Splatterhouse 3

"Splatterhouse 3" is a real horror, transferred to a 16-bit console with unexpectedly good detail. For its time, the game offered a unique horror experience combining a vibrant atmosphere and intense gameplay. Playing this, I was really scared. The coolly presented horror was really impressive.

The graphics, albeit hand-drawn, are impressive in how well they convey gloomy locations and frightening monsters, which makes the game atmospheric. The soundtrack and sound effects enhance this feeling by adding harsh, frightening sounds, which perfectly maintains tension throughout the entire passage.

One of the main advantages of the game was a full-fledged plot, which was rare for beat'em up projects of those years. The story of Rick saving his family is presented with unexpected depth for the genre, which makes the game more personal and addictive. The plot not only adds motivation for the player, but also significantly enhances the overall gloomy and creepy surroundings.

The variety of monsters and the ability to move in Pseudo-3D give the game dynamics and interest, and using all the features of the 16-bit console created a horror that could really surprise the players of that time.

8 out of 10.

This is one of my favorite video games of all time along with Survival Horror and Beat Em Up games. This is the third and final game for this franchise, it's sad but like every franchise there must be an end and it makes sense what else we're they going to do with the story.

One of the things that make this sequel unique is the fact they changed the gameplay, which at the time wasn't that common and still isn't. This was a good idea as they realize they didn't want to repeat themselves. This in a way could be "Resident Evil" if they ever made it into a beat em up; well they kind of made a beat em up version which is the arcade game "Zombie Revenge" but that's a different story. This wasn't just something different for the franchise but in the beat em up and survival horror genres in general.

I really like the plotline which is the typical "Spalterhouse" plot, as usual you play Rick the good Jason whom must go back to the Splaterhouse to do battle with the forces of darkness one more time. However, Rick is now married to Jennifer and has a son David which makes the stakes much higher.

The graphical presentation is great as usual, really like the designs of the household which are disturbing and unsettling as usual. But of course, what stands out the most are the monsters themselves whom are obviously inspired by H.P. Lovecraft lore. And if your familiar with his work then you know how messed up some of those monsters truly are. From some sort of creatures that are nothing but mouths, demons with giant heads, other demons with bird like heads, just all kinds of weird and messed up. Really like the green blood effects which as usual don't disappoint in their gory glory, the game is called "Splatterhouse 3" after all.

The gameplay is solid, you have a decent combo system, you do the usual series of punches to bring the beat down on your enemies. You can also head butt them, jump kick, and throw them. There is a set of weapons like the two by four, cinder block, meat cleaver, and my favorite the axe. You also have a special function where you can Hulk out, turning yourself into Uber Rick. This is awesome because it means there is more power to your attacks and can do a few other moves. Like there is super move you can do while in that mode where you can immediately stretch out you flesh in all directions making yourself pretty much a flesh porcupine.

But this is only effective if your enemies all come bunched up in close range around you. Another is the cyclone kick which is effective also in taking multiple enemies down but is very effective in delivering heavy damage to enemies. These moves are a little tricky at first to get but once you get it down their really no problem making them very handy.

The boss battles are very good, really love the designs of each of the bosses are different as they employ different attack which makes you must employ different ways in dispatching them. Two of the ones that stand out are the humanoid sized blood worm creature which is nasty and messy especially the arena it's in. The design of that creature sort of reminds me of the blood worm cryptid, if you even heard the story on it you know it's one nasty customer and thank the lord it doesn't exist anymore, I hope.

The other is a giant toy teddy bear, which might be a slight homage to the one in the 80's horror film "Dolls". But once you tear off it's mask you see there is some pesky nasty gremlin that is behind that Teady bear. I'll admit seeing that gremlin in the Teady Bear costume for the first time creepyed me out, there is always something about putting evil in the guise of innocence that is unsettling.

The cut scenes look fantastic, their sort of black and white photograph where they used real actors, it really makes you feel like you're actually watching a movie. Seeing these makes me a little surprised this game didn't come to the Sega CD as these could of easily of been full motion cut scenes for the kinds of games they release.

Their also the scariest cut scenes I've ever seen from what we read from the text along with that really creepy music that goes with it, it really makes your blood run cold as you see in each different cut scene the danger grows for both Jennifer and David.

