Turn back the clock and experience a classic horror in all 16 bits. Can you survive the Scissorman? Find out more in our Clock Tower: Rewind Review!

Officially translated and released outside of Japan for the very first time by WayForward, Clock Tower: Rewind resurrects the 16-bit classic, bringing suspenseful gameplay to a new generation. Known for its tense atmosphere and relentless slasher killer, Scissorman, this horror game set a foundation for survival horror as we know it today. With updated visuals, shiny new packaging and added features, is this revival worth digging up from the past or should it be lost to time? Find out in our Clock Tower: Rewind Review!

If you cant get excited about your own game Jennifer, can you expect us to?

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – Story

Clock Tower: Rewind faithfully retells the original 1995 story. After being adopted by the mysterious Barrows family, Jennifer and her fellow orphans—Laura, Anne, and Lotte—are brought to their new home: Clock Tower mansion. Their hopes for a fresh start are quickly cut to pieces as Jennifer finds herself alone, pursued by a crazed killer known as Scissorman. On the first playthrough, the storyline is hard to follow, and I found myself stumbling upon lore I couldn’t piece together between the frantic cat-and-mouse game occurring. Ultimately, the story revolves around bizarre family ties and the occult, which, after all, seems to be a standard requirement for an orphaned protagonist.

Girls will be girls

The game preserves its branching storyline, inviting players to explore multiple endings shaped by their choices and actions. Will you try to help the other girls, or uncover the mansion’s mysteries? If the answer is neither, you have the option to simply drive away completing the game in mere minutes—though this comes with an unforeseen consequence! This approach to storytelling adds both depth and replayability, rewarding those who venture back into the mansion for subsequent replays to uncover the nine outcomes. One thing is certain: there’s something seriously twisted about the Barrows family!

Maybe running away isn’t the best option…

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – Gameplay

Clock Tower: Rewind retains its original point-and-click gameplay, offering the choice to play either the classic Super Famicom version or the enhanced Rewind edition. Both versions require a patient, strategic approach, as gameplay is slower than modern standards, and I’m not entirely convinced the controls have been perfected. It might be user error, but I often found myself struggling with the cursor to interact with objects. Additionally, the “how to play” introduction oddly omits some actions, though the game’s simplicity means you’ll likely figure them out as you go.

In yet my cursor struggles to isolate the object…

Players control Jennifer as she roams the mansion, balancing her stamina as she walks, runs, or hides from Scissorman. Despite receiving a boost to her stats, running drains her stamina, which can make her vulnerable; if Jennifer becomes exhausted, she trips and stumbles, slowing her escape. When confronted by Scissorman who is now smarter and stronger than before, you can enter ‘panic mode’, where Jennifer can struggle against him, potentially knocking him over to escape. However, he will continue to pursue her. Jennifer is by no means a victim to the overpowered female heroine trope of modern days, which despite the nail biting close encounters I’m thankful for. Ultimately, the only chance of survival comes through strategic traps and hiding spots adding realism to the chase and maintaining Clock Towers uniqueness.

Button smash, you got this!

The randomised item placements and various hiding spots make each playthrough feel fresh, but also somewhat maddening as you try to reorient yourself during a new save. There’s also a rewind feature that lets you turn back time, which truthfully I stumbled upon by accident while fumbling the controller. While this feature gives context to the game’s title, it’s not especially useful since you can resume gameplay before any ‘dead ends’ without much lost progress. In my opinion, the grind of restarting after a bad decision is part of the charm of this era of gaming.

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – Visuals

The newly added animated opening and motion-comics bring a modern touch to Clock Tower: Rewind, enhancing its atmospheric storytelling. However, a frustratingly large notification appears each time you unlock a motion- comic, momentarily obscuring the screen.

Great, but can we play?

The game’s visual style draws heavily from Italian horror director Dario Argento, especially his film Phenomena, with Jennifer’s appearance closely resembling the film’s protagonist. The cutscenes, presented in intricate pixel art, adds depth to the game’s retro horror visuals, and the addition of unlocked motion comics enriches both the story and atmosphere without overshadowing the original aesthetic. I’m glad they opted for this enhancement rather than replacing the cutscenes with animation.

Bathroom Nightmares!

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – Audio

A standout feature is the new vocal theme Sharp Laughter by Mary McGlynn, known for her work in the Silent Hill series, her voice adds an unsettling resonance to the game. It is a little whiney for an opener and may have been better suited to the credits but McGlynn undoubtedly knows how to do horror soundtracks. For soundtrack enthusiasts, there’s even a dedicated menu to revisit and enjoy the music.

Much of the audio’s charm is repetition, repetition. Jennifer’s echoing footsteps as she navigates the mansion’s silence will quickly become ingrained as you make lap after lap through the long hallways. Audio cues, like the chilling sound of Scissorman’s unrelenting scissors drawing nearer, make each encounter feel dangerously real despite the 2D limitations.

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – What Else?

Clock Tower: Rewind offers a variety of extras beyond its main story that deepen the experience for fans, including unlockable content like an art gallery, music player, and behind-the-scenes interviews with Hifumi Kono which is well worth the 30 minute watch, all adding layers of context and nostalgia. Modern additions such as a rewind feature, a new animated intro, vocal theme songs, and motion-comic cutscenes breathe fresh life into the classic while respecting its roots. While these extras don’t drastically alter the core gameplay, they add polish, making Clock Tower: Rewind a worthy investment for fans.

Rewind time and explore!

Clock Tower: Rewind Review – Conclusion

With the recent revival of survival horror, there couldn’t be a better time to resurrect this classic. Clock Tower: Rewind gives fans the chance to relive a haunting piece of gaming history, this time with some well-deserved polish and nostalgic extras. While newcomers may find the mechanics a bit dated compared to today’s faster-paced horror, this remake remains a must-play for horror enthusiasts, offering a gripping return to the genre’s roots. Sometimes, less really is more—and Clock Tower: Rewind knows exactly how to keep it chillingly simple.

Burn it down, burn it to the gwound!

So, why should you play Clock Tower: Rewind?

• You’re a fan of the original.
• You appreciate atmospheric horror that focuses on tension over action.
• You want to learn more about the world of Clock Tower.

But why shouldn’t you play Clock Tower: Rewind?

• The game’s pacing might feel slow if you prefer action-packed horror.
• The controls, though improved, still feel clunky.
• You don’t have an interest in retro gaming.

A review code was kindly provided by Wayforward for the purpose of our Clock Tower: Rewind Review.  You can check out our other reviews here and if you haven’t already, be sure to join the Qualbert Discord to find out about the latest game and review updates!