For every game that shines well before it is even released, there are the hidden gems: games that are great but didn't attract the attention that they deserved. Why does this happen? The most likely reason was that there was not enough advertisement or poor information about the product. But whatever the reason, the fact stands that these gems of gaming have rightly earned such a title. This list is a collection of those gems, which are simply numbered, not in any ranking order.

WARNING: This list does contain some game spoilers.

1. Clock Tower (PS 1)

Yes, the graphics are bad, but for a PS 1 game of its time, they were decent: character animation and the environments were both good, but nothing special. The voice acting (along with the dialogue)is laughable. To make a comparison, just think of the first Resident Evil's bad voice acting. Don't be surprised if you find yourself laughing every now and then. As for storyline, here it is in a nutshell: Jennifer was a survivor of the Clock Tower murders, which occurred two years ago at an orphanage. She now stays with Helen Maxwell, a psychology assistant, and tries to live a normal life. But then Scissorman is found to be alive and killing people again, and both Jennifer and Helen are on his list.

So what makes this game such a gem? Simply put, the horror factor. Being chased by a maniac killer who can't die may sound clich and repetitive, but this game does it in a way that will have your heart pounding. The music that accompanies Scissorman's arrival and the clanging of his scissors make the experience even creepier. Also, be forewarned that the game has moments of surprise that I honestly have not encountered in any other horror game.

Now onto gameplay: this game is not like Silent Hill or Resident Evil, where you can just shoot your enemy to death. In Clock Tower, you have to use your wits and environment to survive: leading Scissorman to a pit fall, smashing a vase over his head, hiding in a locker, etc. Clock Tower uses a point-and-click system to move and act, which isn't as difficult as it sounds, though I recommend reading the instructions online before playing.

If you are looking for something different in the survival horror genre, and don't mind playing an older game with a point-and-click system that depends on strategy, this game should be on your list. Oh, and one suggestion, make sure to save after getting the character you want; this way you don't have to listen to the

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