16-Bits of Bloody Glory
Splatterhouse 2
Splatterhouse 2 has a lot in common with the film Evil Dead 2. They’re both re-tellings of the same story with some sloppy explanation for why the scenario is being repeated. They’re also both more over-the-top, and in many ways better than the original. This time Namco decided to bring the game to more successful hardware in the Sega Genesis. Fans of the franchise surely didn’t know where the franchise was going at this point but Namco made the obvious choice of Sega. Nintendo was more family friendly at the time so this was a safe decision. It’s worth noting that there was no arcade release for this one. This was, and still is to this day, a Sega Genesis exclusive. Being a full blown console release you can expect some upgrades now that they ditched the arcade design.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Splatterhouse 2 is largely more of the same. It’s prettier, and there is more of it however. Considering how short but amazing the original was it’s hard for me to complain. At the credits scene in the original I just wanted more. That’s why I’m happy this sequel sticks so true to the original. Gameplay has you walking left or right initially punching foes into puddles on the floor. Soon after you’ll find weapons to destroy them in more creative ways. The lineup of enemies has been expanded with more of them. My favorite is the chainsaw, because well, it’s a chainsaw. There’s also more of an emphasis on platforming this time around. It does change some of the mechanics but it helps this one carve out its own identity. The stages are also more diverse including ones with invincible enemies that give chase.
Despite not originating in the arcades Splatterhouse 2 is darn difficult. You’ll die, and often at that. I would even go so far as to say that this sequel is harder than the original by a noticeable amount. Largely this is due to the new enemies, and their movement patterns as well as placement. Splatterhouse 2 is unforgiving. You really have to memorize where to stand at specific intervals, and when to time your jumps. Learning and memorizing these mechanics may sound cumbersome but I found everything quite fun here. My only complaint is that Splatterhouse 2 is too short. You would think the developers would increase the length considering there’s no base version which depended on eating quarters. Even learning the ins and outs it took me only a few hours to play start to finish. Honestly I was still hungry for more when I reached the credits.
That’s a testament to just how good Splatterhouse 2 is. It matched the original in a way few sequels can manage. Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel Splatterhouse 2 sticks close to the source material while adding new content and refining other gameplay elements. The greater emphasis on platforming works in some ways, but in some stages I wasn’t a fan. I did however like the areas where you’re being chased by the big enemies. This really added to the horror elements and added a sense of urgency the previous installment lacked. At the end of the day this one is almost as good as the original. If you catch me on the right day I might even say this one is better. Splatterhouse 2 is clearly one of the best installments in the franchise, and also one of the greatest Sega Genesis games of all time.
Recommended: Absolutely
Splatterhouse 3
| Sega Genesis |
With the second installment Namco stuck really close to the source material, and with great success. They seem to have realized they couldn’t pull that same trick a second time. That’s why Splatterhouse 3 is so different. Namco went back to the white board to try and reinvent the franchise. Unfortunately it wasn’t met with as much success as the first game, or its sequel. That’s probably why the franchise faded into obscurity after this release. Fans of the franchise often refer to this as the black sheep of the bunch, and for good reason. Here they embraced the full beat ’em up motif. You play as Rick years after the events of part 2. He has now procured a mansion of his own, and left the old mask behind. Unfortunately it’s not done with him. Monsters have invaded this new estate and Rick must stop them again.
As I’ve already touched upon Splatterhouse 3 is a more traditional beat ’em up experience. Rick can now move in all directions, and with his bare fists strikes foes in three hit combination attacks, throws, and a super move. On the surface it’s remarkably similar to Final Fight and Streets of Rage. There are other changes as well. Splatterhouse 3 is more focused on exploration. There are six stages and you have to find the end goal within a time limit. The thing is there are multiple paths and little direction as to where you need to go. There’s even more of a sense of urgency here because whether or not you reach your goal affects the story and progression in general. Despite the change in gameplay the traditional blood and gore of the franchise is continued here. It looks like a Splatterhouse game, but it doesn’t play like one.
Let’s look at this one as a pure beat ’em up. The mechanics are surprisingly solid. I enjoyed punching my way through hordes of the undead. Weapons are still present, and there are more of them than before. Unfortunately there’s one mechanic I really didn’t enjoy. Whenever you’re hit by an enemy Rick drops his equipped weapon, and loses it permanently. This makes little sense in the franchise and makes Splatterhouse 3 significantly more difficult. There are sections of this game I can’t imagine tackling without a weapon. Believe me I’ve tried. This increases the difficulty in ways that are counterproductive to the player. I was left frustrated, and not in a ‘get good’ kind of way. It’s not uncommon to take a hit no matter how good you are, and the fact that you’re punished so severely makes little sense to me. It does the time limit no favors.
Despite my complaints Splatterhouse 3 is still a decent game. Compared to other similar beat ’em ups it has significantly more style, and I love the mechanics of the main story that bleed into it. It’s just unfortunate that Namco decided to stop refining the gameplay and instead decided to reinvent it. Don’t get me wrong. I like Splatterhouse 3. I just don’t love it. Also, I don’t love it as a Splatterhouse game. It’s disappointing that this is how Namco basically ended the franchise. We didn’t see a new installment until over a decade later. With the rise in survival horror it seems like Splatterhouse would have been a shoe-in for the 32-bit era. Alas it wasn’t meant to be.
Recommended: Yes
