Tick Tick: Requiem

(Created for the OST Composing Jam #6)

"Tick Tick: Requiem" is a rare and eerily captivating horror game from the StayPlation (SPX) era, released in 1996. This game, though it didn't gain significant commercial success, has achieved cult status among a dedicated group of followers for its uniquely chilling atmosphere and gripping narrative.

The game revolves around the harrowing plight of Geneva Waves, a young girl who finds herself trapped within the foreboding, Gothic corridors of Castle Iris. She is relentlessly pursued by Rattraban, a malevolent horologist driven to madness, obsessed with time and its manipulation. His ominous ticking pocket watch is a constant reminder of the impending dread and serves as the game's haunting audio motif.

The core mechanic of "Tick Tick: Requiem" involves stealth and evasion. Geneva must cleverly navigate the castle's labyrinthine interiors and deceptive shadows to evade her hunter. If caught by Rattraban, Geneva faints from fright, waking in a random part of the castle with her inventory empty.

The player's objective is to assemble the five dials of the mysterious Eternity Engine in the Castle's lowermost floor. Assembling and activating the Engine traps Rattraban in a slice of frozen time, allowing Geneva to escape.

The game stands out for its atmospheric dread, reinforced by intricate clockwork themes and the omnipresent ticking that becomes a symbol of tension and fear. Each interaction with the castle's environment reveals deeper layers of the story, and though much of the text remains in Japanese, a partial fan translation gives non-Japanese speakers a chance to experience this horror gem.

"Tick Tick: Requiem" sold fewer than 10,000 copies in Japan and was never officially translated into English, but is considered a true hidden gem of the SPX horror genre. Its scarcity and the lingering enigma of its narrative adds to its mystique among video game collectors and horror enthusiasts alike.