COOLAPE Wednesday - Halloween 2011

Link for the full comic on CoolApe:
http://www.coolape.org/comic-eyz-halloween2011.html

Scooby Doo's gang will solve all the mysteries behind Halloween monsters this year!

Gamin' NEWS! New Onechanbara game!

What, you don't know what these are?
It's a long running franchise of hack 'n' slash games from the lil' japanese developer D3 Publisher.
You know when you look at video games these days, and you call some of the titles AAA-games, and the smaller budget games. Well, D3 is known for producing even less expensive games.

They've been known mostly for their "Simple 2000 Series" back on the PS2 days.
Which was a series of very cheap games, that still play moderately well, and were at least fun enough.

Because that's what's important at the end of the day. Games are meant to entertain.

So what if they don't all look like blockbusters?
D3's been king of the B-movie-like genre of video games. They even produced some pretty good ones (including my all-time fav, Splatter Action).

And now they're gonna have a new Onechanbara!

Their games rarely get released outside of Japan, you need to import most of the hidden gems, but their most famous series "Onechanbara" has been edited across Europe and America over the years with either under different names (Zombie Zone, Zombie Hunters...) or pretty faithful ports (the Xbox 360 and Wii installments).

The latest episodes, on the Xbox 360 (Oneechanbara VorteX/Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad) and on the Wii (Oneechanbara Revolution/OneChanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers), while not innovating or reimagining the series, got enough attention that they outsold previous episodes, were sold in most countries and helped produce 2 live movie adaptations!! 

Anyway, enough talk.
I like the series, and despite all its flaws, I actually loved those two games.
(and no, I won't use the silly cliché "so bad it's good" because it ain't bad - bad is playing through the mildly boring and generic Resident Evil 5 or ruining a perfectly series-Duke Nukem Forever)

The games are mindless fun, it's like watching a good grindhouse or B-movie. You know it gets dirty in the corners, but overall it's enjoyable!

Onechanbara Z Kagura is the all-new installment for Xbox 360 this time again. And from the looks of it, it looks like a big improvement since any past Onechanbara! °__°
The game does actually look good.
You will be able to slay through hordes of monsters, zombies and for the first time in the series, werewolves and vampires too!
Returning to the game are everyone's favorite bikini Samurai-clad Saaya (as a previous title implied so well) and newcomer Kagura, who will replace schoolgirl Saki instead.

Here's some screens:

It looks pretty good actually, which surprises me, and quite gory :D

And here's the official trailer:




Can't wait!
I much rather to play these so-called "little games" than any of the Ninja Gaidens. (but that's just me probably...hey! to each their own!)

And for the kiddies/fanboys crying for a PS3 episode, it's not that a simple matter!
To develop on the PS3, companies have to buy the development kit for it, and for very little companies like Tamsoft (developing the series) it's quite expensive! If you're like Ubisoft and have dozens of them across the world, of 300+ employees each it's not a problem..
But there really isn't a simple choice for them to make (nor a profitable one) episode on the PS3. Maybe porting an existing episode later on.. The 360's the easiest HD console to develop for, thus, the cheapest; an asset for a budget game.~

Banned Nike horror movie spoof commercial

Here's an cult banned Nike commercial.
It's not one of the most well known banned ads so I'll put it here on the blog for the ones of ya who might have missed it "back then".



Great little homage/parody to the slasher genre :P
Banned not because of copyrights or anything "serious" like that. They just thought it was too scary for their audiences... -sigh- °__°

MR Army of Darkness

Hey! What's that you got on your face?

I kinda put this series review on hold for a while... but it is finally time to dig in the 3rd and last entry of the Evil Dead series!

This one's a bit special to me since it's one of my all-time favorite flicks!
Why?
How?
What did Sam Raimi turn this horror series into? Does Bruce Campbell still kick ass? Let's check it out~

Movie: Army of Darkness aka Evil Dead III, Medievil Dead or also Bruce Campbell vs. the Army of Darkness
Directed by Sam Raimi
Release date 1992-93
Genre Fantasy/slapstick comedy
Country USA
 
After the huge unexpected success of Evil Dead 2, a sequel was inevitable.
The follow-up would be continuing the adventure of Ashley Williams after the 2nd film's cliffhanger - an obvious move.

