Now most games that came out on the Japanese Famicom also arrived on it’s American counterpart the NES. It was usually just Japanese TV shows and movie games that stayed in the land of the rising sun. However a few notable games didn’t go overseas for no apparent reason. Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti is one of them. Despite being more cartoony and “kiddy”, it’s actually one of the best games in series and on the Famicom as well.

Despite a title that mentions graffiti (had a total different idea for what this game would be like), it’s doesn’t stray far from the classic Splatterhouse game-play. Rick still hacks, slashes, and jumps his way to victory over the evil hordes of countless undead minions. So fans can relax, because this really is no spin-off.

I really like the style and humor of the game. The cartoony style gives it some visually appealing graphics, and there’s plenty of parodies of classic movie monsters. Maybe legal issues were the reason why the game didn’t transfer over to the United States, I have no clue. I know that’s a reason why we didn’t get Jump Super Stars for Nintendo DS, but that’s a different story.

Well the past is the past, and you can’t change something that happened well over 20 years ago. Wanpaku Graffiti is filled with many levels, classic moments, and a very fun (yet challenging) overall experience. I would dare say it’s the best game in the series. Now it may not be worth the high price tag for some gamers, but the committed otaku who has a Famicom set-up in his house already might have a less costly time since he only needs the cartridge.

Score: 8 out of 10