What it takes to make a real horror game? Splatterhouse 3 is probably a good recipe combining macabre plot and disturbing atmosphere in an era where the genre was flourishing.
The supernatural forces doesn't want Ricky, our masked hero, to be a happy man and start haunting his mansion. To make worse, his beloved Jennifer and son David fall victims of the Evil One, a mysterious entity who seeks the Dark Stone to rule the world.
People with a soft spot for family affairs will probably find the story's unravelling cruel because, in order to save his family, Ricky will have very short time to complete some levels and kill a crazy boss at the end. Since it seems impossible to accomplish this in a row, Jennifer and David will meet a gruesome end mostly...
While exploring the mansion (an interesting approach for a beat'em up), when you dispatch all the monsters in a room, doors open and you can access a map to see the level's goal, marked with an X. Some say if you finish certain rooms under a time limit, new paths appear but, as the own game advises in the beginning, wonder aimlessly and you'll be damned!
The series' trademark weapons are back and also Ricky can get a boost from Eldritch Orbs, a beef up item, making some fights easier. The difficulty goes from hard to brutal and, as the lives are scarce, you gotta make the most of hearts and orbs. A password system guarantees you can continue the game later if it's getting on your nerves.
Taking a step above, the music is good, featuring "techno with organ" tracks which fits the dark environments very well.
The game has 4 endings depending who you let live or die: one "good" and the others "bad". Although being "not what you expect after so many sacrifices", they make for replay value.
As the last of the series before the 2010 3D release (17 years later), Splatterhouse 3 succeeds in its purpose: a fine haunted house story with twists and turns for those who appreciate horror games since its roots.
PROS
Creepy story
Constant horror vibe
Exploration adds tension
Good dramatic music
CONS
Average endings