I love this game so much. While I wouldn't consider this my favorite arcade game or even my favorite Namco game, it really showed how much Namco matured as a developer since its early days. It's really beautiful to see a company go from making simple pinball style games like Gee Bee to making a masterpiece like Splatterhouse. Not only is the game a really solid beat 'em up, but the story, visuals, music, and overall atmosphere are unreal for an 80's arcade game. Jennifer's transformation and eventual death still gives me chiils everytime I see it. And having the game end on an ambiguous and sad note with Rick leaving without her girl is really bold for its time. There is no good or bad ending. It just feels empty, but in a way that really works. The game is visually stunning, with all of its gory details and moody scenery. Nothing else looked like this game at the time. If you're a fan of horror movies, you'll also notice a lot of fun references to films like the original Friday the 13th and Poltergeist. It fully submerges itself in the horror vibe, which gives Splatterhouse a cool look overall. The music is also perfect here. It really does make you feel like you're losing your mind. Every track fits perfectly with the vibe of the scene they're placed in. My favorite track is definitiely Jennifer's theme, which also plays during the end credits. For as simple as it sounds, it makes up for it with raw emotion. Even if it was just a standard beat 'em up, it would still be a pretty solid game. There's some fun variety with the different weapons and moves. The slide kick is an especially satisfying move once you figure out how to pull it off. The game also features some branching paths in certain levels, which adds to the replayability. And finally, this is the kind of game where you can punch a knife with your bare fists and the knife goes flying. That alone should tell you that this game kicks ass.