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HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL Posted by Dan Pearson on Feb 23, 2009 16:06 (Feb 23, 2009 16:06) |
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Overkill brings us back to Agent G and his new companion Isaac Washington in Sega’s newest House of the Dead outing. Be warned, this game is an 18 certificate for very good reasons.
The first thing you will notice when you first see the game in action is that it has been completely overhauled, House of the Dead has been a favourite at the arcades for years never really changing from the on rail shooter formula other than a few gimmicks here and there. Overkill has taken the best aspects of the arcade games and added some console modes that really make this a game to look out for. From the off only one level is available, but as you play through you can unlock all seven chapters and go back and play to you hearts content. Each of the levels takes you to a new scenario, the first level sets the story off with our two heroes going against the demented Papa Caesar in a weird mansion, moving onto hospitals, carnivals and swamps. The action rarely let’s up and each level is as entertaining as the last with new mutants to shoot at.  As with all shooters on rails, the camera will take you through the game, leaving you to concentrate on shooting. It’s not just zombies and mutants out there, there are health packs to help you along, slow motion icons that slow it all down so you can go for more headshots in the busier scenes and golden brains that unlock extras out of the main game. There is a lot more on offer than just the main game too, each level earns you cash as you complete certain criteria such as achieving a set amount of leg shots or only using the magnum. With this cash you can purchase new weapons like a machine pistol or shotgun and even upgrade them for less recoil and more ammo. I have noticed a lot of chatter on the net about how offended people are and how out of place all of the swearing is in this game, with people going as far to say that it makes it unplayable. Well dear old mother F is referred to a lot but it is an 18 certificate game based around the dodgy grindhouse films that could only be played in grimy XXX theatres during the 70’s. I really appreciate a company not dumbing down and making the Wii completely family friendly. Sega have cleverly borrowed from the grindhouse flicks, using a scratched cell approach, loads of swearing, awful dialog, sex kittens, mutants and a bucket load of blood.  It is hard to believe that you are playing a Wii game at times, the graphics are perfect, the mutants look disgusting and the pace rarely let’s up. There are a few moments of slowdown and frame skipping but due to the nature of grindhouse movies it’s hard to tell if it’s on purpose or not, either way it does not really deter from the gameplay. On top of the main game you have a Directors Cut with a few additional scenes, more mutants and a set amount of continues. Then you have the mini games which include Stayin Alive in which you shoot through wave after wave of mutants, Victim Support has you providing cover for innocent civilians and Money Shot is set at a carnival shooting gallery. House of the Dead on the Wii feels out of place, it certainly doesn’t hold back and provides a foul mouthed and bloody action packed game that won’t disappoint. If you are looking for a quality console game, that would match up to anything the Xbox 360 and PS3 have to offer then you won’t go wrong with this game.
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