Item
Clocks
A collectible item in retro platformers that grants the player extra time to complete a level.
Action
About
In games such as Tom & Jerry (1992), Popeye 2 (1994), Skullmonkeys (1998), and Tom and Jerry (2000), Clocks serve as time-extending power-ups. Collecting them adds precious seconds to the level's countdown timer, helping the player avoid a time-out defeat.
During the 1990s era of side-scrolling platformers, strict level time limits were a standard design mechanic used to maintain gameplay urgency. In Tom & Jerry (1992) for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy, these items are strategically placed throughout domestic environments, rewarding players who risk detours while Jerry evades Tom. This design philosophy carried over to Popeye 2 (1994) on the Game Boy, where navigating hazard-filled construction sites and docks required careful time management.
As platformers transitioned into the 32-bit era, Skullmonkeys (1998) integrated the item into its distinct claymation universe. In this title, the collectible assists Klaymen through highly difficult, trap-laden stages where precise platforming often drains the standard level timer. The mechanic returned to its handheld roots in the Game Boy Color title Tom and Jerry (2000). In this release, the items appear alongside traditional franchise staples like cheese and cups of milk, serving as a critical resource for navigating the game's multi-layered maze layouts before the countdown expires.
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Games featuring Clocks (4)
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