About this game
Released in 1990, the PC Engine port of Splatterhouse brought Namco's horror arcade brawler into living rooms with remarkable fidelity. Players control Rick Taylor, a parapsychology student possessed by a demonic mask, as he battles grotesque monsters through a haunted mansion. Its explicit gore — severed heads, blood-soaked walls, dismembered bodies — was shocking for a home console in 1990, and the game's uncompromising horror aesthetic made it a defining title of the PC Engine's early library.
Key Features
Side-scrolling beat 'em up gameplay with various weapons found throughout the mansion, a graphic horror aesthetic using the PC Engine's color capabilities, and a haunted house stage design inspired by American splatter horror films.
The Story Behind
Splatterhouse was one of the earliest games to deliberately court controversy with extreme horror content. Its PC Engine port was one of the most faithful home conversions of an arcade game in 1990, and the title helped establish the PC Engine as a platform for mature content that other consoles avoided.
Tricks & Tales
The Terror Mask worn by Rick Taylor was reportedly inspired by Jason Voorhees' hockey mask from the Friday the 13th franchise. The original arcade version was banned or restricted in several countries due to its violent content.
Collector's Guide
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
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