House of the Dead 2 Review

House of the Dead has become Sega's major light gun franchise. While they've made plenty of others, including tons of arcade games that never made it to the consoles, the HotD series has become one of Sega's signature franchises.

The original House of the Dead reminded most gamers of Resident Evil with the whole dealing with zombies and a giant mansion that you have to navigate through. In that one, you controlled either G or Rogan who were two AMS agents sent to investigate what was going on with the Curien Mansion and save Rogan's girlfriend. What they found was a mansion filled with zombies created by Curien who, like other crazy scientist, was looking for a way to bring someone back to life.

House of the Dead 2 takes place not long after the original with two more AMS agents working to find out why zombies have taken over the city. They'll have to work through a city killing zombies and other enemies while attempting to save the lives of some of the people around town, just like Resident Evil 2 (the evidence just keeps building).

When released in the arcades, the game was pleasant on the eyes. All the zombies are interesting looking with my favorite being the dual axe wielding zombie. I'm not sure how he has the coordination necessary to swing those things, but whatever, it is great for the graphics. The bosses are all big and imposing, despite the standard weak point gameplay that always dominates such encounters.

Music doesn't fare as well, with typical horror genre pieces and some of the worst voice acting ever seen in gaming. It goes well with the B-movie plot and setting, but its flawed presentation can't be ignored.

HotD games have the same standard gameplay being the light gun games that they are. You progress through the level killing monsters with your gun then dispose of a boss at the end of the level. Zombies, like always, are vulnerable to headshots with bosses having varied weak spots on their persons. Two players can team up to destroy the enemies with each player having a set amount of health that translates to taking a few hits from enemies or a reduction because of an innocent being shot at.

HotD2 features the same find alternate paths concept of the original game. Finding these paths will require shooting doors, locks, certain enemies, and saving certain people. Differences in paths vary with no real reward except possibility of a few more treasure or enemies to kill.

As most arcade games, the game can be beaten in 20-30 minutes or so. Having one one life per credit, you will go through plenty of money to try and beat the game. Even teaming up with a partner will help kill but it'll still take plenty of quarters to beat the game. Like a lot of light games, it's a fun game. What makes it better is that horror aspect to it.

- O.G.

article id: 564 | poster: OG