But first,
With that successful second episode, the original trio behind this series was finally able to make it into Hollywood.
Sam Raimi produced and wrote a couple of films. He appeared as an actor in some production and even directed the now cult original superhero/thriller Darkman in 1990.
Rob Tapert would launch several popular projects like the Hercules and Xena tv series during the 90s.
And the now cult Bruce Campbell became as popular as he is nowadays thanks to Evil Dead 2. He developed over the years a huge fandom, would star in hundreds of pictures, non-Hollywood-ysh mostly, including a ton of roles in science fiction B-movies or horror movies like the Maniac Cop series.

Bruce Campbell was now a part of the horror and slasher genre. You'd expect from another Evil Dead movie to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors, right?
But Sam Raimi liked originality, that's the way the orginals surprised the audience afterall. So instead of proposing yet another gruesome horror movie (like Evil Dead 1) or a more comedic slasher (like Dead by Dawn) the 3rd movie went outside the cabin and into a whole new genre and direction.

Time Traveler

What's the story so far?

After the incident of the cabin (Evil Dead), where everybody died and Ash had to cut his own hands to get rid of the evil in himself (Dead by Dawn), a giant portal opened up in the sky (remember?).
Ash wasn't able to destroy the book of the dead, the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. And instead got sucked in the past along the book.

This epic tale opens up then with Ash falling from the sky in the 1300s, somewhere in England.
Ash finds himself trapped in a war between a certain Lord Arthur and a Duke Henry.
But worry not Evil Dead-fan, the Deadites tagged along for this story.
Soon a wiseman tells Ash he is the chosen one, the one who'll save the world from the evil Deadites. He must find back the book, destroy it before its too late and will be able to go back to his own time.

Long story short, Ash makes a big mistake, the problems get worse, the evil inside him comes out in the form of the coolest horror movie villain ever, Evil Ash, the so-called Army of Darkness rises...

Will Ash save the day once more? Will he get the girl, Sheila, as well? And more importantly, how does this story really ends???

Building The Deathcoaster

As you can see from all this, this last episode is nothing like the first movies.
But it was always the idea behind this conclusion. In fact much sooner in production, it was even supposed to already be the second part of Evil Dead 2, before a part of it became a remake of the first one.
Sam Raimi always wanted to take this series outside the cabin and even the forest.
When the budget was enough with the success of his series and other films (such as the already mentioned Darkman), he was finally able to make things bigger this time around.

And with the involvement of his brother Ivan Raimi, both co-wrote AoD has a big tribute and homage to the old classic epic movies.
As the original movies were tributes to the slasher/gore genre.

Only this one turned out more comedy and fantasy and less horror. Though the horror influence is still here.
But after Evil Dead 2, it looks like a natural evolution for the series. The main character Ash (and Bruce Campbell) went through so much in the past that he couldn't continue to be reactive and had to turn pro-active down the line. That's why all of this movie seems based around the fact that Ash is now a total badass - the reason why there's a background storyline about his past days as a S-Mart employee to establish his old normal live long gone by now.

Night Court

The Necronomicon takes us in the past (and changed his look for this final tale - though the other 2 looks make an appearance at some point in a graveyard) and Raimi moves the series into new horizons.

This time the genre's definitively fantasy. Returning composer Joseph LoDuca makes an exceptional score, very medieval and epic.

The movie in itself is a work of love from the crew, Raimi & co worked up a lot of references in the movie itself and based it around old classic tropes and themas.

Klaatu barada nikto, with this line Ash is supposed to sell away the book of the dead, but mispronounce it which results in the final act of the film. It was also the famous classic line from the 1951 scifi classic B-Movie The Day the Earth Stood Still. The movie in itself is a big tribute to classic adventure stories like Gulliver's Travel, Sinbad, etc..
Even more, Sam Raimi had a lot of stop motion work done for the final, the last act is very much inspired and done similarly to Jason and the Argonauts. Which was pretty unusual for the "modern" 90s.

End Titles

Finally I'd say a lot of love was put into this movie, and it really shows. There's so much fun, energy...all the lines sound perfect, the action is great and Bruce Campbell is at his best.

It's a movie made for fans before anything else.
And it was quite a success to much surprise, I'm sure most producers wouldn't had expected it by then.
It became the cult classic it is today because it's a work of love where the creative team had entire control over it.
Sure, some hip kids might say the stop motion animation isn't the greatest, but it wasn't back then too. It was made old school, like in Jason and the Argonauts for a reason. There's so much style in the way they interact with the living Bruce Campbell facing the practical effects Evil Ash! So many things are going on at the same time in the climax!

Overall, a great movie!

Bruce, and Ash, badass and at his finest!

His over-the-top lines.. The way this guy who butchered his own hand in the previous movie continue to move on be it by using a chainsaw in its place or making a mechanical fully animated hand in medieval times... The way nothing seem to be able to stop him, like a sort of anti-slasher (like the opposite of a Jason or Freddy)..


A whole cult for the series was born after this movie! Perhaps even more so than Evil Dead 2 (didn't most people check back the past 2 flicks because of AoD, honestly?)

Perhaps not as loved for horror-fans, but better directed and constructed as a film.

Raimi was even able to get Danny Elfman score a track, the big final confrontation theme, the March Of The Dead. (whom he had on Darkman - him again yeah)

This time it's more like 80% comedy and 20% horror, but as an horror fan I'm perfectly fine with this choice!
It's really fun and shows how creative Sam Raimi was as a creator and director.

Over-the-top, perfect.
Ash is an invicible deadite killer, monsters, demons and zombies better fear him and hope they never cross path with him!

Sidenote: On most releases, the movie feature an alternate ending. A darker and less optimistic one. I'm sure a sequel would follow it. And don't worry if you don't see it, it's not like an Evil Dead never remade/reshot details of the previous one.
(this time, actual scenes from ED2 were used in the prologue..but for copyrights reasons they couldn't keep the "Evil Dead" title, so they tweaked a bit of the previous one ending)

Final word? Watch it! Rewatch it! Buy it! Have it in your collection!

I give it:

 3 / 3 Necronomicons!

VGR Splatterhouse (2010)

Finally!
I said I would only review games I played through!
(heck, that's already a lot more thought put into my reviews than, say, Gamespot or IGN right there)

So after many hours put into Splatterhouse, the main game and most of its secrets explored...how is this new Splatterhouse game?
Did it live up the original franchise expectations?
Is it good, is it pretty?
And more importantly, is it any fun? (that's what entertainment's all about at hear, ya know?)

Let's see~

 
VGR: Splatterhouse
From BottleRocket/Namco Bandai
Played on Xbox 360
Also available on PS3

Type Beat 'em all
Year 2010

After almost 2 decades, here it is, the all-new "next-gen" Splatterhouse title!
For a game that almost got cancelled as many times as it was delayed, it sort of unreal to be finally able to hold it in my hands and play it on a modern system!
Even fans started to develop their own take on Splatterhouse during these last ten years or so~
(such as a 3D sidescrolling remake on PC, Dreamcast Beats of Rage mods and many more..)

The game started development at the BottleRocket studios, who were assigned the Splatterhouse franchise amongst other Namco revival projects. (for exemple Klonoa who was remade for the Wii)
But sadly, with the financial crash a couple years ago, the studio was forced to close doors. (ending up their work on another title, based on the DC Comics The Flash)
Was this the end for Splatterhouse?

Thankfully the game which was almost done, was picked up by an internal team at Namco who made some radical changes to what the fans were already requesting based on the initial reactions.
(Biggyman and some other monsters closer to the original game, new gimmicks such as raising the dead left out, etc..)
Finally a team composed by a third final team at Namco (with some former staff from BottleRocket itself) applied the final touches.

So, how did this rescaped development hell product end up after passing through several changes along the last ~10 years or so?

Phase 1: So it begins again...

Splatterhouse 2010 is a reimagining of the original games.

In fact the story itself is a retelling of Splatterhouse 1 with some elements taken straight from the Part 2 as well.

The plot was written by Gordon Rennie (Judge Dredd, Killzone, Necronauts, Caballistics, Inc., Missionary Man, Sewer Patrol), scottish long time 2000AD write, who since 2008 left the comic book scene to concentrate on videogames.
At first glance the plot looks pretty thin, and some horror haters might even say "written on a post-it", but it manages to surprise, interest and there's even some pretty neat plot twists here and there.

Phase 2: It's good to be back!

The story starts, as usual, on a dark rainy night.
Rick Taylor and Jennifer Willis go to a gloomy mansion by the forest to have an interview with necrobiologist Dr. Henry West.
At their arrival, Dr. West seems to have been awaiting for this moment since a quite long time, kills Rick and takes Jennifer with an horde of hellish monsters helping him along the way.
Rick finds the Terror Mask near his body, his blood apparently awaking it.

"We can save her".


"She doesn't have to die.."

From there the story spirals into a more complicated painting.
The story is told through flashes since Rick's resurrection until we can understand more clearly what exactly happened.

Phase 3: If at first you don't succeed, decapitate!!

Alright the story plays a bit with the original 80s Splatterhouse's concepts.
But is it fun to play?

My answer is...yes!

Sure, it's a beat 'em all.
If you played any sidescrollin' game in the 90s you'll find yourself perfectly at home.
The genre has had a sort of revival in these last years since God of War too.

Well, the game's quite easy to understand.
After being thrown right from the start with most powers and all, the game will take some steps back, as the Terror Mask even remarks, and you'll have to learn to control Rick over the 2 first levels.
You can punch, make a bigger move that can be charged, run/speed up, grab and do lots of combos.
Speaking of combos, I'm not one to really "learn" combos in games. But when you'll unlock all of them (buying them with blood-points obtained with kills and a blood gauge) the combos come quite naturally by alternating buttons and charges.

Rick controls easily and naturally.

The game's not just walking and killing, like many amateur games. It's a  good beat'em, meaning it keeps a good pace, alternates between exploration, light platforming sequences, rooms to clean and sequences where you're free to kill to become stronger or avoid enemies. (also some good tension in more "calm" scenes, just watching the scenery and locations)

Phase 4: Old School meet New Skool!

The game also offers some nice surprises and twists to the formula.

One of the main features is literally a throwback to the original Splatterhouses.
Sometimes the game will go in a sidescrolling view. Those sequences will feature more platforming, enemies that die in just one single punch and lots of traps to avoid. It's a great and original feature (sort of like Sonic Unleashed's 2D sequences) and definitively amongst my favorite parts of this new game. Beware though, Rick doesn't behave his old 90s-self, the new modern physics are still in place so he won't be jumping unrealistic high here!
But nothing a good gamer won't be able to overcome.

Also, a brand new feature to the series are the Splatter Kills.
Sort of like Mortal Kombat's fatalities, when enemies will be almost dead and highlighted by a red light, Rick can perform a finish move that will add up "score" (Splatter points? Blood points?).
These kills are executed by QTE (Quick Timed Events), like pressing a button, doing a specific sequence, moving the joystick, etc.. yes, like in God of War if you've played that game. (I didn't, d'uh!)
Sometimes they are quite logical and easy to do (moving up the sticks/decapitation, pushing both sticks to the centre/crushing a head) other times they are purely random.
Lots of trials and errors here. You won't get the hang of this from the start.

Phase 5: Wanpaku Graffi...What??

Like I said. The game as a lot of throwbacks to the original series.
Names, locations, enemies, boss fights, etc..

Unlike the original game and probably more like the 3rd, the monsters itselfs aren'ty inspired by pop culture horror or b-movies. To be exact, the whole game follows Splatterhouse 3 more closely in terms of creatures, design and feel. There isn't an Exorcist boss, a Poltergeist or The Fly boss. Instead old enemies are back like the fan-favorite Biggyman, the Boreworms who are now ridiculous small worms to walk over instead of having to kick them like in the past, etc..
Some details like the fact Rick looks from the star like his monsterous form in Splatterhouse 3 (and the mask keeping that aspect too) makes me think this game was, early in the production, supposed to be a sequel, like Splatterhouse 4 as it was called in early leaked material.
Also Rick's doppelganger, Mirror Rick (?) is back in one of this game's most memorable scenes...quickly followed by more doubles..and more...And others in later levels! This time sporting a red mask as a nod to the old US Turbografx censored port.

