Unreleased NES Horror JRPG: Splatterhouse Surprises!
The Mystery of Splatterhouse: World
Gather ’round, gamers! Let me take you on a wild ride through the haunting history of a never-before-seen gem from the NES horror RPG universe. That’s right, I’m talking about Splatterhouse: World, a title that’s been lurking in the shadows—until now!
From Beat ‘Em Ups to JRPGs: A Twist of Fate
Now, most of you will remember Splatterhouse as that gnarly side-scrolling beat ’em up that graced Japanese arcades back in ’88. It brought guts and glory to the gaming scene when most were busy with flashy street fights and heroic ninja turtles. Sadly, it’s kind of fallen off the radar, remembered only by the diehard fans who still rave about its horror vibes.
But hold onto your controllers! Namco had bigger, bloodier plans with this franchise that never got a fair shot. They dropped one spin-off in the form of Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti—think of it as a whimsical, pastel-yellow dream of gore. You can give it a whirl through the Namco Museum Archives if you’re feeling nostalgic.
Fast forward to October 2022, when a mysterious package arrived on the digital shores of 4chan. Yes, a fully playable ROM of the never-released Splatterhouse: World! This little 8-bit creature transforms horror into a JRPG format—a rarity in the gaming world. The only other title that tickles my horror-loving heart is Capcom’s Sweet Home, which makes our newfound friend even cooler!
But how did we even know it existed? Well, our story goes back to May of the same year when a brave idea crashed onto the scene as a fan site revealed glimpses of a promotional VHS. This VHS was reportedly sent to retailers back in ’92, teasing us with the bloody delight slated for release in March ’93, but sadly never saw the light of day.
When Splatterhouse: World finally came out of hiding, it was everything you’d expect from a horror RPG. Players navigate a top-down world filled with chilling graveyards instead of the bright fields we see in other, more cheerful JRPGs. The graphics? Chunky and charming like our friends Mother and Earthbound, paired with nostalgia-inducing spooky tunes that’ll have you shivering in your gaming chair!
Of course, not all heroes wear capes; some speak Japanese. So, accessing this treasure trove was tricky for those of us wanting a crack at it. Fear not! In record time, a fan translation team swooped in and worked their magic. Thanks to Aeon Genesis, Splatterhouse: World is now ready for English-speaking gamers to sink their teeth into—just in time for Halloween fun!
With this fab translation and a once-lost game now playable, retro gamers are leveling up their dreams. Guess what? You can snag the ROM from the West Mansion fan page and link it with the translation patch, and be prepared to enter a world you never knew you needed. Happy hunting, horror fans!