There Will Be Blood- Splatterhouse Review

Much like the reoccurring expedition which has served as the series’ backstory, Splatterhouse‘s conception has been filled with uncertainly and threat. Once helmed by BottleRocket Entertainment- the studio responsible for the 2002’s inspired Mark of Kri, the game was later handed over to one of Namco-Bandai’s internal development groups. Although both a protracted production period and a change of design teams can be harbingers of failure, Splatterhouse manages to provide players with a clenched fistful of blood-soaked charms. After all, there’s a woefully scarce number of games which let players fight off attackers with one of their own appendages. Regretfully, these moments don’t come consistently enough to elevate the title above most of its M-rated action-game peers.

Splatterhouse‘s storyline remains faithful to its arcade and early console roots, as series protagonist Rick lays bleeding to death- his girlfriend Jennifer kidnapped by the nefarious Dr. West. Nearby lays the series’ iconic mask, which proposes a Faustian deal to the college student. With his life drawing near, Rick reluctantly dons the mask, and transforms into a muscle-bound behemoth. Trapped within this hulking shell, our protagonist is forcing to kill an incessant onslaught of ferocious beasts and bosses. Fortuitously, each of the creatures is filled with an amble supply of blood, which just happens to be the nutrient Rick needs to further augment his metamorphosis.

Most of the time, players will be pummeling foes with a familiar set of light, heavy strikes as well as a handful of grapple moves. As is customary of the beat ’em genre, there’s a healthy set of combos to be mastered, initiated with both button taps and prolonged presses. Additionally, players have the ability to block basic strikes, initiate a indispensable defensive roll, and even extract blood from foes to refill the protagonists’ health gauge. Splatterhouse‘s moveset will surely draw comparisons to Kratos’ powerful repertoire- although the God of War character’s blades certainly have a greater reach, even when Rick picks up a discarded 2×4 or iron pipe.  Like the Greek demigod, weakened enemies can be devastated by a quick-time event, with players pushing the analog sticks in specific directions to rip foes into mounds of flaccid flesh. It’s unfortunate there isn’t a wider range of these gristly finishing moves.

Periodically, the game will shift into a side-scrolling mode to pay homage to the series’ roots. While this transition could have adeptly complemented the 3D fisticuffs, these sequences feel woefully underdeveloped. Jumping over rising spikes or swinging obstacles often lacks precision; more than a few times Rick was grazed while standing on a secure area. Control issues are worsened once Splatterhouse‘s platforming enters the third dimension. Here, a bit of unresponsiveness will lead to the occasional instant death, compounded by a lengthy reload.

Visually, Splatterhouse presents a persistently gushing geyser of blood and entrails, often coating the screen with washes of crimson gore. Between Rick’s gaping wounds and the sporadic evisceration  of enemies, gamers would be hard pressed to find a game with as much gratuitous bloodletting. Sadly, an uneven framerate and unwieldy camera impair the impact of the title’s Grand Guignol delivery. Inexplicably, the game’s perspective can drift into a impractical low-angle shot when fighting one of the sturdier foes. Sonically, Splatterhouse is elevated by Jim Cummings spirited delivery as the mask, but the game’s soundtrack is an irregular combination of remixes tracks from the original franchise with a sporadic inclusion of metal. For retro enthusiasts, the inclusion of the original arcade title as well as the two Sega Genesis sequels (unlocked as players progress through the main campaign) are a welcome addition.

Much like the slasher films which serve as the game’s inspiration, Splatterhouse doesn’t try to woo audiences with narrative heft or technical mastery. Instead, the title delivers a grisly, decidedly low-brow brawling experience undermined by the occasional unrefined execution. Players willing to look past a few flaws for the chance to beat baddies with their own arm will likely find catharsis in Splatterhouse‘s butchery.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

44 comments

  1. I live that the included the old games in there. If this one goes on sale, I may get it.

  2. Man, I want this so bad. But something inside me tells me to wait for a sale. Too bad this didn’t come out a Majin price.

  3. Reminds me of Madworld, but in color.

  4. Sounds like it could have been a really great game if they just worked on a bit more.

  5. Great review. As a fan of the old games, I was really hoping this would be good. I’ll probably take a ‘stab’ at it when a price drop happens.

  6. Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said the game was gory.

  7. A perfect Christmas game for the wife and kids.

  8. Now here’s a game begging for Kinect support.

  9. I’m glad to see Rick still has a tiny head and huge body. He’s like that guy whose always at the gym.

  10. There better be chainsaws in it. This game should come as a test to make sure every LED in your HDTV can display red properly.

  11. Not quite the reboot fans were waiting for, but seems like it’s worth a rent.

  12. I’m still trying to figure our how to throw the little bastard monsters on the spikes. Is there a trick to doing this?

  13. It’s a shame they didn’t take a few more months to really polish it.

    BTW- This was made by the same team that made Afro Samurai.

  14. World of Porncraft

    You really need to mention you can collect pieces pictures of Jennifer’s naked pics.

  15. as SNOLA would say, “boobies!!!!!!”

  16. “but the game’s soundtrack is an irregular combination of remixes tracks from the original franchise with a sporadic inclusion of metal. “

    Were you expecting Beyonce?

  17. When did my podcast partner become an unofficial member of the Bloodhound Gang gang?

  18. I wasn’t not surprised by the inclusion of grinding metal, but it’s integration is just infrequent enough to be noticeable.

  19. If MS was smart enough to do that, they might actually reach 5 million units this year.

  20. It’s got violence, a bit of sex, but no co-op? Brawlers are always better with a friend.

  21. A C seem much better than that hack on IGN who gave the game a poor. God, Arthur Gies is a horribly negative reviewer. He’s so negative on Rebel FM, I don’t know how people can listen to him.

  22. “All my single legged ladies”?

  23. Note to devs: blood alone doesn’t make a game worth playing.

  24. C seems a little high for this. I played through the first four stages and really was never having fun. The game never seemed to come together.

  25. Great review, Deagle. Nobody writes em like you do.

  26. Anyone see this on sale anywhere?

  27. “Much like the slasher films which serve as the game’s inspiration, Splatterhouse doesn’t try to woo audiences with narrative heft or technical mastery.”

    Uh, have you seen a Dario Argento movie, Deagle?

  28. I used to read IGN every day, then things started falling apart- they got writers who didn’t understand or care for the games they covered (especially RPGs). Now, I rarely do anymore. RIP, guys.

  29. Thanks, I had a $20 voucher sitting around. $30 isn’t too bad…

  30. I gameflyed it and sort of like it. Its certainly no God of War 3. My problem is that the stages feel totally different. Each one just places you in a different zone without much explanation.

  31. I might have to wait until this goes on sale.

  32. Great review, deagle.

  33. Kind of a low grade. I’ll probably rent this one.

  34. Yeah, I’m surprised they didn’t put that in as well.

  35. I agree- the framerate is pretty bad. Maybe it’s all the blood and gore effects.

  36. Ya’ll crazy. Splatterhouse is the real shit. Im loving this game and its crazyass gore and shit. If you aint feeling it, maybe you should be playing Dora the Explorer or sumthin.

  37. Sniper, no sniping?

    🙂

  38. Well done, Deagle.

  39. graphics look ok, tons of gore. Once this hits $20, I’m so there.

  40. Just bought this today. Not bad, but not great. The framerate got pretty chunky, but I like the fighting.

  41. HAHA, I got a laugh of out that.

  42. Hey Adam you kind of got a shoutout on the CAGcast. Ship didn’t quite get your name, rocking android or the name of the game, but still….

  43. I heard that, too. Funny listening to Shipwreck try to pronounce QLione.