Clock Tower 3 (PlayStation 2, 2003)

Well, you can't really say that this game has anything to do with the original games in the series, mainly because Capcom bought the rights from Human for the series.

For starters, Capcom strayed away from the series main antagonist, the Scissorman (there IS two bosses in the game called Scissorman and Scissorwoman, but are not related to the original Bobby or Dan from the older games), and decided to make some guy called ''Dark Gentlemen''. If that's not generic enough, we also have Chopper and Sledgehammer. Can't get more generic than that.

The whole basis of the game is that you are running away from these villains until you can find an item of sentimental value. Then you can whoop their pasty butts with a bow and fire the crap out of them. Now here's another one of my biggest gripes on this game. You can kill the bosses EASILY. All you do is take a few steps back and fire a fully charged shot. If you can land ONE charged shot, they are stuck, and you can then proceed to blast the crap out of them.

Also, the game is too short and the puzzles are too easy. Bear in mind that this is from the same company that makes Resident Evil, so that should make no sense at all. Also, there's very little ''horror'' to this game as in the original series. Back in the SNES Clock Tower, you didn't know what to expect. However, when you have successfully completed this game, you can easily re-beat it in under 2 and a half hours. Easily. The only thing you get for beating it is some very skimpy costumes and a Theater mode. Overall, there's little replay value to it. One more gripe is the story. It's very VVVEEERRRYYYY generic, and about half-way through you'll guess how it begins and ends...but then again, the ending itself is strange...it explains nothing...but you can play it yourself to find out why.

Now keep in mind the game does have its moments. Some of the cinematics are very well done, and some of the voice acting is good (although definitely not all the time.) My favorite characters throughout the game were the Scissorman and Scissorwoman, with their sick demented attitudes and evil schemes. And while the story may be generic, the characters emotions are done well. Alyssa is always tripping over herself in cinematics, and it goes to show that your character is human and can be easily scared of any situation, not some guy who can pelt hundreds of bullets into the undead.

Overall, the game is OK. If you can get it for relatively cheap, I'd check it out. However, if you do not possess the means if getting it, see if you can rent some PS2 games somewhere. It is at least worth $2 for a few days.