TheClock Towergames never received the mainstream success enjoyed by survival-horror games likeResident EvilorSilent Hill, but the series certainly has its fans. Unfortunately,Clock Towerhas been dormant since 2002’sClock Tower 3, and there are no signs that it’s going to return any time soon. Luckily, there are games likeRemothered: Broken Porcelainto try to fill the gap in the meantime, delivering aClock Tower-style experience on modern platforms.
Remothered: Broken Porcelainis thesequel to 2018’sRemothered: Tormented Fathers, and it’s just as creepy and weird as that game. Protagonist Rosemary Reed will play a role in the new game, but the demo we played focused primarily on a young woman named Jen, who is working as a maid at the Ashmann Inn. Of course, things aren’t quite as they seem, and pretty soon, Jen finds herself stalked by a crazed coworker named Andrea, who is armed with a pair of sharp scissors.
Much like the playable characters from theClock Towergames, the characters inRemotheredare virtually defenseless most of the time. Usually, the only real course of action players can take is running away, as Andrea will stab them relentlessly if they get too close, eventually ending in a gruesome kill animation where her scissors are plunged into Jen’s skull. This death animation seems to change contextually; for example, there was one instance where Jen was standing near a desk when Andrea got a hold of her, and she desperately tried to cling on to it as she was getting stabbed. Little, morbid touches like this go a long way in making the game even more unnerving than it would be otherwise.
Running away is pretty much all Jen can hope to do to survive inRemothered: Broken Porcelain, so the best bet is to avoid enemies whenever possible. This is accomplished primarily through the game’s stealth mechanics, which seem to rely a little too much on trial and error. There seems to be a specific way the game wants players to progress, and they will keep dying until they figure that out. It’s possible this will make the game drag in full playthroughs, but it’s also possible that players will get skilled enough at the stealth mechanics that they will be able to avoid too much frustration.
All the hallmarks of stealth horror games are present, with players throwing things to distract enemies as well as hiding in lockers, wardrobes, and more strewn aboutAshmann Inn. There are countless stealth horror games on the market nowadays, and the tropes are admittedly feeling a bit worn out. Plus, the stealth in this build was pretty inconsistent. Sometimes Andrea pursues Jen relentlessly while other times, Jen can hop in a chest right in front of Andrea, who will then be completely oblivious to where her would-be victim went.
Even so,Remotheredstill manages to stand out a bit from other modern stealth horror games by focusing on puzzle-solving, which is one of the most important elements of survival-horror that’s neglected by many modern horror titles. It really does play like a classicClock Towergame, only updated to meet modern gaming standards.
And while Jen is mostly defenseless in the demo, the starting area briefly has her equipped with a nailgun, and later on, she actually goes on the offensive. While it’s not quite the same as havingResident Evil’s arsenalat one’s disposal, it is nice that Jen does have at least some fight in her.
Based on our short time with the game,Remothered: Broken Porcelainis a passable stealth horror experience, with glimpses ofclassic survival horrorbrilliance here and there. How it plays out long-term remains to be seen. Of course, the bones of a good horror game are made up of more than just gameplay, and it was clear by the demo thatRemothered: Broken Porcelaindefinitely checks all the other boxes.
For one,Remothered: Broken Porcelainalready looks fantastic, even though what we played wasn’t the final build. There’s an eerie, veryClock TowerorRule of Rose-esque quality to the graphics, with vastly improved textures and lighting. Animations can be repetitive, especially death animations, but they still look good. The demo was also bereft of any major technical issues or visual mishaps, which is certainly a plus and a good sign for the final game.
Secondly,Remotheredhas nailed its audio, with cheesy-yet-disturbing dialogue and some bone-chilling voice work. Early in the demo, when Jen first has to escape Andrea, there is a moment where Andrea sits at her desk and works away at a sewing machine. The machine clacks loudly while Andrea mumbles threats under her breath, and the overwhelming sound of the machine combined with Andrea’s unnatural voice comes together to create a genuinely scary atmosphere.
So while the jury is still out as to whether or notRemothered: Broken Porcelain’s stealth horror gameplaycan keep players engaged for the long haul, there’s no denying that it’s a scary, atmospheric horror game with eye-catching visuals and impressive sound design. Fans of theClock Towerfranchise or the firstRemotheredshould definitely keepBroken Porcelainon their radar, especially if they need a new horror game to play this Halloween.
Remothered: Broken Porcelainlaunches October 20 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
