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Splatterhouse... Released back in 1988 for the Arcade scene in Japan (though North American rumours have been floating around) Splatterhouse pushed the envelope with it's over-the-top violence and Horror/Slasher Film setting, hell, Rick Taylor's (the main protagonist) mask is based directly off Jason Voorhees from "Firday the 13th". But what can you say about, the TurboGrafx 16 version? Well, a lot really... It's was the only home port of the Game to be created until the recent release of the remake "Splatterhouse" (2010). This TurboGrafx version was only released in North America and Japan (On the PC Engine (What the TurboGrafx 16 was called in Japan)) in 1990 until it was released on the Wii's Virtual Console. It is a stripped down, "Beat-'em-Up" with Rick only being able to walk left and right, walking into or away-from the screen was left behind and most this is is a bad decision but I do not, the level design and enemy placement could be perfected with this choice and it really shows in this Game. Splatterhouse has a rare type of difficulty seen these days, the "Arcade Style Difficulty" that is, if you know what to do, where to stand and when to jump, you can beat this Game without ever getting touched. It focusses on reflexes rather than Cunning (though some could argue, if you've never played before, Cunning plays a role) but you can't cheap enemies and this makes for a difficulty curve that is more accessable to a larger audience, if you're not good at these types of Games, Splatterhouse is a great place to start honing your skills. Graphically, this Game looks amazing, for using to 8-bit processors, (remember this Game was in 1990, before Super Nintendo) but there was only so much the TurboGrafx could do so it's been stripped down a lot, from it's Arcade brother. Most say it's been censored but I disagree and say it could support all the gorey detail of the Arcade Original. Unless you count removing the religious imagery, then this version is censored a small amount but nothing that impeeds on Gameplay. In the sound department, Splatthouse has some nice tunes, nowhere near has fantastic sounding as the Arcade but the songs are in a higher key, making the notes higher and conveying a creepier atmosphere, especially between levels 4 and 5. Story... Here is where almost all Splatterhouse fans became. This Game has one of the Biggest and most impactful twists seen, to this date. If I suggest anything though, it's read up or check out the intro to the Arcade Version before starting to play and it'll make a little more scense. (No Spoilers Here). In closing, this Game is WELL worth your time, even if you don't fork over the 30 - 50$ to own the original and you buy the 600 Point Virtual Console release. If you're a fan of the Old-School, or just getting into it, check this Game out and while you're at it, check the other Games in the series out. They are all spot on Action Games that got-it-where-it-counts.Read full review
Splatterhouse is a classic not for its quality, but for its historical value of being the first console video game to introduce excessive blood, guts, and gore into 2D side-scrolling gameplay. That being said, it is a fun game to play for an hour or so, although cheesy and laughable compared to today's gaming experience. The graphics and controls are comparable to most decent games in the early 1990's. The trend of blood and violence continued throughout the early 90's, when the ESRB Video Game Rating System was introduced. As graphics processing technology advanced, games like Mortal Kombat, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Primal Rage, caused concerns about realistic violence in video games. It was common to find Mortal Kombat and Primal Rage side-by-side in video arcades at that time, since these games attracted similar patrons. The ESRB was a reactionary solution to notify parents about violent content in video games. Controversial studies showed that video game violence was linkable to aggression in children, an issue that continues today, as seen with the publicity received by the Grand Theft Auto series(http://www.apa.org/releases/videogames.html).Read full review
I remember the day well when I first played the House. It was a Friday evening and after my after school job, I opened the package and fired it up. After playing for a few minutes, I realized that this game was scaring the hell out of me. There is just something about the House that creeped me out. Some sort of strange ambiance that gave me the chills and made me refuse to play it after a certain hour. I can only say this about a handful of games, Silent Hill being another example. What about the House makes it so foreboding? Graphically, it is a good looking game. The levels are nicely detailed, but don’t go overboard. The levels that freaked me out more were the ones with sparse detail like the room with the mirrors or the sewer. There weren’t any guts or other assorted gore, but the emptiness of the rooms unhinged me. This isn’t to say the House doesn’t have its share of gore and then some, because it does not disappoint. The music is what really made me want to wet my pants in shameful fear. The TurboGrafx games’ music is very distinct from the other systems of the time. The House’s music sounded like it was composed by some recluse in a dark basement. It had a haunting quality to it that my poorly chosen words cannot convey. The game play is basic. You go from one end of a level to the other punching and kicking ghouls and other undead creatures. A few weapons litter the levels that dispatch the enemies more creatively like the 2x4 that smashes an unfortunate zombie against a wall. The House does present a challenge and there are a few areas that will test your patience, but not to the point of throwing the card across the room. I did finish this game rather quickly. Part of that was the fact that I played as quickly as I could so I wouldn’t have to put anymore time into than I had to. This wasn’t because the game was boring, it was because I liked playing it but was disturbed while playing, if that makes sense. Even after all these years, the House still kind of gives me an uneasy feeling while playing it. As mentioned before, the closest game that can came close to evoking the same fear and post traumatic stress was Silent Hill. I don’t know if someone who never played this game would have the same reaction to it. But during its era, the House was as messed up and disturbed as it gets.Read full review
The grandfather of the modern-day survival/horror games, Splatterhouse proves that 16-bit graphics are enough to terrorize players with a well-created game. In a time when 1st-person shooter clones clog up the current generation systems' pipelines, Splatterhouse is reminiscent of a time when character and originality were important aspects in gaming. Although perhaps biased by my nostalgic memories of this game, I still find the 2d horror platformer to be just as fun as it was 20 years ago. Splatterhouse's boss fights are fun and memorable (and still surprisingly challenging). Biggyman is still just as relentless and intimidating as the day I first faced him. But even gamers new to this title will find it quite enjoyable. With a remake set to release this year (2010), I think some new-school gamers should take some time to play through the games that shaped the industry into what it is today. Splatterhouse is a nice place to start.Read full review
If you own a Turbografx, this is a must have for your collection, especially if you are a fan of the survival horror genre ! The gameplay is addictive and the creepy music will keep you up for hours into the night. An awesome game in it’s time, and holds up well to the test of time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned