Splatterhouse 2 (Europe)

Getting Started

When you start the game, press Enter to get past the title screen. You'll see a short story intro before the action begins. Rick starts in the mansion's entrance hall. Use the D-pad to walk left or right, press X to jump, and S to attack. Your basic punch is your main weapon, but you can also pick up weapons like a pipe or a 2x4 by walking over them. Those items give you more reach and damage but break after a few swings.

The core loop is straightforward: move from left to right through each stage, beating up every ghoul, skeleton, and monster that gets in your way. Keep an eye on your health bar at the top of the screen. When it runs out, you lose a life. You can refill health by collecting the meat items that enemies sometimes drop. At the end of each level you face a boss, usually a bigger creature with a unique attack pattern. Defeat the boss to move into the next area.

New players should know that enemies can come from both sides, sometimes offscreen. Listen for audio cues and watch for shadows. There is no save feature, so you have to finish the game in one sitting or use the password system. The game gives you a password after each level that you can write down to continue later. Also, don't be shy about using the run button (hold S while moving) to close distance or dodge attacks. It takes a bit of practice to get the timing down, but it's essential for tougher fights.