that the game doesn't become a super violent mulch fest where your ability to survive is based soley on how much ammo you're carrying. You are forced to have a little bit of strategy in your explorations. The down side is that the places that Alyssa can hide are all preprogrammed in, which kind of takes away the ingenuity of the game player.
However, the game play is exciting, though we have our complaints about the boss battles and fighting in general. ( I am just soo used to living by the resident evil/dino crisis/silent hill/etc rule of " If It offends thee, splatter its brains with the biggest shotgun you can find" )
But those things should not deter the average gamer from having a good time. As strange as this may seem, the do a pretty good job of making the average game dude feel...ahem...like a fifteen year old girl.
The graphics are great. I found myself remarking about how cool the areas and enviornments many times. The controls are okay as well. I found myself running away from an enemy on several occasions, and because of changes in camera angles I suddenly was running straight towards them. This is a general flaw of analog stick games. Unfortunately the games controller config does not allow you to swap the directional pad for it.
I would give this game a higher rating, but the big two flaws that I see as its achilles heel prevent me from giving it a higher grade. The game is short. Criminally short. I think the creators had an extremely fresh perspective on this style of game, and if you play a lot of survival horror games and such the like, you will see what i mean, they held back a bit too much. The did a great job, next time around should be even better.
The bottom line is this: this game is fun and will hold your attention for as long as it takes. The voice acting and dialogue are great and the enemys and characters are twisted and fun. Sound and music are great, and it takes a clever spin on a great style of game.
Now, I don't know much about replay value as I have not gotten to that yet, but I think it would pretty good. Due to its shortness in length, i suggest waiting on buying it until it comes down in price. I don't know about the rest of you, but FIFTY dollars is dang near a whole days pay for me. If I'm gonna smoke it on a video game, I must get my moneys worth. But do what you wanna, you will like this game.
Oh, and for a fun fact, one the bosses on this game is based on a real serial killer from the 1940's in england whom the press dubbed " The acid bath killer" check it out for some icky fun
| This game has one of the best cut-scene graphics ever. | | Barry from Calgary, Canada says (25/Jun/2003): | WOW! Look at those graphics! Clock Tower 3 has one of the best (if not, the best) cutscene graphics ever. From the opening scene where Alyssa is walking across a school yard to the final scene where she's lying down on the grass, the graphics is crisp, clear, and vibrant with soft, lush colors; it's nothing short of breath-taking. Even during gameplay the graphics is amazing. The furniture in every room is beautifully-colored, the lighting is soft and ambient, and let's not forget the considerable amount of detail that went into creating each character. I especially like Alyssa's facial expression during the cutscene when she's riding the giant clock face. Aside from the graphics, the sound is beautiful. You can hear every step Alyssa makes as she runs around hardwood floors, damp grass, and even dirt. There isn't much background sound though, but the orchestral-like sound when the Sledgehammer killer chases you is totally creepy...it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up the first time I heard it. The gameplay (and controls) isn't anything revolutionary. Anyone familiar with the Resident Evil or Silent Hill series gameplay will know what I am talking about. The only difference in gameplay between Clock Tower 3 and ,say, RE: Code Veronica X is that in CT3 you run, hide, solve puzzles, and occasionally splash holy water on your enemies' face...sorry, no zombie bashing this time. The storyline is great, clever, and very entertaining. So, is Clock Tower 3 fun to play? One word: YES! If you're like me and don't care to much about gameplay, but expect a lot from the storyline and graphics then this game is perfect for you. In any case, those of you who enjoys a game mostly for the graphics should definitely add Clock Tower 3 to your collection.
