(Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Turbo Grafx 16) Also available on Playstation 3 and XBOX 360 as part of the 2010 release “Splatterhouse”

Retrospective/Story:

The first entry into the Splatterhouse series was released in Arcades in the late 1980’s then ported across to the TurboGrafx 16 Entertainment System in 1990. The primary focus of the story is a guy named Rick who gets left for dead while accompanying his girlfriend Jennifer to a mysterious mansion owned by Dr. West. Rick springs back to life with a little help from a mask that obviously holds the ability to bring someone back to life. I wont go any further because that would just spoil the game.

The second entry, Splatterhouse 2 was released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis, once again you take control of Rick who is convinced by the mask that he should return to the mansion. It gets harder to talk about these without giving too much away. I’ll say that the second one has a lot more story, but for some reason I still absolutely love the first one more even though the second entry has way more variety.
The final entry or so it seemed apart from some horrible little spin off was released on the Sega Genesis in 1993. This entry is absolutely full of story with multiple endings which indicated it was the last one. I however really don’t like this as much as it’s not as straight forward and the whole emphasis of combat was tweaked and it became Streets of Rage rather than actually being Splatterhouse. Yep I said it. Streets of Rage in a mansion. Still love the series though.

Best thing of all, fast forward to 2010 and the Playstation 3 and XBOX 360 both received a new Splatterhouse with these three games included. Quite happy personally considering my Genesis has been broken for a very long time! I also only previously had Splatterhouse 2 and 3. I didn’t even know what the Turbo Grafx 16 was until It was too late.

The guy that owns these should seriously invite friends over. He would be a millionaire in no time, two of the hardest most unforgiving yet awesome video games ever created.

Gameplay:

The first two installments stick to the same formula, 2D side scrolling action, you move left to right either punching and kicking things to the floor or using weapons to smash creatures into the walls, Oh it’s so satisfying to use those weapons. Splatterhouse in the 90’s did what most games don’t even do today. The weapons feel satisfying. It’s believable that the transformation between Rick and the mask brings out makes you feel like a bad ass. No.. Wait. It makes you feel like a bad ass too. It’s awesome!

As I kind of pointed above the third game follows a new formula more like Streets of Rage, I love Streets of Rage but if I want to play Streets of Rage I’m going to play Streets of Rage. Did I say Streets of Rage yet? Multiple endings, more story. I don’t care. I just want to slam some creatures into some walls baby! Even worse is the fact that you get hit once and the weapons vanish which makes the game almost broken to a point of unplayability. You cannot defeat some of the stronger creatures without using weapons unless you resort of one or two of the cheap moves available, seriously takes away the fun of the combat when you spam the same moves.

Annnnd… CUT!. Yeah, there are no retakes for this ghoul. It’s over.

Sound:

The sound on the original Splatterhouse Arcade which is the version included with the PS3/XBOX 360 game discs is exceptionally composed and gives off the atmospheric vibe. The Turbo Grafx port from my inspection seems okay too.

The sound on the second game is also pretty well done and well composed I however still somehow prefer such scenarios as the church in Splatterhouse 1 over anything in Splatterhouse 2. They are both really great games though.

The third installment has great sound which keeps up with the great work done on the previous games.

Graphics:

Don’t be expecting too much, these are really old games, for thier time they were on par with the other stuff, Splatterhouse was never about the graphics, it was a certain artistic style, a certain flair that most Splatterhouse fans identify with.  Splatterhouse is designed to win you over with gameplay, atmosphere and feel of the environment, it succeeds in it’s execution better than most of today’s games.

Oh Splatterhouse 3. Like you failed in your quest to be a new unique game? (No really, good beat em up, not a good Splatterhouse game)

Final Verdict:

Since I was playing the PS3 version (It’s the same as the 360 version), it would be slightly unfair for me to not discuss the total package. You do also get a new game which furthers the story, it’s got 2D side scrolling, it’s got the Streets of Rage style, but it’s only one level. and it’s got the new traditional 3D style. It retains the original monsters with a few new additions it adds a combat skill system, also adds a survival arena mode which is fun. It feels like a thank you to Splatterhouse fans rather than something designed to shift and break sales barriers. It’s pretty good. But really what would you have to lose? It’s cheap now, it includes a new Splatterhouse and three retro games. It’s four games on one disc. One really cheap disc by today’s standards.

The three retro games would be worth the extremely cheap price you’d get the PS3/360 version for these days on it’s own. Beware though, these games are hard, really hard. But I grew up with hard games. I’m used to it. I do however understand that some people are not used to it.

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