Splatterhouse is an average game, that actually is extremely fun
Splatterhouse was originally released for the arcades in 1988, and was somewhat controversial. It was then ported to the TG-16 in 1990. Splatterhouse is pretty much just an average 2D side scroller beat em up. You take control of a teenage guy who puts on a mask and becomes ripped trying to save his girlfriend from the haunted mansion.
In Splatterhouse you pretty much just move to the right and you have an attack button and a jump button. The game is horror themed, and has deadly and frightening looking creatures you'll have to attack. This game does require a lot of memorization though, as you'll have trial and error most of the enemies, as most of them come in patterns and some attack from behind, to give it some kind of depth. The combat and controls do seem a little stiff though, and not truly fulfilling. There are 8 stages, and each with an ending boss, which are very hard, and yeah, this game is no cake walk, it is extremely hard. Splatterhouse isn't a game you'll be able to just sit down for a little while and power through, this game requires tons of memorization, and is very difficult, and requiring you to really learn the levels. Throughout the game there is also weapons you can pick up, such as chainsaws, and pipes, etc. Overall, its a pretty fun game to play, but doesn't really break any ground or invent anything new to the genre.
Compared to the arcade game, this port is excellent, and could even be considered better to some degree. The look of the game really suits the nature of where you are, in a haunted creepy mansion full of disgusting horrifying creatures. Back in the the day I remember playing this game at nightime in my grandmas dark dungeon looking basement, and well being quite freaked out at the time., but not to sure it could have that same effect nowadays 20 years later as far as horror games have come now.
Splatterhouse doesn't do anything to jump the gun, but is pretty fun in its own right, aside the frustration. I would recommend this game to anyone that can enjoy these type of games, but you'll quickly realize it isn't all ranging in its gameplay. Also check out what the small hype and controversy was for the time, as this game could be considered a novelty in video games history.