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Post by Ryu the Grappler on Jun 25, 2011 20:36:12 GMT -5
Bit of a necro-bump here, but I didn't see the point in starting a new thread for this. Today, after ten years online, I shut down West Mansion - but not before posting what could be the definitive article on the history of the new game. It covers as much of the development history as possible, what might have been if the game had been a success and the possibility of a sequel. Take a look: splatterhouse.kontek.net/requiem.htmlNecroposting is not bad as long you have something interesting to add instead of simply parroting something someone else said years ago without any consideration of the date posted. That article on your site, on the other hand, is indeed worth a necropost.
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Post by Catalyst on Jun 25, 2011 20:41:11 GMT -5
That was an eloquently, beautiful article. Here's crossing my fingers for a sequel.
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Post by Feynman on Jun 25, 2011 20:53:27 GMT -5
Given how trashy the reboot was, I think the last thing the world needs is yet another Splatterhouse game.
EDIT: Reading it again, I realize my comment sounds kind of mean and flippant, so let me clarify: you know that part of the requiem with the final fan comments? I agree with a lot of what Martin Joseph Keating III had to say.
The change to the characterization of the game's heroine felt cheap and exploitative. The music didn't really fit the mood of the series at all. The original games were gory, but they weren't as crass as the reboot came across as being. I felt that the Splatterhouse reboot focused too much on being as shocking, bloody and crude as possible, and not enough on just being a good game. The gameplay wasn't terrible, but it was definitely pretty average, and combined with the rather distasteful aesthetics, it didn't do much to endear itself to me.
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Post by dire51 on Jun 25, 2011 21:27:03 GMT -5
Necroposting is not bad as long you have something interesting to add instead of simply parroting something someone else said years ago without any consideration of the date posted. That article on your site, on the other hand, is indeed worth a necropost. Why thank you, jonny. That was an eloquently, beautiful article. Here's crossing my fingers for a sequel. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Thanks Catalyst. I'm not giving up hope that it may eventually happen, but I'm not overly optimistic either. Given how trashy the reboot was, I think the last thing the world needs is yet another Splatterhouse game. You say trashy like that's a bad thing. And "yet another"? We don't get new Splatterhouse games all the time, you know.
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Post by Feynman on Jun 25, 2011 21:30:30 GMT -5
I edited my comment to be more descriptive. I didn't mean to come across as being so belligerent in my initial post. I don't hate the series, but I just don't think the current development environment can do it justice... hell, look at what they've done to XCOM.
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Post by dire51 on Jun 25, 2011 21:36:04 GMT -5
I edited my comment to be more descriptive. I didn't mean to come across as being so belligerent in my initial post. I don't hate the series, but I just don't think the current development environment can do it justice... hell, look at what they've done to XCOM. Ah, I see. And y'know, I do agree with a lot of Marty's points too. There are a few things I'd change up if I was able. I'm also fond of saying that if I'd been involved with the game from the start, things would have worked out a bit differently. But as a whole, I'm satisfied with the game as it stands. After all, it could have been much worse...
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Post by Feynman on Jun 25, 2011 21:45:57 GMT -5
I'll grant that it could have definitely been worse. And I suspect that some of what was done to Splatterhouse was done out of a necessity to try and capture an audience larger than "the few hundred people who still remember what Splatterhouse is."
You know what, I think I do want another Splatterhouse, but I want it developed as a digital title with more of an indie budget, free from the pressures of the extremely huge, must-turn-a-profit-or-else budgets that have been stifling the AAA industry.
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Post by dire51 on Jun 25, 2011 21:51:40 GMT -5
I'll grant that it could have definitely been worse. And I suspect that some of what was done to Splatterhouse was done out of a necessity to try and capture an audience larger than "the few hundred people who still remember what Splatterhouse is." That's the impression I got. Seventeen years is far too long a time to let a series lie dormant and expect the general public to know what it is when it finally comes back. I'm down with that idea, but with two conditions: 1. It gets released on physical media at some point, even if it's just part of a compilation. 2. I'm involved with it right from the start.
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Post by Ryu the Grappler on Jun 25, 2011 22:29:17 GMT -5
The change to the characterization of the game's heroine felt cheap and exploitative. She had characterization in the original games? To be honest, I haven't played the recent sequel yet (don't own a PS3/Xbox 360 yet), but I always felt the original Splatterhouse itself was a rather average action game with a cool slasher-horror theme you didn't see often back then. I doubt it would had been remembered that much if it was just another urban-themed side-scrolling beat-'em-up. The fact that they changed to a belt-scroll format for Part 3 shows that even the designers themselves didn't think that much of the original game's system.
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Post by Malroth on Jun 26, 2011 1:12:08 GMT -5
Personally, I enjoyed Splatterhouse. It wasn't the best game ever made, but it was a great beat em up and it paid a great homage to the series. With some more polish and a more stable development, I think the sequel would have been excellent.
As far as the series being effectively dead, I think its entirely Namco Bandai's fault and the ensuing debacle. Sad stuff, man, it really is.
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Post by dire51 on Jul 7, 2011 22:17:16 GMT -5
Some new news: I'm now working with Howard Drossin to get the SH '10 score (his original music, not the songs from the licensed bands) released to the public via bandcamp.com. It's been a matter of ID'ing which tracks correspond to which parts of the game so they can be properly tagged and labeled. Between Howard, myself, Dan Tovar and Mark Brown we currently have 24 of the 34 tracks named. Hopefully the rest will follow in short order.
I'll post again with additional updates as this project proceeds.
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Post by kyouki on Jul 8, 2011 0:04:47 GMT -5
To be honest, I haven't played the recent sequel yet (don't own a PS3/Xbox 360 yet), but I always felt the original Splatterhouse itself was a rather average action game with a cool slasher-horror theme you didn't see often back then. I doubt it would had been remembered that much if it was just another urban-themed side-scrolling beat-'em-up. The fact that they changed to a belt-scroll format for Part 3 shows that even the designers themselves didn't think that much of the original game's system. Gotta disagree. I think the series got dull with the third game, where it got turned into a boring belt scroll fighter. The first two games are awesome side scrollers with some decent platforming, perfect pacing, and memorable enemies to fight. It's an awesome feeling to blast through the first game on a single credit, taking enemies out methodically. You feel like Jason Ninja Voorhees. In comparison the third game feels tedious, with its room-wandering and monsters that take multiple hits to kill. I think the biggest mistake they made with the latest game was making it a brawler like GoW (and Splatterhouse 3) rather than using Ninja Gaiden (the first one (not the NES game)) or something similar as inspiration.
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Post by Catalyst on Jul 8, 2011 6:28:22 GMT -5
It's nice to know that the heart of this franchise is still beating even if it's been entombed underneath the floorboards.
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Post by dire51 on Dec 11, 2011 20:30:37 GMT -5
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Post by munchy on Dec 11, 2011 22:29:29 GMT -5
Dammit... Not sure if I can justify getting that when I already got the game.
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