The title screen music, the blood-red text of the Terror Mask's whispered promises, the atmosphere of the first area and its monster-thwacking action, the charming skit the monsters put on for you before the boss fight - it all adds up to one of those gaming experiences that feels like it was designed specifically with me in mind. It's purely a matter of personal taste, but for me Splatterhouse 2 has one of the very best opening stages in videogaming, especially if you include the intro. It sure would be embarrassing if that killed you, right? Ha ha ha, no, of course it's never happened to me, he lied. Oh, and make sure you step back because in a final fit of pique the boss' stomach rips open and spews a puddle of deadly acid onto the floor when it dies. Get in close and punch it five or six times and it'll die. Whatever this thing is, it doesn't make for a particularly difficult fight: it vomits acid at you, which you can let arc over your head if you stand in the right place.

It's always nice to see a boss that's so grotesque you're not even sure what it is, and you have to resort to vague descriptions like 'mostly a mouth, also a large gut, it's clearly some kind of autonomous stomach with teeth.' The thing behind the door is also the boss of stage one, and it is most definitely not scared of Rick.

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