Splatterhouse: Behind the Blood Featurette

Bet you thought the Splatterhouse brew-ha-ha was over, eh? Despite critical reviews by some of the internet's largest gaming sites (go suck an egg IGN and Kotaku), my passion for splattering is far from extinguished. Luckily, Namco Bandai is more than willing to feed my need with two new videos they released this past Friday featuring a behind the scenes look at both the art and history of Splatterhouse.

You might recognize Dave Wilkins (Art Director) who was kind enough to stop by and lay some knowledge of the game on us way back in July (click here to see that interview). Dan Tovar has also been a driving force behind the new game as Producer. It's a shame what happened to this stellar team of creators (if you haven't heard, Namco sent 90 employees packing recently including the entire Splatterhouse dev team), and there's absolutely no reason for it to be garnering such bad reviews. On the bright side, reader reviews on many of these same sites seem almost entirely positive.

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Head Games: Splatterhouse (2010)

"You've got red on you."

With an epic quest that began a little over a decade ago, the King of Carnage has returned to us in better shape than ever in a blood-drenched redux driven by revenge, ultra-violence and a whole lot of badassery. Full of abhorred mutations from another dimension and a mask with questionable (but very helpful) intentions, Splatterhouse begins as it typically does... with Rick Taylor reborn in blood and fueled by hate thanks to the mysterious Terror Mask.

Of course, one of the many things this new version of Splatterhouse does well is provide a plethora of more background information than previous entries in the franchise, essentially combining the storylines of all three games into a singular mythology.

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Splatterhouse Vixen Jennifer Willis "Revealed" in Playboy Spread

UPDATE: For the full view of Jennifer's spread in addition to Playboy's review of the game, visit Playboy.com. 

So you think one Splatterhouse update is enough? Think again! Yours truly was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Playboy's latest cross promotion for game heads with a full page spread featuring none other than Namco's Splatterhouse lade in distress: Jennifer Willis.

Although I can't show the full spread here due to the variety of age groups that hang out at the clubhouse, you can check it out in the December issue of Playboy magazine on stands now. And let me tell you... if you're a fan of video games and beautiful women, it's well worth the price of admission. Really a precursor to the often lauded bonus material available in the new game in which players can collect fragments of Jennifer's "all natural" auteur self portraits, this promotion is sure to stir the blood(flow) in any diehard Splatterhouse fan. What I can share, however, is Jennifer's bio page which offers a few references to the horror genre for the eagle-eyed fan. Yes, Rick's main squeeze sure has come a long way from being that 8-bit brunette we all remember way back when.

Wonder if this means she's legal now...

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Splatterhouse Retrospective Part III: The End?

Splatterhouse 3/Splatterhouse Part 3 (Namco: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 1993)

"As long as that Mask remains... it can happen again." - Rick Taylor, Splatterhouse 2

A glittering red crystal slowly rotates in the darkness as eerie music begins to play. Without warning, ghostly heads appear all around it, roaring as they fade away. More appear, all roaring as the crystal spins serenely. The heads and the crystal are replaced by a flickering light, an ominous shadow the only thing that can be seen. Its red eyes pierce the darkness, shining steadily through the strobing lights.

And from the right, a familiar bloody logo begins to scroll past your eyes.

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Splatterhouse Retrospective Part II: The Terror Mask Returns

Splatterhouse 2/Splatterhouse Part 2 (Namco: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 1992)

When we last left Rick Taylor, the worst night of his life had just ended. It all began when he and his girlfriend, Jennifer Wills, had sought refuge from a thunderstorm in the old West Mansion. Jennifer had been abducted by monsters, and Rick had been bonded to a horrible ancient relic, the Terror Mask. Armed with the power that the Mask had given him and any weapon he could find, Rick had battled his way to the very heart of West Mansion, only to find that Jennifer had been altered by these creatures and was transformed into a horrible monster before his very eyes. The only way to save her... had been to kill her.

