Splatterhouse (TurboGrafx-16) | Walkthrough

Splatterhouse for the PC Engine was released in 1990 as a port of Namco’s 1988 arcade game. Known for its horror atmosphere and grotesque imagery, the game follows Rick Taylor, a college student who seeks shelter in West Mansion with his girlfriend Jennifer. After being mortally wounded, Rick is revived by the Terror Mask, which grants him strength to fight through monsters in a desperate attempt to save her. The story takes a dark turn when Jennifer is transformed into a creature, and the game ends with a grim reminder that the mask’s power still lingers.

Compared to the arcade version, the PC Engine port kept much of the mood but made changes due to hardware limits and censorship. The opening cutscene was simplified, Jennifer’s scream was removed, and weapons like cleavers were replaced with wooden sticks. Gore effects and obscene gestures were toned down, and some religious imagery was altered or removed in overseas versions. The North American TurboGrafx-16 release also changed Rick’s mask from white to red to avoid similarities with Jason from Friday the 13th, while the Japanese version retained the original design.

Visually and sonically the game was scaled back, with fewer animation frames and missing sound effects, but the soundtrack and atmosphere carried over well. Stages remained mostly linear with occasional branching paths, and each ended with a distinct boss fight. Difficulty was high due to scarce healing and limited continues, though slightly reduced compared to the arcade original. Hidden features like stage select and sound test added replay value, and the Japanese manual stood out for its full-color illustrations and detailed backstory.

Despite the compromises, Splatterhouse on PC Engine is remembered as one of the system’s most striking titles. It delivered a rare horror experience on home consoles, preserving the unsettling tone of the arcade game while reflecting the balance between censorship and authenticity. The port gained cult status and remains a notable example of how early console hardware adapted a controversial arcade hit.

0:00 Start/Opening
0:25 Stage I
1:15 Boss - Boreworms (Body Eaters)
1:54 Stage II
3:29 Boss - Poltergeist
4:15 Stage III
5:02 Boss - Biggy Man
5:22 Stage IV
7:29 Boss - Evil Cross
9:00 Stage V
11:59 Boss - Jennifer
13:34 Stage VI
14:48 Boss - Mother
15:26 Stage VII
16:05 Boss - Hell Chaos
17:43 Ending

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Full gameplay walkthrough of Splatterhouse (PC Engine / Namco, 1990).
Watch the complete playthrough of this infamous horror action title in its home console adaptation. Step into the role of Rick Taylor, revived by the Terror Mask, as you battle grotesque monsters in West Mansion to rescue Jennifer. The PC Engine port retained much of the arcade’s atmosphere while undergoing changes due to censorship and hardware limits—blood effects were toned down, weapons altered, and some cutscenes simplified. Despite these compromises, it remains one of the most striking titles on the system, delivering a rare horror experience on a home console. All stages cleared – no cheats, no commentary (unless stated otherwise).

🌎 [Localized Captions]
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