Splatterhouse 2
| Splatterhouse 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Now Production |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Distributor(s) | Sega |
| Director(s) | 100 Taro |
| Producer(s) | Papaya Payapaya |
| Programmer(s) | Haruo Ohori |
| Artist(s) |
A. Chan Gyoee~! Miyachan Taiji Nagayama |
| Composer(s) | Eiko Kaneda |
| Platform(s) | Mega Drive/Genesis |
| Release date(s) |
Mega Drive/Genesis
Virtual Console
|
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up, Horror |
| Mode(s) | 1 player |
Splatterhouse 2, known in Japan as Splatterhouse Part 2 (スプラッターハウスPART2) is a sidescrolling beat 'em up video game released in 1992 on the Mega Drive/Genesis home video game console published by Namco. It is the sequel to Splatterhouse.
On August 4, 2008, the game was released on the Wii Virtual Console in North America.[1] It is the first and the only ESRB M-rated game to be released for the Virtual Console. The game was included as an unlockable extra in the 2010 remake.[2]
Story
Three months have gone by since the events of the first game. The Terror Mask, which has reformed after breaking at the climax of the first game, appears to Rick and repeatedly tempts him to "go back to the house", telling him that Jennifer "doesn't have to die". It closes by telling Rick "You need me".[3][4] Rick succeeds in rescuing Jennifer, and the House sinks into the bottom of the river.
Gameplay
Splatterhouse 2 features gameplay very similar to the first game.[5] The player controls Rick through eight different stages, each two-dimensional. Rick's attacks remain largely unchanged, able to punch, kick, jump kick, and slide kick, as well as use several weapons scattered throughout the levels. Each level features a boss at the end, often a grotesque monster. New additions to the gameplay include a difficulty setting and a password system for the English version (Japanese version lacks a password feature), taken from Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti.[5]
Regional differences
In the western versions of the game, the design of the terror mask is skull-like. In the Japanese version, the mask is white with black stripes over each eye, the mask loosely resembles a Japanese kabuki mask.[5] Due to the translation when the game was localized, some elements are clearer in the Japanese version. In it, the Mask instructs Rick to "find the hidden house" and that Jennifer is in "the land of the dead". In the western version, the Mask instructs Rick to "go back to the house" and does not specify where Jennifer is. This has caused some confusion among players that have not played the original Japanese version, with several believing that the intact mansion in the second game is the West Mansion from the original Splatterhouse, when in fact the charred ruins that make up the first stage are what is left of West Mansion (these ruins can also be clearly seen in the opening of the game, before the screen scrolls over to reveal the other mansion, aka the "hidden house").
Reception
Upon reviewing the game for its Virtual Console release, Lucas Thomas of IGN noted that he was largely unimpressed with the game's lack of innovation, ultimately giving it a 5.5 out of 10.[6] While he praised the game's continuation of its gory presentation, he wrote that "Splatterhouse 2 is even more violent and replete with even more disturbing images, the shock value is largely gone. We've seen it all before".
References
- ↑ "One WiiWare Game and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo of America. 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
- ↑ http://www.1up.com/news/splatterhouse-include-original-splatterhouse-trilogy
- ↑ Opening: It's been 3 months since the tragedy. Rick has been suffering from nightmares. Nightmares in which he couldn't help Jennifer... You can help her, Rick! She isn't going to die. If you want to save her, you must find the hidden house. You will find the secret of bringing life. I will give you the power.Namco (1992). Splatterhouse 2. Mega Drive. Namco.
- ↑ Opening (NA)It's been three months since your escape. Haunted by guilt and tormented by nightmares... Nightmares of...
Jennifer's screams and the infernal temptations of the mask. "She doesn't have to die, Rick."
"We can save her." "Go back to the house." "I'll find you there..." "Only I can give you the power." "You need me."
Namco (1992). Splatterhouse 2. Genesis. Namco. - 1 2 3 Rob Strangman (2007). "Splatterhouse at Hardcore Gaming 101". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
- ↑ Lucas M. Thomas (2008). "Splatterhouse 2 review at IGN". Retrieved 2009-12-04.