But even after Jennifer's death, his fight was not over. But finally, Rick stood victorious. The old mansion was being consumed by flames as the Terror Mask broke away from his face and hit the ground. Was it truly over? Judging by the ominous rebirth of the Mask after the credits rolled, probably not.

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New 'Splatterhouse' Art, Alternative Terror Masks PLUS New Footage

Well it seems that Namco still has some sneak freaks left for us Splatter-fans in preparation of the upcoming release on November 23rd. Perhaps the most exciting news being that there will apparently be alternative Terror Masks that you can unlock as depicted in the screenshots below. Alternative masks?! How freaking awesome!! It seems as though they're even referencing some of the original concept for the masks as well.

And if that's not enough to send you shrieking into the night like an excited lemming, Fearnet has some new footage with Dan Tovar discussing the game's Splatterkill system (see above) AND Namco has also released details about a Survival Arenas. According the official press release these are

unlockable 20 rounds of unending horror which enable players to take on ever increasing waves of grotesque monsters in a test of endurance and strength. Players start off with full health and an empty Necro Meter and must slay their way past each round, building their Necro Energy, purchasing Necro Moves, and relying on the Splatter Siphon healing ability.

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Splatterhouse Retrospective Part I: Welcome to West Mansion

The unthinkable has happened: after seventeen years, Splatterhouse is finally returning from the grave. The upcoming Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 title, due to hit stores on 11/23, is a reboot of the series, extra heavy on the gore and metal. It was originally slated for an October release, but was pushed back for further polishing.

It's been a long, strange road for the game. Originally being created for Namco Bandai by BottleRocket Entertainment, it was announced in 2008 with an anticipated 2009 release date. But things didn't go as planned (when do they ever in Splatterhouse?), and a number of things happened, namely the removal of BottleRocket from the project and the decision to make the game entirely in-house at Namco Bandai - ably assisted by several former BottleRocket artists and programmers.

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Splatterhouse Website Relaunches PLUS New Footage

As promised a week or so back the official Splatterhouse site has relaunched with a slightly overhauled look and tons of new content. There are some new streaming audio tracks and a section dedicated to the bands from the game's OST, a new media section with some new goodies, features list, and even character profiles that reveal a bit more of the storyline.

Of course who could look past that prominent "Buy Now" button which takes you to a section that shows off all of the incentives for pre-ordering the game. Personally I've got mine on pre-order from Game Stop so I can get that sweet looking "Mask" statuette, but to be honest that all sound pretty awesome. You'll also be able to play the original Splatterhouse on your mobile phone (iPhone or Android) soon too! November can't come soon enough.

UPDATE: It would seems yesterday's post was a little shy of missing this killer preview game footage courtesy of Gametrailers (see above)! This only fuels my excitement for what I anticipate to be Strange Kid's Game of the Year. Forget the turkey... this November it's all about squishy aberrations of science!

This article is part of the Countdown to Halloween blogathon, a month-long blogging marathon dedicated to honoring the Halloween season. For more information and a full list of participating sites, please visit www.countdowntohalloween.com.

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New Splatter Sightings! New Screenshots + Original Concept Art

Though the game is still a month away now (due to it being delayed until November 23), that doesn't mean the team behind the game will leave us for want. Seems as though there are a few new screen shots floating around and might I say they are rather gorgeous (in a totally gory, platonic sort of way of course). You can scope out all 10 screenshots after the jump.

The official site for the game has also promised tons of new content on the way PLUS a brand new site design within the month. However, if that's not enough to satiate your bloodlust, the Splatter Archivist himself has posted a crap ton of juicy pics over at West Mansion including some original Bottle Rocket concept art! If you've never visited West Mansion and you're a fan of Splatterhouse... be prepared to peel your excitable bits off the wall.

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Splatterhouse Update: New Footage, Screenshots and Soundtrack Announced

Well, even despite a new launch date there's still apparently plenty of Splatterhouse news floating around the net as Namco has released not only some new screenshots, but some new footage (see above) AND there will also be a mobile tie-in game released in conjunction with the PS3 and Xbox 350 versions.