There's lot of little easter eggs in this game if you're a fan of the series (specially in the circus-themed level around mid-game). Old bosses in the level's background and little hidden cameos. (unlike Splatterhouse 1 or Wanpaku Graffiti's plain visible references)
Ash Williams from Evil Dead/Army of Darkness when you'll get your first shotgun and chainsaw, Freddy Krueger's shirt and claws near old furnaces, etc..
Many achievements using references in their titles, etc..

Phase 6: Time to ROCK!

Of course you need to like this whole concept.
I'm sure lots of people won't be hooked by this game's premise.
But if you like horror, gore or past Splatterhouse games I'm pretty sure you'll like this one.
In the contrary, well, this game won't change your mind!

There's a voluntary gorish approach in this game.
Enemies bled worse than samurais in chanbara japanese movies.
Everything's done to "Paint the walls red!!"
It's a bit silly, sure, but it really looks like the dev teams were having a blast with this game.
The Terror Mask (voiced by the great Jim Cummings) often breaks the 4th wall, even to the point to mention the past games ("Not this guy again" when you'll see the Biggyman for the first time or "In a past life, another game" in another instance)
By the way, the game really has a top notch voice acting. The monsters, well, sound monsterous and the "humans" and the Mask are great, perfect.

If you're able to accept and embrace this game's attitude, then it should be a great experience that'll have you glued to this game for a while.
Rick uses a Splatter Siphon technique to drain blood, grows even more muscular and disfigured in his new Monster Rick form... "[There's a] reason this game was called Splatterhouse!!"

The music is..well, it really depends on what you like. But lemme see..
I'm not an avid Metal music listener (through I have no problem with old school metal). But during action sequences, where you'll have to defeat a large number of enemies, modern metal will play. Some tracks are pretty fun, others good but some I didn't really like a lot :/
But fear not, if you happen to not like this musical side of the game (or even if you like it), there's more to Splatterhouse!
Howard Drossin, one of my favorite gamin' music composer did the rest of this game. A more horror movie-like score for the other half of the game. And some retro-tracks for the sidescrolling parts, with a more computerized sound, very reminiscent of the Megadrive episodes.

Phase 7: The Eclipse.

All in all, it's a quite solid experience.
Some parts might feel a bit repetitive if the story doesn't seem to interest you, nor this hellish invasion that will conquer the mansion bit by bit. And if you happen to dislike brawlers.

The visual part of the game looks great! Quite polished.
The game uses a very light "cell shading" look that doesn't make things look cartoony but really makes Rick and the creatures stand out over the backdrop.
Some monsters (mostly the more zombie type) don't look as shiny, good or detailed..but at least they bleed greatly! (which is the objective, didn't you read the title??)

The story will take Rick all over and around the mansion and then throw him and the Mask in interdimensional gateways through various places in time and space. As in years after Rick's future defeat (in a ravaged city, where the Biggyman reigns from his slaughterhouse) and centuries ago when it all began.
The story behind Dr. West, main opponent in this remake, will be slowly revealed.

What are the Mask's true motivations?
Why is Dr. West doing all this?
Is there a resolution for Rick and Jennifer after all this?
When the Eclipse starts, a wickerman will burn and a gate will be opened...

Overall, great game that actually surprised me!
I almost wasn't expecting this title to finally be this fun.
For you, horror gamer fans, it's pretty similar to Evil Dead: Regeneration (which I also wanted to review on this blog, but never got to, yet..).

It's level based, quite long and has plenty to do to achieve a perfect 100% completion.
There's a lot of moves to buy/unlock, the story mode to play through harder difficulties to end it at a perfect 100%.
Like any good horror movie, there's some, let's say, cheesecake. Rick's sexy girlfriend, Jennie, has lots some quite suggestive photos behind. You can find 4 pieces per picture in each level. Once recovered you can "view" them in a gallery alongside funny/silly commentaries "by Jennifer".
There's also audio journals of Dr. West to discover in the levels.
Finally there's a survival, which at first I thought I wouldn't play through..but once Rick's fully upgraded, it gets pretty fun and addictive if I may say.
Some DLC has been also available as I write these lines, such as other Mask designs (a shame those aren't unlockable) and additional Survival maps.