| I screamed! | | Thistle Archer from virginia,usa says (13/Aug/2003): | This game seems initially very like Resident Evil, maybe they used the same engine - corridors, landscapes etc occasionally look the same, but this game is 100% definitley scarier. I found elements of the game horrifying, infact, I freaked on my first encounter with "Sledgehammer", having no weapon to use apart from 'Holy Water', and watching your 'Panic Meter' rise is a piece of genius, it really gets your heartbeat going and as for the 'hiding' elements of the game, they only go to heighten the fear factor! Enemies are well imagined and unique. The game however does seem to lose its momemtumn on the 'Chopper' chapter, it feels 'flung together'( a little like the whole of TR AoD!!) The music is built to create a sense of panic (which is what your trying to avoid) so your fingers respond likewise!. Controlling on a PS2 I found the fire button (triangle) to duck button (circle) very sluggish, this could be improved, apart from that no bugs or crashing were evident. It is, without doubt, the only game I have played that I actually enjoyed watching the cut screens, they are FAB..I usually cut to the chase! Only downfall is that the game seems rather short, I'm fighting the final boss after about 12 hours play, however, I CANNOT defeat him, one of those times when you know it's the end, get disillusioned and just give up! This game is leading the way for the future of Survival Horror, it's fresh, it's imaginative, it's frightening, infact in parts it's just downright sick! All in all, I'm glad I bought it (full price) it was a good game, great play and great fun (I screamed!) let's hope for a longer version in the future..... Clock Tower 4 BRING IT ON!!
| Tom From CA Missed The Point! This Game Is A Panic Fest!! | | JermLeather from CA says (15/Apr/2003): | If you read the review from Tom below you will understand what I am replying to. First of all anyone who has played either of the previous Clock Tower games knows that the fact that the main character is not Always capable of defending herself is what makes the game so nail-biting scary. If Tom was looking for Rambo vs the undead then I doubt he could even appreciate the need for ammo conservation in the Resident Evil games. Where would the challenge be if Allysa (CT 3's heroine) could simply pull out a machine gun and blast the sledgehammer wielding pyschopath until he stopped following her? This game also incorporates a cool feature called the Panic Meter, which presents a sense of realism that has often been missed by the horror genre. Like in real-life when your character is really spooked she Freaks Out and is too frightened to hide or run straight thus making her less predictable to control. The challenge lies in keeping Alyssa calm enough to run away and hide before she panics and is slaughtered. To all of you that have not played a Clock Tower game I suggest you run out and at least rent one. I am a veteren of the Resident Evil series, yet Clock Tower 3 makes my palms sweat. In Short:
Resident Evil= "Im surrounded by undead and geneticly created monsters, thank god I've got my glock." = Fear. Clock Tower 3= "That homicidal man with the axes is right behind me. I sure hope there is a place to hide in the room behind this door..." = TERROR!!!!
| Not nearly as scary as it could be, however.. | | Michelle Williams from Casa Grande, AZ, USA says (28/Jul/2003): | I do agree that Clock Tower 3 is a great game indeed, but as said before, it lacks in a few different areas.
From the beggining of game play, my thoughts were traced back to Silent Hill and Resident Evil, as those being some of my favourite Survival/Horror games. Clock Tower 3 was obviously scarier than Resident Evil, Code: Veronica X ever was, but not nearly as scary as Silent Hill 2 was to me. I found Clock Tower 3 was only scary until the second stage (After Sledgehammer), in which then I was used to all of the "sudden actions" of the enemies of the main character. I do admit, it had me freaked, but kept me playing, but only for so long.
