Alyssa panicking in Clock Tower 3.
Panic is a gameplay mechanic in the Clock Tower series and in the spin-off Haunting Ground. Panic refers to the fear and terror that the player character is experiencing.
When the player character's panic is high, they will enter Panic Mode, referring to when they are overcome with fear. The player character will begin sprinting and may trip occasionally, and the player must guide them in order to lure them away from a stalker if they are present. In Panic Mode, the player is easily vulnerable to death; if the player character is attacked by the stalker in Panic Mode, they may instantly die, depending on the game.
Appearances[]
Clock Tower: The First Fear[]
Jennifer in a panic event with Bobby.
In Clock Tower: The First Fear, Panic is simply Jennifer Simpson's health meter. It is also a time in which Jennifer's portrait flashes red and blue when physically fighting the Scissorman. If the player succeeds, Jennifer will push the Scissorman over, giving her a chance to run away. If the player fails, Jennifer will die, or be set to very low health. Jennifer will always be sprinting when chased, and will also trip occasionally.
- Fine: Means Jennifer is okay and is the highest level of health; this is colored blue.
- Startled: Means Jennifer has been lightly hurt; this is colored green.
- Scared: Means Jennifer is half dead; this is colored yellow.
- Frightened: Means Jennifer is nearing a grim fate; this is colored orange.
- Terrified: Means Jennifer can only fight Bobby once more; this is colored brown.
- Demented: Means Jennifer is on her last chance, can no longer fight Bobby, and will die if attacked. This is colored red.
The player can also wait a small while, and Jennifer will automatically sit down to heal. This reduces Jennifer's Panic.
The Panic button is as follows:
- SNES: B button
- PC: Right-click
- PlayStation (both Type A and Type B): X
Clock Tower[]
The panic style in Clock Tower is very similar to Clock Tower: The First Fear, serving as a health meter, and is indicated via the color of the cursor. Originally, the cursor is white. When the character is about to be attacked by a stalker, they freeze in a panicked state and the player is required to button mash (the cursor will flash). If the stalker fails, the player will automatically run into the last room they were in, and the cursor will turn orange, indicating that the maximum amount of attacks the player can survive is two. If the player is attacked again and the player succeeds in dodging, the cursor will turn red; this means that the player will be dead the next time they are attacked, whether or not the player chooses to button mash.
If the player is caught by Scissorman on a set of stairs or some other uneven surface, he will attack instantly and kill the player regardless of button mashing.
The Panic button is Square.
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within[]
A panic event during a cutscene.
The panic style in Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within is very similar to Clock Tower: The First Fear, serving as a health meter, and is indicated via the color of the cursor. Originally, the cursor is white (or light blue if Bates is controlling Alyssa). When Alyssa is about to be attacked by a stalker, she freezes in a panicked state and the player is required to button mash (the cursor will flash). If the stalker fails, Alyssa will automatically run into the last room she was in, and the cursor will turn orange, indicating that the maximum amount of attacks the player can survive is two. If she is attacked again and the player succeeds in dodging, the cursor will turn red; this means that Alyssa will be dead the next time she is attacked, whether or not the player chooses to button mash.
If Alyssa comes across a first aid kit, the cursor will automatically return to its original white/light blue color.
The Panic button is X (Circle in the Japanese Ghost Head version)
Clock Tower 3[]
Clock Tower 3 Panic
Alyssa panicking.
In Clock Tower 3, panic is displayed as a meter. If Alyssa Hamilton sees something violent, disturbing or is attacked (or almost attacked) by a stalker, the meter will begin to fill and change color (from blue, green, yellow, orange then red). The controller will also vibrate to Alyssa's heartbeat.
Once the meter is completely full, Alyssa will scream and enter a state of panic and will run frantically and sometimes cower in place (if this happens, it is recommended to wiggle the left analog stick). Visibility is also limited. If Alyssa is attacked even once while in panic mode, she will die. If the player has a Sigil Stone in their inventory, it will protect Alyssa from an attack. The panic meter can be reduced by completely evading the stalker or by using Lavender Water.
In Hard Mode, the panic meter is much more sensitive; events that would normally fill up the meter slightly will, instead, increase the meter dramatically. For extra challenge (perhaps mixed with Hard Mode), it is possible to disable the panic meter in the NTSC-U version, although only by a patch. Doing this makes the game harder as the player has to guess Alyssa's panic level. This patch also hides the Holy Water amount. This patch is designed for PCSX2, but can be converted.
patch=1,EE,20417F80,word,00000000 patch=1,EE,2041A53C,word,00000000 patch=1,EE,2041A880,word,00000000 patch=1,EE,2041A8BC,word,00000000 patch=1,EE,20419E00,word,00000000 patch=1,EE,20419E24,word,00000000
Haunting Ground[]
Fiona panicking in Haunting Ground.
In Haunting Ground, panic is represented by de-saturation of the screen (the screen becomes more black and white), contrast of the screen (darker shades become darker and lighter shades become lighter), and stronger vibration of the controller (Fiona's heartbeat). The screen will also begin to "pulse". Fiona Belli will panic when she is near stalkers and she will trip occasionally. Panic can also be triggered by examining certain environment objects (see below).
Panic can be reduced by Lavender, Mundus and Sedetio, although Fiona cannot use them in Panic Mode. Some equipment, such as chokers and earrings, can alleviate panic.
Fiona running in panic mode.
In Panic Mode, Fiona releases a bloodcurdling scream and will begin sprinting and the player must guide her away from the stalker. The music "Closed Mind" will play. Although Fiona can open doors in Panic Mode, she cannot close them or unlock them.
If Fiona bumps into a wall or an object, she may fall down and begin crawling on the floor. At this point, a single attack will kill Fiona, and there is about a 50/50 chance that she will die. However, if her relationship with Hewie is good enough, Fiona can call him and have him distract the stalker long enough for Panic Mode to end. The player can also wiggle the analog sticks and repeatedly press buttons so that Fiona will get up faster.
Panic locations:
- Bloody column in corridor (in Belli Castle)
- Sudden door shut in plate key room (in Belli Castle)
- Keyhole in corridor (in Belli Castle)
- Bugs crawling on floor in hallway (in Belli Castle)
- Debilitas cutscene without Hewie in diorama room (in Belli Castle)
- TV bursting static in guest room (in Belli Castle)
- Lorenzo cutscene scaring Fiona whilst giving her the "Scrawled Memo" (in Belli Castle)
- Mummy in hallway (in Belli Mansion)
- Corpse grasp in torture room
- Burning homunculus scream in furnace
- Window crash caused by homunculi in alchemy room
- Barrel fall in Water Tower (in Water Tower, unavoidable)
Videos[]
Gallery[]
Clock Tower 3[]