Alright, this as probably looked like a long series of compliments of rthe games.
Here's some negative aspects.
As fun, gigantic and colorful the many boss fights of this game are, the ending left much to be desired. The game will build up a lot of tension in the final act. introduce an epic monster for perhaps a great climatic ending...and then...suddenly end....
(maybe due to the various development teams change..?)
Specially with the Splatterhouse series long tradition of memorable final fights!
Also the game ends in a sort... if you truly want to know... cliffhanger!! And since I doubt this won't ever get a sequel... -sigh-

People might call the campaign a bit short..though I did put in a lot of hours on this one (not playin' easy, yo!). In my opinion, not too short, not too long, perfect for a beat 'em all.
The classic use of weapons, as in past games, is a lot better used in this new game than ever. Bats, crowbars, wood planks, shotguns, chainsaws. Better implanted than in the classic trilogy and a big part of this game's gameplay.

Sadly, a little sidenote.
Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti doesn't get as much referenced through this game. Only through small allusions in the achievements, photographies' notes and slighty in the background (laughing fishes head referencing Wanpaku referecing Evil Dead's laughing deers heads)

The game was mostly inspired by the work of HP Lovecraft.
The Corrupt which West is bringing to our world, monster's designs, even some hidden Chtulu cameos, Dr. West himself and many more are direct references to Lovecraft. Normal!
Gordon Rennie, this game's writer, has done a bunch of adaptations of Lovecraft in comics in the past already.

Even if you're a purist and not able to enjoy this game as much as the original ones, you can see this as a Splatterhouse compilation!
That's right, the original 3 real Splatterhouse episodes are offered on this disc, unlockable as you play the story mode.
Even new, with this price, it's a pretty great deal!
Beware though, it's not 100% original ports.
Splatterhouse 1 is the original arcade port of the 80s game. Uncensored and all~
Splatterhouse 2 and 3 are Sega Genesis (NTSC) ports, with slight edits through! I noticed less reddish/gore visuals for those two! Also they aren't Megadrive emulations, but rather complete ports.

Finally, for all this, but because of the slight defaults in some unpolished enemies and maybe little boring parts in mansion rooms (the rest is great though!)  I cannot give this one a perfect score but at least....

I give it:

 2.5 / 3 Quacks!

VGR The Splatter Action

Since I just got the new Splatterhouse game today (boy that's a heckuva lot Splatterhouse-related posts lately!),  I decided to surprise you guys with this little "unexpected" review.

It may not be part of Namco's Splatterhouse series, but it is in its own rights something worth mentioning for any fans of the serie (that is, me!).

Let's dig in.... The Splatter Action!!

VGR: Simple 2000 Series Vol. 64 - The Splatter Action aka Splatter Action or Splatter Master (Pal)
From D3 Publisher/Vingt-et-un Systems
Played on PS2
Also available on /


Type Sidescrollin' beat 'em all
Year 2004

First a little introduction on D3 Publisher, for I may review some other titles from them in the future!

D3 Publisher is a little low-budget studio who's been making, developing and producing very cheap games since the PS1-days.
They sort of developed this B-movie-like line for small budget games.
Their games are numbered (like old 8-bits titles) and come out on either their Simple 1500 Series, Simple 2000 series or Simple 2500 series.
Why those names? It's the price they're sold at, the Simple 2000 games cost 2000 yens (which is more or less ~20 US dollars).

Sadly... most of their games use the same engine, end up pretty boring and repetitive. And they don't usually look that great either.
On very rare occasions they are published outside Japan, when they gain a sort of cult or have pretty high sales. (The Oneechanbara series for exemple)
But like B-movies, some pearls may come out every now and then and even the worst of their games can easily be enjoyable for what they are (mindless fun not-expensive games) and like I say, a bad small budget product never deceives as much as a bad AAA blockbuster title.

