Splatterhouse 3

Sample gameplay

In terms of gameplay, the game has changed significantly. The graphics improved noticeably: the colors became more saturated, which made the game more vivid, the textures themselves became clearer. The appearance of the main character has undergone some changes: his mask again changed shape. The music in the game has also become more diverse. The game has ceased to be linear, instead, each level is the floor of a mansion, through which you can walk, moving through the rooms through the doors to get to the desired one. Linearity lost and the movement itself - the character can now move up and down. The combat system also changed, a series of strikes, throws and special moves appeared in the game. For the sake of balance, the resistance of opponents was also corrected - to kill some, several series of blows are needed instead of one. Weapons also began to occur very rarely, so as not to spoil the balance with the new ability. This ability has become the POW scale, meaning energy that can be replenished by collecting blue spheres from killed enemies. Activating this ability, the mask completely covers Rick's head, and the clothes on his body are torn, exposing the torso. Rick himself becomes more muscular, as can be seen from his new, stronger blows and special moves. However, the energy is gradually consumed (even faster from special attacks), and if there are no opponents around or Rick dies, using energy - the scale is instantly empty. For the first time in the series, various endings appeared in this game, depending on the player's actions. This is due to the timer set at each level.

In addition to the standard movement in isometry, three buttons are involved: mask activation, punch and jump. Multiple pressing of the impact button leads to a series of strokes. Pressing the button kick in the jump leads to a kick, which knocks down opponents. The combination back, forward, back (and again forward, if the mask is activated), the blow leads to the execution of a circular blow. In normal mode, this is a foot rotation, with an activated mask it is a tentacle that grows out of Rick's body.

Coming close to the enemy, you can grab him and perform various manipulations: perform a series of three hits (pressing the strike button), throw the opponent (kick + left / right), hook (with the activated mask - hit under the edges) (kick + down). With an activated mask, one additional method is available: grabbing the opponent, you can hold up and jump, then Rick will jump with the opponent for the screen, and then fall with him, strongly hitting him on the floor. This is the strongest reception in the game.

The game takes place several years after the events of the previous part . Rick and Jennifer got married right away, and they had a son, David. Rick became quite successful in Connecticut scientists and teaches archeology and the history of ancient civilizations in one of the universities of this state. Rick's decent work allowed the family to acquire a large house for honestly earned. David has reached preschool age. Rick had long forgotten about Mask and the horrors of the past, but the nightmare from the past again became a reality. For dark forces, David’s age has become suitable for a nightmarish ritual, as David is the son of the one who wore the Mask of Terror. For this reason, their family home was filled with monsters - the horror from the past came back. Jennifer and David are in dire danger. Rick again puts on the Mask and begins to confront the monsters who have attacked his family.

Riku has to repel the monsters' attacks and clean the mansion from them, save Jennifer, who can die from the clutches of the first boss, or turn into a mad beast by the grace of the second boss. The first and second floors of the mansion provide for the rescue of Jennifer. David, hiding from the monsters in his room on the third floor, will be abducted by the Sinister, and carried off to the basement. These two levels imply the salvation of David.

After the end of the third level and the victory over the bear, Teddy Mask informs Rick that David has the power to free the hidden black magic of all the land enclosed in the Dark Stone. Rick in the basement stumbles upon a pentagram, in the center of which stands David. He is still alive. Rick takes him outside the devil's sign, and is transferred to the place where the Evil One (eng. Evil One) is trying to free the Dark Stone. After defeating the Sinister, Rick calms down. But not for long.

"Now I will rule the world!" - Mask of Terror declares and, merging with the remains of the Sinister, attacks Rick. Rick destroys the Mask and finally clears the mansion from evil, as evidenced by the clear sky at the end of the game.

At the beginning of the game, the Mask of Terror gives you instructions and a brief admonition: "Do not wander in vain if you want to save someone."

Enemies have such characteristics as speed, endurance and strength. As a rule, the characteristic grows with the chronology of the appearance, in some cases there are exceptions.

