Review – The House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

Light Gun shooters, a relic of arcades and a painfully Japanese genre, are almost universally campy and embarrassing. Be it a sub B-Movie voice acted Sega cabinet or an FMV shooting range that looks like it was filmed in your garage, not one can be played without laughing or cringing.

So Headstrong’s take? Make it as camp and C-Movie-esque as possible, filled with hilariously bad voice acting, filming goofs and errors, gratuitous violence and plenty of obscene language. Its every zombie movie ever made, mashed up with every exploitation Americano flick that hit Grindhouse theatres in the late 20th century.

The game plays very similar to the previous shooters in the House of the Dead series; your characters move on a set path while zombies bust through windows, pop up from behind desks and slam open doors, rigged like a perfect ghost train, and purely for light gun cannon fodder.

Conventionally short, the game is busting with features to entice second plays, from collectable golden brains to a number of Xbox 360-esque achievements in each level. Completion of which rewards the player with concept art, videos, music and 3D models. More thorough play also unlocks a “Director’s Cut” mode with significantly more content and difficulty, as well the option to up the zombie count and dual wield the game’s modest arsenal.

The game takes the protagonists, uptight enigma, Agent G, and stereotypical black guy, Detective Washington, through a number of expected locals in a ruthless attempt to capture Papa Ceaser, a Burt Reynolds inspired baddy who unleashed the zombie plague on the world. Zombie clown filled carnivals, speeding trains, dilapidated hospitals and murky swamps are filled with bustling mutants, tricky bosses and a massive number of references, clichés, one-liners and tropes.

The game’s Americano vibe is held up throughout the entire experience, and shows the expanse, and quality, of Headstrong’s DVD shelf. It’s vile and repugnant at times, and is absolutely deserving of its 18 rating, but it has a surreal sense of humour that has to be seen to be believed. It’ll either leave you laughing out loud of flinching in disgust; either way, it’s done its job.

But while the game’s damaged-film look, constant scan lines and continuity goofs are intentional, it’s plagued with technical issues that can’t be swept under the carpet as deliberate mistakes. Enemies appear from nowhere, clip through scenery and appear after death for split seconds. All the while, the game is coughing and spluttering at the very sight of the game’s lighting effects and filters, resulting in a spotty frame rate. It tarnishes an otherwise very enjoyable experience, and negates the otherwise impressive graphics.

Overkill is a great addition to the Wii’s slowly building library of light gun shooters, adding a fresh new face to old classics like House of the Dead and Ghost Squad. British developers Headstrong have truly bought something fresh and exciting to the genre, with liberal influence and generally successful execution. Infinitely replayable, and thoroughly enjoyable, Light Gun fans mustn’t miss out.