It Came From Japan

Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti

こんにちは!  Today we have an awesome side scrolling game with tons of movie references from Namco for the Famicom.  It’s Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti!  Now you may be familiar with the Splatterhouse game that recently game out on the Xbox 360, or the Sega Genesis version but this game is actually quite different.  This version isn’t as creepy as its counter parts since it features super deformed characters which I think add to the game.  Nothing like a chibi guy with a hockey type mask carrying a big knife/axe, this doesn’t remind me of a specific movie franchise at all. :)  Like all the other games I post here on It Came From Japan, you do not need to know Japanese to enjoy it!

If you have a Famicom and you don’t already own this awesome game you HAVE to get it!  It’s such a quirky fun side scroller game you will not regret it.  It has so much personality and great horror movie like references it’s a must play.

The game starts off with your girlfriend Jennifer visiting your grave and crying, just then lightning hits the grave bringing you (Rick) back to life!  Just then the evil Pumpkin King comes and kidnaps your girlfriend, for some undetermined reason so it’s up to you to save her!

At the end of the first level one of my favorite moments of the game happens, you have to fight Dracula but not until him and his minions do the Michael Jackson Thriller dance first!

After the Thriller dance routine is finished and you defeat Dracula it’s onto a creepy cabin which is seems like the creators were influence by Raimi’s Evil Dead movie mixed with a little bit of the Exorcist with this boss battle!

Nothing like a girl who can spin her head totally around! She kind of looks like a creepy version of Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Once you are through the cabin you are sent to the street to defeat the evil pumpkin minions.  This kind of reminds me of the Nightmare on Elm Street game for the NES where you are going down the street trying to find a house you can enter.

Soon you find this creepy house with what looks like torture chambers, then you find this girl (who just happens to look like Ki from Quest of Ki) just laying there.  Soon in Alien movie fashion a spider like face hugger thing bursts from her chest and the battle is on!

Unfortunately I haven’t gotten past this part in the game, but I hope seeing some of these screenshots might entice you to try out this game.  As you can see the graphics are really nice with all the bright colors, and the music is super catchy too.  So if you like horror movies, side scrollers or games with chibi characters this is a must buy!  さようなら! and until the next post, happy gaming!