As addictive and frantic as Tetris, Clockwerx comes from the Callisto Corporation and was released in 1995. Interestingly, it was even endorsed by Alexei Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris. It was originally marketed under the title Spin Doctor, but was given its current name when it was published by Spectrum HoloByte.
The levels of Clockwerx become increasingly more difficult as play progresses. Basically, the user must swing a yellow rotating arm or wand (Sammy) to the various dots across the Clockwerx grid.
The player moves from point to point in this manner until a target dot, or goal, is reached. The wand moves continually, and the user can change the rotation of the wand from clockwise to counter clockwise, and can move little Sammy between dots using perfect timing. Otherwise, there are really no controls to bother with. Enemy wands move in the same general manner and at the same speed as the user’s wand, and each level sees them moving in a different predetermined pattern around the grid of dots.
As the levels progress, the number of enemy wands increase, and the patterns become trickier and more elaborate. More hazards are introduced to the Clockwerx board, such as doors that are activated when
the arm passes over a switch, hyperdots that warp the wand to a different dot, spikes, and acid drops that force a steady motion from dot to dot by following the user’s wand relentlessly. As with a standard enemy, touching an acid drop or being spiked will cause a loss of life. The ultimate goal is to repair the great spinning clock of the universe by making it to the most inner workings with the little clock hand.
Clockwerx features over one hundred of these challenging levels to play. Play is set by four very simple controls, which are easy to master. It’s the timing and the logic that are difficult. There is a way through every maze, and sometimes there is ONLY one way, requiring timing and skill.
Obviously, this is a puzzle game that does not require a great graphic interface and a ton of sound effects to be successful. While Sammy is nice, as clock hands go, the hero is basically a little wand and there is not much to discuss in the way of color and graphic displays. This does not hamper the game play at all, since elaborate scenery would probably only distract the user from the dots and the timed movements. In short, this game is a puzzler, and it will puzzle and frustrate even the most game-minded individual. Don’t come looking for life-like graphics and action-packed cut scenes, but bring your best thinking cap, because that is what you will need.