Silent Hill 2, on the other hand, I thought was so incredibly scary, that I had to put my t.v. on mute at times and play music of my own because I was so weirded out from the background sounds of the game. Silent Hill 2 certainly was a frightening trip. I'm not saying Clock Tower 3 is a poor game, for it is not, I find it a must-have for the Survival/Horror gamer, that is, only if you have the paitence to die nearly as many times as I did during the Boss Battles. :)
I also admit that I do like the Panic Metre of the game, instead of the Health Bar, which adds a bit of suspense, especially when the Panic Metre reaches its peak and the effects that take place. And out of all the "high points" I find in Clock Tower 3, the Boss Battles could be somewhat "better". :P
| Clock Tower 3 | | Romo? from Brooklyn, NY USA says (24/Mar/2003): | This is a great mystery horror game. Fans of games like Shadow Of Destiny or Silent Hill 2 will quickly take to this game. The graphics are pretty solid and create a good mood for the game. The music and voice acting come together very well also although theres times where some of the characters sound a little goofy and the music doesn't always give you the real sense of horror like games such as Resident Evil or Silent Hill 2. The controls for the most part are pretty good but there times when it can be tough to move Alyssa the main character where you want mainly because of the fixed camera angles. But this is a very fun game to play the storyline is very good and it never gets to confusing or boring throughout the whole game. Everything is explained throughout the game through either cut scenes or memos that you pick up and read. The gameplay consists of some basic item seaching and having to elude several different killers througout the game. The only defense you have is by either hiding on the killer or using holy water that will burn the enemy. When it does come time fight a boss battle you get a special Arrow weapon which is pretty cool. This is not a very hard game to beat it should take most gamers around 6 to 8 to finish it. It might not be as scary as the original Clock Tower but this game still provides a solid storyline and some unique gameplay.
| Best Game of 2003!!!!!! | | Corey P. from london,Kentucky, USA says (8/Apr/2003): | Clock Tower 3 attempts to scare you with jumps and creepy settings, let me tell you , it does. The games' scare factor is way up there. I've played the Silent Hill games. Tower 3 is 10x scarier. The Silent Hill games tell you when the monsters are coming and they're slow. But Tower 3, you don't know when to expect something, and the monsters will chase you down like they're track-runners. Some of the puzzles are quite hard, mind teasing, or just plain simple. Like helping the ghosts, the things they need are usually right in front of where they're standing. They could just go and pick it up themselves. But some require a little bit of thinking. Spoiler Alert~ On one of the puzzles you find a slip of paper that tells you "BAD". Then Babe "1014" and Dead "3403". B is 1. A is 0. D is 3. Which is the combination for a locked box. The graphics surpast that of the PS2 capabilities. Some can look realistic. Only here and there are some glitches. No slow-downs though. It goes right up there with Silent Hill 2 graphics. The difficulty level isn't to bad. Some boss battles can take a while to beat, but not forever. Not more than 5 tries mostly. It's still fun to fight the boss even if you die, unlike most games where you get bored. This right now is my favorite game. I suggest, if you looking for action,suspense,survivor,and horror gaming. This is your game.
| Clock Tower 3 is bone-chilling scary, but that's all it is... | | John from New York, USA says (27/Apr/2003): | Clock Tower 3 is definitely one of the most scariest games to have ever to come out. What pushes it to the next level of fear, is that your character is a helpless little girl, who has only one available option: run. The game is very intense and demanding, and you can't take a breather. The graphics are amazing, which makes the in-game feel a lot more realistic. The lack of a healthbar is pretty obvious: she'll die from one strike anyway, so constantly looking for health-up items isn't a nagging factor here. The panic meter is really nice touch because as it rises, our own inner panic meter rises too. The only problem with this game, is that it is WAY WAY too easy. The puzzles that need to be solved are too one-dimensional. Most of the time, I have the puzzle solved even before I actually start it. I also find the map completely useless. The areas are very simple so finding your way and developing a sense of direction is quite easy. The only aspect of the game that makes it worth of a 7/10 grading is the fear factor. This game is definitely scarier than other survival-horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, but it lacks the dramatic storyline that they possess. This game is good, but not great, as it misses a lot of key components to make a GREAT game. There is a drought of good games out lately, so playing this wouldn't hurt.
| Could this be one of the most disturbing games we'll see? | | Christopher from Cardiff ,UK says (18/Aug/2003): | I just bought Clock Tower 3 by chance being the fact that i had seen Clock Tower(1) on game shelves 4 years ago and thinking what a good game it looked but needless to say i never had the chance to get it and now the only way i could own this game is by paying £30+ on eBay.So now i took the first chance to grab it off the shelves and i have seen definately one of the top ten games to hit PS2 for 2003 it has all the characteristics an action survival horror game needs (music, atmosphere and game play etc).
