Splatterhouse 3
Encyclopedia
Splatterhouse 3 is the title of 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 a 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 images due to legal reasons.http://www.1up.com/news/splatterhouse-include-original-splatterhouse-trilogy
. 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. Meanwhile, the Mask feels the ancient energy that it recalls from ages past and begins to speak to Rick. Rick once more dons the mask and must fight the monsters that have invaded his mansion. Rick first fights to save Jennifer, who has been kidnapped by the Evil One, but it is revealed this was only a distraction while the Evil One took David.
Rick eventually defeats an entity known as 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.
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 endings 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 he 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.
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.
A timer has been introduced to the gameplay. 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 full, 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 (i.e. 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 time runs out will result in Jennifer being devoured internally by the boreworm planted inside of her body.
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
for the Mega Drive/Genesis
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
in 1993. It is the sequel to Splatterhouse 2
Splatterhouse 2
Splatterhouse 2 is a sidescrolling beat 'em up video game released in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis home video game console by Namco. It is the sequel to Splatterhouse....
and was one of the first games to be given a rating by Sega's own Videogame Rating Council
Videogame Rating Council
The Videogame Rating Council was introduced by Sega of America in 1993 to rate all video games that were released for sale in the United States on the Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear, Sega CD, and rarely, some computer games...
. In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
the game was given a MA-13 rating by the council for its graphic violence and gore. Unlike its predecessors, it was never released in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The game was included as an unlockable extra in the 2010 remake, with new artwork replacing the digitized images due to legal reasons.http://www.1up.com/news/splatterhouse-include-original-splatterhouse-trilogy
Plot
The game takes place about five years after the events of Splatterhouse 2Splatterhouse 2
Splatterhouse 2 is a sidescrolling beat 'em up video game released in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis home video game console by Namco. It is the sequel to Splatterhouse....
. 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. Meanwhile, the Mask feels the ancient energy that it recalls from ages past and begins to speak to Rick. Rick once more dons the mask and must fight the monsters that have invaded his mansion. Rick first fights to save Jennifer, who has been kidnapped by the Evil One, but it is revealed this was only a distraction while the Evil One took David.
Rick eventually defeats an entity known as 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.
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 endings 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 he 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
Splatterhouse 3 dramatically changes the gameplay from the game's before it. Rick's environment is now much larger. The game features six levels, many taking place in the mansion. Instead of the side-scrollingSide-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
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.
A timer has been introduced to the gameplay. 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 full, 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
Password (video games)
In many video games of the 8-bit and, to a lesser extent, 16-bit eras , after a level was beaten and/or when all continues were used, the game would display a password, that when entered in the game would allow the player to return to this part in the game...
are also given to players to return to levels.
Occasionally, Rick is able to pick up weapons (i.e. 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 time runs out will result in Jennifer being devoured internally by the boreworm planted inside of her body.