Posted: 5/8/2014 1:45:24 PM
By: Aaron Auzins
Even though it is filled with blood and guts, the gruesome content of Splatterhouse isn't scaring away competitors of this score war.
Score runs on the Namco arcade title were mostly stagnant until scoring enthusiasts at Galloping Ghost Arcade took to the game. With back-and-forth battles on the Aurcade.com high score table, much like Rick with a melee weapon in the game, current top scores have players swinging for the fences.
As of May 8, gamer Caitlin Oliver stands tall on the record with a score of 611,300 set April 17. She captured the record, besting a score set by Anthony Paparo March 15. The recent flip is only one instance in approximately the past year where the record has traded hands between the two.
Despite the competition, Oliver said Paparo's record-setting runs actually helped in securing the record for a game that has long had a personal connection with her.
"It's a game that I have strong ties to through my whole life actually," she said. "Ever since I picked up the game as a child and decided it was pretty much the coolest thing I had seen, I always came back to the game. I knew the game back and forth and really I only had a few snags. From there I was able to study Anthony Paparo's runs as well as other speed runs for tactics with the parts I was having issues with. It didn't take much longer after that."
The reason Paparo originally gunned for the Splatterhouse record actually isn't much different.
"The biggest thing that made me want to go for the score originally was just that Splatterhouse is one of my favorite games," he said. "I've been playing it since I was a kid on the TG-16, and as soon as the Galloping Ghost got a cabinet, I was on it having a good time. I eventually realized the scores I was getting were pretty close to the world record at the time, so I ended up going for it."
The recent battle for the record has arguably brought the most attention to the game since its original release in 1988. Despite an attempted resurgence in the previous console generation, the Splatterhouse name still seems to lie dormant. Regardless, those with ties to the game when it released seem to be drawn back into the creepy mansion.
"I'm not really sure what makes Splatterhouse a viable competitive game," Paparo said. "I guess that there are multiple players who are around the same skill level and that is a big part of it. The back and forth is currently between Caitlin and myself, but I've also seen other players put up amazing scores. I'm sure that as long as people enjoy playing this game, it will stay competitive."
"Not many people talk about Splatterhouse at all," Oliver said. "Even during the 2010 reboot, everything seemed split between people who had no love for the series and saw it as a game without depth that relied heavily on gore, and people who loved the series, grew up with it and really enjoyed the reboot despite its flaws. For high scoring, it really takes a lot of work to raise the bar in that game because it is based on the random spawning of the bubble fetus enemies the boss in Stage VI spawns. Splatterhouse really makes you work for your high score."
Galloping Ghost Arcade owner and Aurcade referee Doc Mack noted such spawning elements have been contended in the past, but the current rules allow players to risk losing lives in order to take advantage of the scoring opportunity.
"Twin Galaxies had made (not utilizing the spawns) a rule which used that criteria when Aurcade started tracking the score," he said. "I believe the rule was imposed as it would give you unlimited lives [the ruleset grants lives at 30K, 70K and every 50K after]. However, when it was discovered there was a life cap, personally, I think it makes that rule obsolete. Players in Japan do not follow that rule and have scores that are higher, although none of those scores are verified by a scoring house or are on original arcade hardware."
With the score bouncing back and forth, both of the high scoring players have at some point discovered their record has been broken. Not to be discouraged, both Oliver and Paparo find a broken record to be another reason to go back and play one of their favorite games.
"My preparation was just going back to Galloping Ghost, grabbing a stool, sitting down and getting ready to play," Oliver said. "The belief that I could do better was there, it was just a matter of how long and how hard I'd have to work to get it back. It really helps that the whole community at Galloping Ghost Arcade has been incredibly supportive as well - notably Doc Mack, Matt Walters, Fred DeHart, Chris Teter and all of the other regulars. Having them in my corner has really helped me excel."
"I wouldn't say that I did anything special to prepare for my return to the game," Paparo said. "Like I mentioned earlier, it's just one of my favorite games and I love playing it. Whenever my score goes down, I see that as an excuse to clear up some time and visit the arcade so I can get a few games of Splatterhouse in. Usually having a score to beat encourages me to keep playing until I can surpass that score. It feels good to be able to get a high score on a game that I love."
With each new score, the bar is raised higher for the next player willing to step up to the challenge.
"I think there is still a little more room for this score to go up," Mack said. "It's definitely getting harder though. I know the score will change hands again in the future. The most important is that games like Splatterhouse and the players that are making these great feats of gaming are starting to get the recognition they deserve. So much attention is paid to scoring on such a small number of games."
"I can tell how well I'm doing by averaging out the scores I'm getting per life," Oliver said. "Knowing what my scores have maxed out at per life, it can get higher, definitely. There's just a random element due to the method of enemy spawns that can really wreck your day."
Paparo said he normally doesn't go out of his way to break scoring records and plays for enjoyment as opposed to specifically aiming for scores. Still, he hasn't given up on returning to Splatterhouse.
"Caitlin took it back not too long after I set it, which is awesome," he said. "I've been pretty busy so I haven't been able to go down to the arcade much since then, but my plan right now is to try and take it back as soon as I can. Usually after taking a break, I tend to come back with a very strong first game. So, hopefully, my plan is to find a day I can head down to the arcade, put in a few hours and take it back."
Oliver said the experience has provided a new approach to gaming as she had previously not been involved in score records prior to the Splatterhouse scoring.
"Every single time I've managed to break the record, it's been a huge adrenaline rush - it's some addictive stuff," she said. "It's given me a much greater appreciation for being a score chaser because prior to this, I really never was. I always focused more on RPGs and survival horror, story-driven games. Suddenly, I get it. It's a boost to my self-esteem too, which is invaluable to someone like me who has struggled with depression and anxiety. It's a strange change, but a welcome one."
Currently, Oliver has plans to attempt scoring on Super Spacefortress Macross and looks to participate in Ultimate Fighting Game Tournament X in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and the mystery game tournament.
"Even when you don't win, the only way to get better is to keep playing," she said. "Even when you don't win, the way to get better is to keep playing. You're constantly learning and playing against other people is really invaluable to that cause."
UPDATE: On June 28th Anthony has reclaimed the record with a score of 628,600!
UPDATE: On August 1st Catlin Oliver has taken the record back with a score of 638,100!