Everyone, what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear ”horror game”? Zombies? Ghosts? Or blood-stained monsters? However, the original ”Clock Tower” released in 1995 was a legendary title that planted the ”fear of fleeing” in players, setting itself apart from those classics. And now, that nightmare has returned to the Nintendo Switch not as a remake, but as a ”restored evolution.” Its name is ”Clock Tower Rewind.” Overwhelming tension packed into simple controls, and gameplay where fear is doubled due to your helplessness. This is a true return to roots, and a title filled with new discoveries.

The story is set in the Barrows family mansion, which exudes a quiet and eerie atmosphere. The protagonist, Jennifer, was supposed to have come to this mansion with her fellow orphans, but from the moment she steps inside, her fate begins to go wildly awry. Someone’s scream, footsteps, and the ominous ”snip, snip......” sound of giant scissors. Yes, that ”Scissorman” is on the move again. Jennifer is just an ordinary girl. With no power to fight, her only path is to run, hide, and survive. That is precisely why the player’s judgment and courage are put to the test. This truly is the pinnacle of ”running horror.”

The appeal of ”Clock Tower Rewind” goes beyond a mere reissue. In the fan-coveted ”Original Mode,” you can experience the game content exactly as it was in 1995. You can tremble with nostalgia or experience fresh terror if you haven’t played it before. Furthermore, the newly added ”Rewind Mode” introduces improvements to game balance and fine-tuned quality-of-life elements, such as faster health recovery and additional direction, making it a design that is truly friendly to modern players. The fear remains the same, but the ease of play has been significantly enhanced.

The main game itself is attractive enough, but ”Rewind” doesn’t stop there. As if the work itself has become a museum, various special contents are included. Highlights include the ”Motion Comic,” which reconstructs the manga from that time, and a newly drawn animated intro. Furthermore, through an interview with developer Hifumi Kono, you can learn about behind-the-scenes production stories from that era, offering plenty of treats that fans will love. And we must not forget the ”Music Player,” where you can listen to those eerie sounds anytime. Even after finishing the game, you can enjoy the lingering aftereffects through sound.

Another major feature of this work lies in its multiple endings and randomness. Who you could save and which route you chose—small choices and actions significantly affect Jennifer’s future. Even in the same mansion, a different drama is born every time you play. This is exactly the narrative depth that can only be experienced through the medium of games. And all of those endings will surely be etched into the player’s heart as their own ”record of terror.”

”Clock Tower Rewind” is not just a reissue for the sake of nostalgia. This is a ”crystallization of respect and innovation” created by those who once forged horror, reviving it once more for the current era. The tension of quietly holding your breath, the footsteps of Scissorman tracing your spine, and the question to yourself of whether you can escape to the very end. This work, packed with all of that, can be called a must-have title that any horror fan should experience at least once.