This just gives you the sense of urgency and reminds you there is no time to waste, let alone the fact this game has multiple endings depending on how fast and well you make progress. Which I why I'm always playing extra hard because I want the happy ending. Though this also makes the game story driven, from how it develops it really does make you care about what your doing and realize what you do throughout the game matters.

The music is great, this game has some of my favorite video game tracks of all time. Their the kind I could listen to on my iPod a lot or even play at a Halloween party with friends.

I really like how each of them induce both a creepy and excitement. It's sort of the feel that you know the next things your about to see are scary but at the same time you can't wait to go in and kick some monster butt; make the creatures bump in the night for once haul butt.

Though as much as I like this sequel there are things that really hold this game back for me, it's sort of like how I feel about the "Sailor Stars" season of "Sailor Moon" (Classic) it was a good season but not without its flaws; which is why this sequel is my least favorite of the franchise.

The combo system as I said is decent but there could have been more to it. I would of loved a few wrestling moves like a German supplex, a death headlock, and maybe the Tombstone move. The enemies I feel some of them get too strong, where if you take one hit from they could drain about half your life bar which seems hardly fair; this makes the difficult in the game a bit imbalanced.

However, one major drawback for me is the lack of weapons, well alright there are weapons as I said earlier but not that huge of a variety, like the shotgun is missing which sucks as that was my favorite weapon in the first and second game.

Weapons have always been one of the highlights of the franchise, as they've always been your best friend in dealing more damage. But unfortunately this best friend is slightly absent as he weapons are placed just a little too far between and worst of all they get taken away from you much too quickly. I really feel like things like this just cause a lot of unnecessary difficulty that we really could do without. They should have had a rule for the weapons if knocked down a certain amount of times then it gets taken away but most importantly just more weapons in more places of the house.

Overall, I really like this game, it's a very good entry all the same even though as a fan of the franchise we could do better. But still if you're a fan of the series this game is for you, but anyone that is starting out in the survival horror video game or even beat em up genre and fascinated by vintage games in those genres, this game is a good history lesson.

On further note, I honestly would love a fourth sequel to the franchise. I know that there was that revival game which I thought was great but sadly due to its lack of success it's chances of being an ongoing franchise are zero. Though that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be a continuum of the original run. Personally, I feel the way it can continue is if Rick's son David becomes the main protagonist which would make sense sort of passing the touch onto him.

As for plotline I have plenty of ideas on that though I'll just say one possible idea. It could be a bit like "Stranger Things" well sort of, but I'm thinking an evil shadow organization has an interest in Dr. West's work and findings and have made their base at the original Splaterhouse rebuilt and everything. They have kidnaped David as he's one of the only people that knows about this and the Terror Mask. But something goes wrong in their experiments and the evil is once again loose, David is forced to don the terror mask and do battle. Well it's a thought to consider anyway.

So, take a trip into the "Splaterhouse" for a third time if you dare.

Rating: 3 and a half stars

This game was alright, but it could have been so much more; instead, it is pretty much just a beat em up. The house has several rooms, but forget looking around, gotta get to the boss before time expires to avoid a bad ending. This game would have been so much more fun if they had some exploration, maybe find items to help you progress, clues to get find the boss and other such innovations, but no, beat em up and find the quickest route...to be fair, it is still pretty good though.

The story, Rick is now married with a son. Unfortunately, evil is once again creeping up on them and their very own mansion becomes a Splatterhouse! Rick must once again don the mask and fight hordes of monsters leaving many of us to wonder, how did Rick and Jennifer get a mansion and did they really need a three floored home for just the three of them?

The game play has you basically going from room to room fighting terrible monstrosities and trying to beat the time limit so you can save Jennifer and the son. Though I was confused as it said Jennifer was dead well before the time expired; however, she appeared at the end so I guess she survived. The game could have used a bit more style in places as there is a boss fight with a teddy bear that was cool...wish there were more scenes like that throughout the game.

So, not great, but it was passable. It most certainly had the potential to be way better had they maybe added a few RPG elements. There were weapons here and there, but no shotgun, but the transformation was pretty cool. Not sure if I liked this one or the second one more. That one had more weapons, but at least this one did not feature a super hard final boss fight.