As far as simple arcade games go, people will be typically turned off by Splatterhouse due to its heavy controls and demand for raw inputs. I, however, adore the way this game feels, every single landing attack feels damn good, and the methods you can achieve for quick kills are gratifying. While it is a severely punishing game, it feels right in this world where you're this big brute trying to save his girlfriend from an off-the-walls haunted mansion!

I also can't emphasize enough how much I adore the presentation. So many homages to classic and contemporary horror films from beginning to end, and the unapologetic, gorey nature of the visuals and animation. This concept of "Japanese devs being inspired by a bunch of Western horror movies" is mostly lost these days, but it's a flavor I simply can NEVER get enough of. And Splatterhouse oozes with this vibe from beginning to end.