Essentially a port of the original TurboGrafx-16 game, IntoMobile reports that "Just like the original Splatterhouse from the late 80s, the game is a side-scrolling beat-em-up where you control Rick who has been resurrected by the Terror Mask which makes him a huge hulking monster. Rick is trapped inside the mansion of Dr. West and he needs to fight his way out."

Also announced was the tracklistings for the game's soundtrack which brings together a hell-raising assortment of heavy metal favorites to set the right mood for spilling some demon blood. Continuing reading after the jump for full track lisiting.

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Splatter Sighting: New Retro Trailer Released PLUS B-Roll Gameplay Footage!

It would seem that the new footage mentioned in our previous Splatter Sighting earlier this week has made its way to the surface with a triple creature feature of new footage including the premiere of some of the game's classic boss battles! In the retro trailer (see above) we can see glimpses of Biggy Man, Mirror Rick and a giant fetus all of which have been inspired by previous installments of the franchise.

BUT WAIT! There's even more gross goodness after the jump with both 3D and 2D inspired gameplay that really reinvigorates the previous games in the series, most important being enemies that fly at the screen when you slap their heads with a trusty 2x4 à la the original TMNT Arcade game (remember that boss battle with Shredder? You bet you do.).

Also be sure to check out West Mansion for a smorgasbord of new screenshots and stay tuned for more Splatter Sightings as they happen!

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Splatter Sighting: Splatterhouse Microsite Revealed!

Little did I know that this year's Comic Con had yet another Splatterhouse-themed treat in store for fans aside from this phenomenal new poster by artist Dave Wilkins (seen here). As reported by West Mansion on August 4th, it seems that the marketing team at Namco are going all out with a special edition Splatterhouse t-shirt that was made available to select fans at the Con.

Evidently, each shirt came with a note which leads to a "secret" microsite touting the new game's various contests and social media profiles. The big attraction, however, seems to be the fact owners of the shirts can hold it up to their webcams and reveal a ham-sized fist exploding from their chest cavity (see insert) a la Alien. As the site explains:

A large shipment of t-shirts mistakenly shipped to the West Mansion. According to recent reports and sightings, these t-shirts were tampered with by the evil Dr. West.

If you own or have received a Splatterhouse t-shirt we recommend testing to see if your shirt has been infused with necro from his laboratory.

Pretty wicked if you ask me, but what's up with the exclusivity? While the microsite promotes pre-orders, shoes and the t-shirt none of these items are actually available which, quite honestly, bums me out a little. Especially when there's a big button that says "Get a T-Shirt" only to reveal an incomplete schedule of conventions and events where the tshirt will appear. Hell, I'd be willing to shell out my hard-earned cash for even a glimmer of such swag!

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SDCC 2010: An Interview w/ Splatterhouse Artist Dave Wilkins [EXCLUSIVE ART!]

So the time for San Diego Comic-Con is finally upon us and what better way to kick things off than with an interview with stellar comic/concept artist Dave Wilkins, one of the twisted minds behind not only Namco's imminent Splatterhouse franchise reboot but some of Marvel Comics hottest selling titles.

A talented artist, driven by his own fanboy inclinations, Dave's work has quickly become the face of the new Splatterhouse game. With every new magazine cover or promotional event that Namco releases in anticipation for the game (due out in October) you can be sure that Dave has concocted some outrageously bloody massacre for fans to admire. He's also a pretty darn, nice fella to boot as he took some time to subject himself to one of Strange Kid's infamous Q&A sessions here at the clubhouse and even dropped us a bone with a Comic-Con exclusive. What a charming fellow!

To learn more about Dave and see even more of his insanely gruesome artwork, be sure to visit his blog and hit up his DeviantArt account.

Thanks so much for joining us, Dave. Let's start with an introduction, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hey man thanks for having me!! I’ve been in the gaming industry for about 14 years and the comics and film industry for about 6; basically I’m living the fanboy dream. I’ve been really very fortunate. I get to earn a living drawing monsters and superheroes!

