The title says it all, nothing but a constant "Struggle.'"
The Game play mechanics resemble it's predecessor perfectly and although some slight upgrades in the controls are nice and the ability to use the control stick this time around might make this 'Point and Click' adventure a little easier...we couldn't be more wrong.
You play as Alyssa Hale, a girl who is apparently possessed by some dark-side within herself. This other half of her is called, 'Bates' who is not only the best character, but the best voice actor as well. Voiced by the wonderful Roger Jackson; "Do you like scary movies?"
Alyssa comes home one night to discover something doesn't seem quite right as she discovers green body parts doused in yellow blood hanging out of her toilet and bathtub. Occasionally hearing a echoing demonic laughter, she then comes to the conclusion that...something "really" isn't right here.
Moving Alyssa around is pretty simple. You can highlight things with the cursor and simply press 'X'. Double tapping 'X' will cause Alyssa to jog, although I wouldn't call this "Running". Note that Alyssa will not move on the screen until a 'click point' or a simple click in the direction you want her to run, is executed.
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within is a investigation/survival horror game, and nothing more. There isn't much action in the game and a lot of the time your either hiding from the pursuer or clicking on things. Sometimes you have to click on an object two times before anything will happen. This is where the game gets pretty tedious and your eyes and mind will begin to wander around the TV, thinking about work or school. The only time this game will get your attention is when a some-what creepy tune turns on.
Here you will meet your pursuer and have to run for your life since Alyssa can not fight at all. As you look for places to hide or use a near-by object to bash on his/her head to get them to piss-off. However, the killer will never stop wanting to kill you and no matter how much you want it to be over Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within will somehow keep you playing...at least through the first level. That is...if you can manage to complete the first level fully.
Clock Tower II, has 13 different endings (A-M) and while this might sound like a mighty fine investment...it isn't. In order to get endings, you must complete certain tasks within the game. Thus, lies Clock Tower II's most greatest flaw of all.
You will never know or understand why Alyssa can not enter a room without being Bates (her alternate personality), or why she refuses to use a lighter in the fireplace even though you have kerosene in your inventory. This is a Clock Tower flaw and all the games in the series are like this. You have to think for the character, they will not think for you. If you don't give the protagonist a reason to throw the kerosene or lighter in the fireplace, she will not do so and you will be stuck forever. This is something you never really get used to.
In order to receive any endings you must execute things in a certain order. Since the game doesn't tell you when or what you did to get that ending, you can play through the game multiple times and get all kinds of weird things to happen. For Instance...set down the Amulet, then try talking to that character as Bates. Something different will happen. Everything you do in this game will determine what ending you get. Even if you think your know how to obtain a specific ending, all it takes is one wrong move and it's long gone. Playing from memory will not work....Unless you study this game and if you Study this game, you have no life and I don't feel the least bit sorry for you. For example! Let's say you must pick up a creepy statue and then head downstairs to burn it in the fireplace; in order to retrieve ending 'H'...but oh crap, you forgot to pick up that kerosene before picking up the statue, now you just completely destroyed any chance of getting ending 'H'. Then be forced to start the game over or just move on. You can never undo a move, if you mess up when trying to achieve a certain ending, then you fail and that is that. In fact, while reading about this game online and many different forums, I heard there is even a part of the game when you can get stuck in Level 2 forever and never be able to move on. Since the game does not tell you this, you wonder aimlessly while zombies try to kill you by straggling you to death. No really...Zombies do try to kill you in level 2, no joke!
The only thing that shines in this game is Bates and sometimes the music sets the mood well. Being attacked by the crazed killers, although scary at first; wears thin quickly and you will often be using the same hiding places several times and the killers will never catch on...ever.
The voice acting in Clock Tower II is really bad...I would say right up there with Resident Evil. It never draws you in, it just makes you laugh. Roger Jackson is the only notable actor here and even then, they make his lines incredibly tough for him. He executes them well and even though the line may have been tacky he still tackles them at full force. Which is more then I can say for Alyssa or her Father.
Final Notes:
There really isn't much more to say about 'Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within' other then the following, you will really "Struggle" to have any fun in this game. Do not own this game, do not rent this game, it is not worth 1 dollar of your money. In fact, it's not even worth stealing. If you are a die-hard Clock Tower fan or not, this game will not impress you. The only way people could think this game is good, is if they have no life, no job, no money and own a PS1 they got from grandma at there 11th birthday party.
A big shout out to my Grandmother who got me my PS1, way back when. You rock!