• Headless Zombies - Ordinary weak zombies. The third option is the strongest.
• Mimi - Incarnation of screaming Mimi from the second part. Violet version has increased speed. Reds are slower than purple, but they have the skill of rolling.
• Fat Man - Also incarnation of the boss from the second part. Usually found in pairs and leave items. The red version has the skill of a jerk and is one of the two most dangerous opponents in the game.
• Deformed zombies - Essentially the same as zombies, but with very high stamina.
• Zombie Dog - Very badly deformed zombies that look like dogs. Leave items. Gray is the most enduring.
• Ant head - Zombies with swollen toothy jaws. Yellow - the weakest in this species, the rest are dangerous due to the ability to do a roll.
• Phantom - Flying figure, covered with white cloth. May become temporarily invulnerable to attacks. Near attack with a huge hand hidden in the fabric. After losing half the health of the fabric is torn, exposing the ugly levitating head. The head can not become invulnerable and attacks near a giant tongue.
• Abominable beast - Is a copy of the boss of the first level. Usually found in pairs, learned to spit acid. Strength and endurance vary from the level at which they appear.
• Spirits - themselves are not dangerous; carry away the weapon that the player dropped.

Bosses

Each boss has two forms in which they have a new skill or completely different abilities.

• Disgusting beast - Big humanoid monster. Attacks paws. After losing half the health of the upper part of the skull falls off, leaving the lower jaw with a dangling tongue. In this case, at close range, it attacks with a giant hand that emerges from the throat instead of the tongue.
• The giant grave worm is a worm -like monster with a long red body on small legs. She publishes demonic laughter, can spit out little carnivorous worms and jump high. After losing half the health, the worm's head explodes, exposing a bunch of small white worms that make up its torso. Appears the ability to crawl quickly on the floor.
• Teddy Bear - Is an obsessed teddy bear. Initially, his only attack is rolling on the floor, which he rarely uses, mostly running up to Rick's feet and falling. After losing half the health of the toy, the head falls off, and the mouth and giant paws grow from there. From this point on, the teddy bear begins to behave aggressively. He is able to move quickly with the help of his hands with a huge open mouth and does this every time after he rises after a player’s attack.
• Embryo - Externally very similar to the embryos from the first part of the game; attacks the body with a process and electrical discharges. After losing half the health of the bubble bursts, and from it emerges a giant caterpillar-like creature with a huge jaw and the ability to shock.
• Ominous - The main villain of the series, physically appearing for the second time. Much smaller than his form in the second part, he is still able to strike with lightning, as well as to beat his hands and attack with fireballs. After losing half the health, the body of the sinister cracks. The thunderbolt is replaced by a giant ghostly face, resembling the second boss of Splatterhouse II.
• Mask - The Mask of Terror merges with the remains of the Ominous and turns into a red muscular version of the mutant Rick without legs. Attacks a ghostly wave and streams of fire, bursting out of the ground. After losing half the health of the body turns into a giant version of the Masks with organic matter instead of the neck. Attacks with needles and creates his ghostly copy, which for some time pursued Rick. It has the ability to teleport.

The game has four options for ending. In any of the bad endings, the Mask collapses, but before it says: “I eat the suffering of people. As long as human suffering exists, I will continue to exist. ” The endings depend on whether you saved Jennifer and David, one person, or did not save both :

Bad ending: In a bad ending, Rick cannot save either Jennifer or David. Then the ending develops as usual, but then the inscription appears: "Left alone, overwhelmed by a heavy burden of guilt." Next, a picture of Rick and his family is shown, followed by the inscription: “One ... All alone”.

Jennifer dies: The game ends with Rick saving David, but not saving Jennifer. Then the ending develops as usual, but at the end follows the inscription: "Jennifer will live forever in the memory of Rick and David." Then follows the scene in which David asks Rick: “Where is mom?”. The game ends.

David dies: The game ends with Rick saving Jennifer, but David dies. Then the ending develops as usual, but at the end follows the inscription: "David will live forever in the memory of Rick and Jennifer." Then follows the scene in which Jennifer asks Rick: “Where is David?”. Rick answers her (behind the scenes), after which she cries out: "NO !!!". The game ends.

A good ending: In a good ending, Rick saves both Jennifer and David. At the same time, both the melody and the Mask dialog change. She cries out: "I can not see ... I can not hear ... I am dying!". A normal, talking Rick returns to his family, forever free from the Mask of Terror.

• Game info