The Handheld Game
Publisher: Varie
Developer: Namco
Year: 1988
Screen: LCD
Powered by: 2 AA Batteries
Model #: LCD-113
Review by Gruesome Rick
I'm going to review this game since I finally have it
in my hands, it's a Handheld game like any of the Tiger
handhelds you may have played as a kid only of a better
quality, but a Handheld nonetheless.
However, the really special thing about this Handheld
is that it's Splatterhouse! I was really impressed, it
was actually entertaining. It has creepy Splatterhouse
music playing before the start of each stage, just like
in the real game, and of course creepy level music once
the game starts which was really good and original. You
have three lives only they are represented by Tombstones
instead of Beating Hearts or Terror Masks as in the
previous games. I'm glad that Tombstones were chosen
instead since it makes the game more original and not
just a simple handheld port of the Arcade game. Each
level is composed of three stages on a single screen, you
begin in a room with shelves and the object of the game
is to avoid things coming from behind you whether it's a
flying knife, or a possessed hand crawling on the ground,
Rick must jump over it. There's also ladders flying
directly towards you which I figured Rick couldn't avoid
but it seems to just pass overhead. Rick is armed with
his Hatchet and must attack the monsters coming towards
him. You can move up to each level just by surviving the
oncoming elements in the first level just like in the
real Splatterhouse. Eventually you'll come to a ladder
and you can move onto the next level of the screen by
pressing Jump by the ladder.
On the first level of the stage is a room with
shelves, and it's nothing but bats as enemies and knives
to jump over. If you're used to playing Handheld games (which
I am not), you will know that you need to strike the
monster before it gets near your area or you lose the
game. The same goes for dodging oncoming things from
behind, you have to jump over it before it comes near you
or you lose the game.
Once you see the ladder to the second part you get to
go outside, I really like this part because it has the
same puking demons tied on ropes that fall out of the
trees. You have to avoid them while jumping over the
possessed crawling hands from behind.
The top and final stage is the classic boss from
Splatterhouse, the monster with a bag over his head and
chainsaws for hands. You have to fight him in order to
rescue Jennifer who is right behind him screaming (in
text) "HELP!"
The more stages you progress in the game the harder it
will get of course, more enemies to attack and more items
to dodge at a single time. I'm not very good at these
handheld games and I'm going to practice with this
Splatterhouse game since it is Splatterhouse. I hope that
eventually I can get up the 3rd Level and fight the
Chainsaw man and rescue Jennifer at least once.
Overall I think this is a great collectible item for
any Splatterhouse fan such as myself. It is a really
great addition to my collection. I'm so happy to have it,
I know if I was able to have the Handheld as a kid when I
was obsessed with the Splatterhouse Arcade game, I'd
really get a kick out of it. But I'm already loving it
now as a huge fan of Splatterhouse from childhood into
adulthood. I'll always love it. :)
PICTURES:
Handheld Cover
Handheld Back
The Game
Instruction Card
Carded Handheld
(courtesy of Steffen Zorn)
Box Front
Box Back
The Game
Instruction Manual Side 1
Instruction Manual Side 2
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