Splatterhouse 3
| Splatterhouse 3 | |
|---|---|
 Packaging for the North American Genesis version. | |
| Developer(s) | Now Production |
| Publisher(s) | Namco |
| Distributor(s) | Namco |
| Director(s) | Taiji Nagayama |
| Producer(s) |
Masami Shimotsuma Papaya Payapaya |
| Designer(s) | Masami Shimotsuma |
| Programmer(s) | Haruo Ohori |
| Artist(s) |
Gyoee! Miyazaki Takashi Yoshida |
| Composer(s) | Eiko Kaneda |
| Series | Splatterhouse |
| Platform(s) | Mega Drive/Genesis |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Beat 'em up, Horror |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Splatterhouse 3, known in Japan as Splatterhouse Part 3 (スプラッターハウスPART3) is a video game released by Namco for the Mega Drive/Genesis in 1993. It is the sequel to Splatterhouse 2 and was one of the first games to be given a rating by Sega's own Videogame Rating Council. In North America the game was given an MA-13 rating by the council for its graphic violence and gore. Unlike its predecessors, it was never released in Europe. The game was included as an unlockable extra in the 2010 remake, with new artwork replacing the digitized photographs due to legal reasons.[1]
Plot
The game takes place about five years after the events of Splatterhouse 2. Rick and Jennifer have since married and have a son named David. Rick has also become successful on Wall Street and has bought a mansion in Connecticut, putting the memories of the Terror Mask behind him.[2] Meanwhile, the Mask feels the ancient energy that it recalls from ages past and begins to speak to Rick. Rick must don the mask for the third time and fight the monsters that have invaded his mansion. Rick first fights to save Jennifer, who has been kidnapped by an entity known as the Evil One, but it is revealed this was only a distraction while the Evil One took David.
Rick eventually defeats the Evil One, who had planned to use David's latent psychic abilities to unlock the power of an object known as the Dark Stone. Upon defeating the Evil One, the Mask reveals its true, evil intentions. Rick must then destroy the Terror Mask permanently.[3]
There are four possible endings, depending on if you save Jennifer and David, save one or the other, or fail to save them both. All but the best ending start out with the Mask saying he'll continue to exist as long as there's human suffering, and as he shatters, it says how the sky has cleared, and that evil has once again been banished. The endings are as follow.
Bad Ending: If Rick fails to save both his wife and child, the ending goes as usual, but it states that Rick "stands alone, the weight of failure hanging heavily on him". It then shows a picture of him and his family, with the words "Alone. All alone..."
Jennifer Dies: If Rick fails to save Jennifer, but rescues David, it shows the ending as normal, but that Jennifer "exists only as a memory". It then shows David asking his dad where his mother is, and fades after that.
David Dies: If Jennifer is rescued, but David dies, the ending goes on as usual, but with David "being only a memory". Jennifer then asks Rick where David is, and after being told (though the dialog isn't shown), she cries out "no".
Good Ending: Should both survive, the ending is different. Apart from a more pleasant tune, the mask's dialog changes. Instead of saying that he'll survive, he cries out "Can't see... can't hear... I'm dying...!!" before shattering. It continues as normal, saying Rick returns to his family, finally free of the Terror Mask.
Gameplay
The game features six levels, many taking place in the mansion. Instead of the side-scrolling action of the previous games, Splatterhouse 3 features non-linear exploration throughout several different rooms, forcing Rick to often backtrack as he tries to find the exit. Players are given a map of each level. Each level must be cleared in a certain amount of time. Although this does not affect gameplay, running out of time results in changes in the plot, creating four possible endings. By running out of time, for example, Jennifer will be killed in the second level. New to Splatterhouse is the Power Meter, which can be filled by collecting Eldritch Orbs found throughout levels and occasionally are dropped by defeated enemies. Once the bar is filled by at least one orb, the player can transform Rick into a hulking and more monstrous version of himself with the Terror Mask being seemingly fused to his head. In this state, Rick is significantly stronger and can execute a special attack that involves pieces of his flesh extending from his chest area and acting as a weapon, injuring any monster in the vicinity of their reach. Also, instead of actually wielding the weapons he finds, the mutated version of Rick simply flings them at enemies, dealing a fair bit more damage than swinging the weapons as normal Rick would have.
Extra lives and health items are also scattered throughout the levels. Passwords are also given to players to return to levels. Occasionally, Rick is able to pick up weapons (e.g. a baseball bat or a cleaver, among others) to use against the monsters. Once you defeat all the monsters in the room an in-game map appears to give you some choice in how you get to the end of each level. The game's storyline alters significantly if you fail to finish levels before the allotted time runs out. For example; in the second level you are tasked with saving Rick's wife Jennifer from being devoured by a boreworm. In order to save her, you must reach the end of the level to confront and defeat the boreworm within the time limit. Failing to do so before the time runs out will result in Jennifer being devoured internally by the boreworm planted inside of her body.
References
- ↑ New Splatterhouse to Include Original Splatterhouse Trilogy, 1-up
- ↑ Rob Strangman (2007). "Splatterhouse at Hardcore Gaming 101". Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ↑ Rob. "West Mansion: The Splatterhouse Home Page". Retrieved 2009-12-07.