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Gory, Gory Hallelujah! Even More E3 Splatterhouse Gameplay Footage

Mindless, bloody gaming fun at its best.

Despite some murmurs of a few glitches during the demo concerning frame rates, I am still way amped to get my hands on a working copy of the game and eagerly awaiting its October release date (Oct. 26). In the meantime, make sure to check out these two new cam videos from Namco Bandai's demo of Splatterhouse at last week's E3 PLUS a kick-ass look at the life-size statue that the crew featured at the booth. It's a good time to be a gorehound gaming fan.

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New E3 Gameplay of Splatterhouse! (NSFW)

Things are about to get a whole lot bloodier before they get... well, bloody.

There has been a lot of exciting news to come out of E3 thus far, not the least of which for me has been Nintendo's mysterious Gameboy 3DS (still waiting to see how that works with no glasses) and, of course, Namco's upcoming Splatterhouse.

Despite not being able to attend the event, the glorious invention of the internets has allowed me to still feel as though I can partake in some of the gaming goodness as with this new Splatterhouse gameplay footage. So break out your raincoat, prop your feet up on your cubicle desk, and get ready for a forecast of 100% pain.

[via PlayScope]

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New Splatterhouse Footage from E3! [NSFW]

There is literally nothing that I am more stoked about this Halloween than the seemingly inevitable release of a slice of gory gaming glory that is Namco's Splatterhouse. The new game simply keeps looking more and more incredible and despite some previous reservations due to a change of developers, this newest trailer coming out of E3 is quite possibly THE BEST game teaser I have seen in years! It's our first look at Rick and Jennifer in addition to the signature Splatterhouse villain: Biggy Man (see insert)!

In case you can't tell I am a HUGE Splatterhouse fan and guarantee that the game and those who have helped to make it a reality will be playing a substantial role in this year's Strange Kids Club Halloween festivities. Keep your eyes out for some in-depth interviews, guest contributors and exclusive art in the coming weeks -all leading up to the big October countdown! Get ready to get bloody.

[via Gametrailers]

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New E3 Splatterhouse Trailer Released!

Get ready for some horror-themed heavy petting.

Despite there still not being a concrete release date (the trailer mentions Fall), things look to be heating up for our masked maniac Rick in this latest trailer that premiered at E3. While not giving away too many details, the clip does show a few new scars in the form of a worm boss battle, some new environments and even mutated Rick's power move from 1993's Splatterhouse 3 on the Sega Genesis. Throw in some equally nasty minor demons and a heavy metal track that could only have been recorded from the bowels of Satan's bunghole and you can see the reason for my excitement.

Not since Mortal Kombat has a game so gleefully encouraged gamers to relish in gore and carnage. Only this time its legit because its demon blood, right? And nobody likes demons. Oh, will there ever be plenty of demon blood to spill. Now toss in that Job for a Cowboy album your older brother keeps stashed in his shoebox underneath his high school gym shorts he hasn't worn since 2003 and get ready to snap from freaking necks! HOOAH!

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Splatterhouse New Trailer Released!

Oh yes, there will be blood.

Well it would seem that the crew of the new Splatterhouse game have been busy. Between sponsoring the raucous New England Metal & Hardcore Festival XII in Worcester, MA last month and lining up a Fangoria cover op for July, they still managed to release a web-exclusive new trailer entitled Blood Thrash.

More encouraging then the "bloody ballet" that appeared on GameTrailers a few weeks back, this new trailer features some music from the game as well as actual gameplay footage. While I've never quite been much a metal head myself, I can definitely see how it fits perfectly with the content of the game and ultimately the brand itself.

I'll just end by saying that the original Splatterhouse is my favorite horror game series of ALL-TIME and I can't wait to get my hands on a demo version of the new game. Its also been reported that the game is set for release in October which means things are looking bright for some Halloween Havoc this year. Sweet!

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