Splatterhouse Part 2-Megadrive/Genesis Review

 Splatterhouse Part 2 was released four years after the arcade original and two years after the PC Engine/Turbografx-16 hit. Picking up with the saga of Rick Taylor, Splatterhouse 2 was met with mixed reviews upon release. Let's take a look at why this sequel has failed to age as gracefully as the first game in the series. 

Splatterhouse Part 2 is really more of the same. For those who played the original, this means lots of gore and lots of guts. Modern gamers might fail to realize that in 1992, this series was certainly one of the most gory games out there. Splatterhouse Part 2's monsters appear even more demented and grotesque than the first game. While it might seem fairly tame nowadays, I did feel a tad disgusted by the 16-bit depictions of mutilated corpses and beasts. 

The gameplay and story in the sequel do not really deviate from the first game. You play as the same hero, Rick Taylor. This time, Rick has been tempted by the "terror mask" to go back to the mansion from the first game to save his girlfriend Jennifer, who was killed in the first game. The story is not terribly deep, but it works for the b-movie setting. Like the first game, you make your way through several levels of the mansion and grounds, killing every demonic nasty in the way.


 Rick is still armed with his fists and kicks as his primary weapons. You can pick up boards, bones, and even guns to help dispatch the demon spawn you face. Gameplay is quite mindless, and do not expect any serious depth. The only variation is the boat levels, where you face off against monsters using a projectile weapon. Splatterhouse Part 2 definitely does not stray from the formula laid out in the first game. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as Splatterhouse was a solid action game in its day.

Those expecting a long and deep game will certainly be disappointed by this sequel. The game can be beaten is a couple of hours. While not terribly difficult, it can be somewhat of a challenge for novice players. As a sequel, Spatterhouse Part 2 plays it safe and failed to innovate. However, it is certainly not a bad game or sequel. For collectors, expect to pay over $100 dollars for a complete copy of this rare game. Is it worth it? .........Not really.

Rating: 7/10