Clock Tower

Clock Tower is a point-and-click survival horror game that originally came out on the Super Famicom in 1995, developed and published by Human Entertainment. This specific version is for the WonderSwan, a Japanese handheld from Bandai, and it appears to be a port of that classic. The game is entirely in Japanese, as indicated by the (J) in the filename, so English-speaking players will need to rely on their knowledge of the original or use a translation guide. It's a direct carry-over of the tense, atmospheric experience that defined early survival horror on consoles.

You control Jennifer Simpson, an orphan who has just been adopted by the Barrows family. Shortly after arriving at their sprawling mansion, another girl is murdered by a mysterious stalker wielding giant scissors - Scissorman. Your goal is to explore the mansion, find items that unlock paths and secrets, and ultimately escape while avoiding Scissorman's patrols. The game uses a cursor-based interface: you move a pointer over objects or exits and press the A button to examine or interact. When Scissorman appears, you must run to a hiding spot or outrun him until he loses interest. Your choices lead to one of several multiple endings, encouraging replay to see how events can diverge.

This WonderSwan version is a faithful port of the Super Famicom original, bringing its signature tension and point-and-click mechanics to a handheld screen. It's a rare opportunity to play a seminal horror game on the go, though the Japanese menus can be a hurdle. If you're familiar with the original through emulation or later ports, this version offers the same slow-burn dread and branching paths. For collectors of WonderSwan survival horror, it's a must-try, but be prepared for the language barrier and the deliberately clunky interface that adds to the oppressive atmosphere.