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Clockwork Aquario
Released On: Dec 14, 2021
70
6.2
All Platforms
View All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
70
30% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
70% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 Critic Reviews
70
30% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
70% Mixed
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Clockwork Aquario has been a long time coming, but it was definitely worth the wait. An obvious labour of love, this ill-fated arcade gem has been improbably recovered, restored, and reassembled, and it never feels like anything less than a carefully unearthed treasure that’s been polished until it shines. It won’t take long to beat — and it shouldn’t, because a good 30-year-old arcade platformer is supposed to be short and sweet — but what the game lacks in length it more than makes up for in entertainment and raw creativity, with stages pitting you against everything from mechanical flying fish to a gigantic egg-dropping robo-penguin. It’s the sort of game you come back to again and again because you want to rather than have to, and we feel lucky to have it.
After decades collecting dust in Sega’s archives, Clockwork Aquario is finally out in the world, and what a joy it is to play! A conceptually simple action platformer done well can be a delight, and with its playful energy and comic charm, delight is exactly what you’ll find here. But as much fun as Clockwork Aquario is, the more important part is what an achievement this is as far as game preservation goes: a long-lost game, developed almost to completion but never released, finally gets to shine.
The Guinness World Record winning Clockwork Aquario has gorgeous visuals and great music but some mechanics that aren't fully realized. If you're interested in this as a fan of Westone or arcade games, you will find a lot to like here assuming you're ok with how short it is.
There isn’t much to say about Clockwork Aquario. It's a side scrolling game. It doesn’t stand out, looking good and having solid controls doesn’t make it a must play. While Clockwork Aquario is a fun game, it’s price of admission doesn’t make it a must play for anyone other than a diehard 90s arcade fanboy.
Clockwork Aquario was made for a very specific crowd of people, by an incredibly passionate team. Obviously a short and simple arcade platformer like this isn't going to be a smash hit today, but there are still plenty of people out there who clamor for old-school '90s arcade bliss. If you're one of those people, then Clockwork Aquario is the game for you. It's short and easy, but fun and beautiful. An arcade classic that was almost lost to time, and I'm so happy that it wasn't.
Clockwork Aquario is a product of its time. The short game length and high difficulty are similar to its 90s counterparts. Unfortunately, due to this, there aren’t many reasons to revisit the game after playing through the meager number of stages. The score-based gameplay is a fresh twist and makes for an addictive platforming experience. Gaining multipliers and working out routes is fun whether playing on your own or with a partner. Even with its beautiful, chunky pixel art and vivid backgrounds, the game’s shortage of content and high price, make this a forgettable re-emergence rather than a celebrated return.
On the one hand, I can say Westone’s arcade “treasure” was worth the wait when viewed as a piece of gaming history. But, as an ININ Games published release in 2021, not as much. Once the warm fuzzies wear off, you’re left with a short game with little replay incentive due to a lack of online leaderboards. Combined with a lack of both standard and extra features, I’d wait for this $19.99 release to get a sizable discount unless you’re an arcade fanatic who has someone readily available for two-player co-op.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 User Ratings
6.2
50% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
17% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
33% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 User Ratings
6.2
50% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
17% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
33% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
Summary The side-scrolling action game can either be played alone or with a friend in co-op. Players can choose from three different characters, each of them with her/his individual moveset: Huck Londo, the daring ghost hunter, Elle Moon, the brave adventuress and Gush, the warmhearted giant robot.
Rated E
for Everyone
Platforms:
- PlayStation 4
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox One
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
Initial Release Date: Dec 14, 2021
Developer:
- Westone Bit Entertainment
Publisher: ININ Games
Genres:
