Splatterhouse 3

Splatterhouse 3 is the third installment in the Splatterhouse series. The game follows the story of Splatterhouse 2 and it happens around five years after the one in the mentioned release. Rick and Jannifer have married each other and have a son named David. The memories of Terror Mask are behind the family in Splatterhouse 3, but this time there are various monsters that start to invate RIck's mansion, and his objective is to fight and get rid of all of them. There are several endings to the story: there's the "bad ending", there's the chance for Jennifer to die, there's the change for David to die, but there is also a happy ending.

Overview

Gross. Totally gross. So gross, in fact, it's kinda cool. That's Splatterhouse 3 from Namco. Following on the heels of the successful Splatterhouse 2, Rick and his Power Mask have returned to face another gore-splashed challenge from the Evil One. Face it. Splatterhouse 3 is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The monsters are truly putrid and every room is decorated with splashes of blood, arms, legs and things you never knew existed inside a human body. Splatterhouse 3 features sharp graphics, solid game play and a horror-based storyline that is so serious as to be comical. And it does its predecessor one better with eight additional megs of memory (for a total of 16 megs), better backgrounds and sounds, and game play so you can take the rooms in each of the six levels in different order. There are more than 65 rooms in total.

You play as Rick, a mild-mannered stockbroker with a Power Mask that lets him fight evil. His Mask and ripped clothing make Rick look a lot like Jason, the hockey-masked, horror movie hackster. The object of the game is to save your wife. Jennifer. and your son, David, from the blood-stained clutches of the Evil One before he turns them into the same kind of mindless monsters you find in the game .

Each level is a race against the timer. The faster you beat each round, the belter the game will go for you. Fail to beat the level boss monster before the timer runs out and things will go much, much worse.

Rick has two sets of moves: a basic set and a Mutant Rick set. Basic moves are martial arts oriented and include a Combination Punch, Jump Kick, Quad Spin Kick and a wicked Headbutt. Mutant Rick moves can be made after releasing the power you've stored by collecting the blue Eldritch Orbs. Ricks mutant moves include an Ab-Jab, Choke. Throwdown and a Megaton Driver.

The basic moves will get you through most of the game adequately, especially when you use the weapons found scattered around each level. Save the Mutant Power for end of round bosses, the bloody "X" on the map.

With four difficult levels, a password save, tight player interface and great graphics, Splatterhouse 3 is a good game for those who like beating the green stuff out of monsters.