What i found with the first (level) is that the sledehammer characters opening video was very disturbing being the fact we , the game players witness a 14 year old girl get smacked in the head with a sledge hammer by some homicidal maniac and have blood pouring from her head down. Then of course Corroder (The acid man) having his opening video be an elderly lady and her son both stuck in a container and have acid poured all over them which i find very charming. The overall gameplay of this gem is perfect with not too much action and not too much thinking for people with low I.Q's.
I'll finish this review with one simple sentence "Get off your ass and buy this game now!!!!"
and by the way once i have purchased Clock tower 1 & 2 expect another review from moi!
| I am writing about how I felt and reacted to Clock Tower 3 | | Paige Thompson from England says (7/Sep/2004): | Clock Tower 3,was one of the most scariest games I ever played.you never know who is going to pop out and attack you.I really liked this game,it was filled with action and suspense.The game was pretty hard for me at first but,once you got the hang of it you know what your doing.My favorite subordinates are the scissorman and the scissorwoman.The most annoying subordinate I think was the acidman.He is soooooooo.....annoying.The creepiiestsubordinate by far I think was the hammerman.Once you are starting to play this game you will never want to turn it off.It will keep you at the edge of your seat with terror and violence.If anyone wants to know a hint about what to do after you beat the videogame - You wait until all the preveiwes at the end of the game are over with and you receive a key to her closet in her bedroom.There are five different outfits and each time you where a different outfit besides her school uniform the levels of the game get haeder and harder. If anybody needs any help on what to do on the videogame please feel free to e-mail me!
~Paige~
| I love this game! | | Mystial Dreamer from not telling, somewhere, Canada says (29/Sep/2003): | When I had first played this game, i thought it was stupid. then I had figured it out, and it scared the pants off of me! I've screamed, blew fits and spent hours on the game. However, im still only on Chapter one. I know how to get the Pliers, i did it last night. ive searched up a few cheats and i understand what to do now. Although, i keep getting killed shortly after i get the matches. I wish i had saved when i got the pliers the first time. My Mum and I were all happy that i was finally getting somewhere. But, i fell off the plank of wood and died. I was really mad. so, ive been trying over, but i always get a little startled when he sees you up on the stage. So, Alyssas starting to get scared and then he swings the mallot, just missing her. She starts to hyperventilate, causing her to stop, and remember, use Lavendar Water or press the X Button 'till she gets going again. I hope to get past this lever soon, though. :) (Sorry for spelling mistakes, lol.)
| clock tower 3 has a long way to go. | | Rick from Texas says (12/Apr/2004): | The game has nice graphics and cinemas, but more than a horror game I think it was an adventure game because the game itself is not scary but interesting. I also agree with Tom from California when he said that Why would you make a game in which you can be attacked, but not defend yourself properly?, if that’s what the creators of clock tower 3 wanted they should have make the game an RPG game and not a horror game. Something else I don’t like about this game is when bosses are chasing Alyssa and there is nothing you can do about it but to use holy water to stop them for about two seconds or keep running. Come on guys In clock tower 3 u might see disturbing things but not scary. Creatures popping out of nowhere isn’t scary, they’re just surprising u.
guys who think this game is scary UP need to play some silent hill games.
| The Scariest Game Ever Released! | | Richard from Riverside R.I. says (5/Jun/2003): | Clocktower 3 is a classic game pure and simple. The ghostly images, and the bosses, remind you of Saturday afternoon horror shows I used to watch as a kid. It has you jumping at shadows. I love the graphics, and the suspense level it brings. The B movie grade appeal is also a edge in it's favor. The boss battles may be a bit hard at first, but you will quickly master the use of the Bow. It has some of the most horrifying moments too numerous to mention. I like the way the character's defends
against her assailants. It reminds me of a slasher film. The killer takes punishment, but returns when you least expect it. Ten stars isn't enough. Twenty is more sutible!