Ri....? Rick!? Is that you? - note the Alex Kidd-like attacks!

What is Splatter Action?

The story goes like this:
The evil demon Jagado was awaken! Now he's resurrecting all sort of nasty demons to help him conquer the world!!
A gentle scarecrow, Kakashi, was given life in his path. Kakashi wants to avenge the farmers, his "parents", who were injured by Jagado.

I wouldn't call this plot good literatur, but hey, anything works as an excuse for this funny chibi beat 'em all!
As you can imagine from the title, the game is in fact a parody of Splatterhouse.
It draw directly from Wanpaku Graffiti which this game sort of is a spiritual sequel.

Killing chibi monsters has never been so fun and so gruesome at the same time! °__O

The gameplay is pretty simple.
The game even draws some elements from Splatterhouse 3 in this aspect.

You play on an isometric sidescrolling plan.
Unlike Wanpaku Graffiti, it's more Beat 'em all oriented.
The game offers 7 long stages (which can be seen as short for a PS2 game), tons of cartoony enemies to kill and huge bosses to defeat.
You start around the farm, go to a city, a jungle, a iceberg, canyon and finally a mansion! Yes, it is more exotic than your regular Splatterhouses.

Kakashi uses his punch (like Rick in the original Splatterhouse) to kills enemies and as a super attack in the form of his trusty double chainsaws.
The chainsaws are limited in time but are much more effective against large group of enemies. You need to collect fuel to use them. (L1+R1 equips/unequips them in a spinning melee attack)

The game is meant to be played arcade-style, in one sitting, from beginning to end...
But it's almost impossible to do since the difficulty increases pretty fast.
Fear not, cause the continues are infinite. And quitting after dying (but not during a playthrough!), the game will let you save your current stats.

....Jennifer is that you?? - the Shop allows to upgrade Kakashi's health and other aspects.

The game tries to offer variety every now and then with little different segments (some light platforming to do, projectiles to avoid..)
The coins Kakashi collects - which the enemies drop - can be used in a little shop that appears sometimes in-levels and after the boss fights.

To build some replay-value, there's various items to buy in the shop, which you won't be able to on the first playthrough, including the Terror Mask itself from Splatterhouse 1/Wanpaku Graffiti!

There's also multiple endings depending on the way you play and an alternate mode called "Another Story" which mixes elements and enemies!

The bosses are pretty challenging and quite creepy.

Finally, I'd say this is one of D3's best entries.
Most of their games feel pretty empty or unfinished.

This game's quite polished, has nice j-rockin' tunes (plus a creepy Splatterhouse-like eerie atmosphere for the last level).
The gameplay is tight, precise and fun!

The game may look cartoony-SD, but it's pretty gory. VERY gory! The monsters as funny as they look (short Hockey mask-wielding creatures, crows, killer garbage bags..) die in awful lots of blood splurts.
And the bosses are rather pretty creepy, monstrous creatures and hideous "things". Such as a freakish train, a fake-Moon dropping out of the sky on a rampage or the strange Fast Food Mascot turning into a Terminator...

The graphics are pretty detailed for a budget game and colorful. The enemies get a bit repetitive past the last couple of levels, but at least they're funny to look at!

Overall, it was quite the surprise for me when I first tried it!
I wasn't expecting something this funny or good.
It gets harder near the end and is fun enough to deserve a second playthrough.

Sure, it isn't an AAA-title from a super popular gaming studio...but it's still is an entertaining game!
It's a budget game that succeeds in his goal and offers a nice moment for any horror/gore/Splatterhouse fan out there!

This parody was at first only available in Japan but came out in Europe as Splatter Master.
If you want to try it, do like me, import it and play it on a Japanese PS2! :P
It's not very "text-heavy", but most of the menus and options are in English while the story and PS2-data info are in Japanese. (the story which I already summarized here)

Try it!
It may not be the best game you'll see out there and won't change your (biased) opinion on small dev. teams. It's not "great" nor fantastic, but it's still pretty fun.
For fans~

I give it:

 2 / 3 Quacks!