| Makes Fatal Frame look like a puppy dog | | Tristan from Illinois, USA says (13/Jun/2003): | This game is horrifically ahead of the survivor-horror genre. To me, Fatal Frame's "fame" is due to people effected by subtle character movements and sounds that are unnaturally distorted. The horrible voice acting and ghastly character complexions are it's notable attributes. Clocktower 3 however is simply gruesome. It has the Blair Witch effect which makes you shudder two days after playing it, just thinking about certain things contained within the 'game.' The graphics are flawless, literally, and plays almost like one constant cinimatic cut-scene. My girlfriend is actually hooked, and is playing it as I type up this review. 10/10 from me.
| Rent it before you buy it | | A gamer from Seattle, WA says (31/Mar/2003): | CT3 is a fun game, but I wouldn't rate it among the best of its genre. As another reviewer noted, the bosses seem out of place. Plus, fighting the bosses is an exercise in monotony. There's no real skill involved; it's simply a matter of running, shooting, and running again. The AI for the enemies (bosses and non-bosses alike) is rather pedestrian. They either chase you, or they don't. And when they chase you, their dialog is limited. For example, Corroder (a boss that shoots acid) says, "There she is" and "I'm going to kill you" over and over, ad nauseam, to the point where I turned the sound off so I didn't have to listen to it.
| Correct style but not enough scary gore | | Burnsides from Oswego, IL says (29/Mar/2003): | I thought this game had the correct control with the exception of the changing camera angles. It made it very hard to move in the direction you wanted to. It was a welcome change from the first two Clock Towers however. It no longer had the point and click method that the others did. The boss fights seemed a little out of place for the horror game. It made it too fantasy. There needed to be more surprises. Overall, it wasn't a bad game. One thing that I missed from the first two Clock Towers was the multiple endings. Multiple endings are always a nice touch. I reccomend renting it before you buy it.
| Its is so freaky | | David from California, USA says (27/Apr/2003): | Clock Tower is a very scary game I am a big fan of survival/horror games and this one is over all my favorite its a bit like Resident Evil but way better. The game is so scry that some times I can't play alone so I invite my friend over to play with me The game is hard at first due to your lack of holy water but as you get deeper into the story you get more. I like the panic meter thing but I don't like how the puzzles are so easy. This game is a must for the people who like Resident Evil. You might want to go rent it first before you buy it thought.
| Clocktower 3 one of the best | | Michael Rock from Houston, TX, USA says (14/Jun/2003): | But its not "the best". I love the series... have played every one of them, even the SNES prequel to the first American release on the Playstation. It would have been nice if the "scissorman" was the version from the previous games, but I guess that's just me nitpicking. This game lives up to all of its predescessors, but it doesn't represent the best. For the best, try the "Silent Hill" series, or if you have a GameCube, I HIGHLY recommend "Eternal Darkness".
| It's cool | | Megan from Lowell, Massachusetts,USA says (26/Apr/2003): | the game itself has inteesting graphics and a good story but it's not as scary as i would have hoped. I jump when things pop out but no game has scared me yet like the Resident Evil games have!! The ghosts need a little more gore to them, there too...boring. And they shouldn't LAUGH when they lunge at you...some other sound, like a low growl or something would be worse.....RENT B4 BUYING
| Why? | | Tom from CA, USA says (31/Mar/2003): | Why? Why would you make a game in wich you can be attacked, but not defend yourself properly? Not a good concept, in my opinion. My wife was excited, a 15 year old female heroine was going to save the world. The box stated weaponry and battles, but did not deliver. This is called false advertising. I put 3 stars because she said it was not the wost she ever played, but it was for me.
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