House of the Dead; Overkill
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are two of cinema's most interesting filmmakers. For one, they have made cult classics over and over again in their relatively short careers, and yet still they turn their gaze to the forgotten genres. Their latest was 'Grindhouse', a gore filled, double feature homage to the 70s sleaze-pit cinema adventures that they so fondly remembered.
Why, you may ask, is this cinema fact relevant to a Light-Gun Game on the Wii? Well, Overkill, the latest in the House of the Dead franchise, reinvents the somewhat stagnant HotD franchise by incorporating all the slime, violence, swearing and outright craziness of Grindhouse cinema.
In the deliciously named first chapter, 'Papa's Palace of Pain', we are introduced to the game's protagonists. The first, rookie cop Agent G, is an enigmatic, yet uber cool and professional lawman with cool shades and a clean cut tuxedo. His partner, the foul mouther, Samuel L. Jackson-esque detective Isaac Washington, will, as the narrator says, 'rip your balls off', with a tirdae of profanity and quickly emptying ammo clips. Their adversary? The ultimate Cuban crime lord Papa Caeser, whose army of zombies threatens the world AS WE KNOW IT. As the hilarious and ludicrous plot unfolds over the following 7-8 chapters, we meet Varla Guns, a hot babe on the road to revenge, and the mysterious (and incontinent) Prison chief Clement, who may have a strong case of the Norman Bates craziness.
The story, not the gunplay, is the real reason for purchasing this title. The gameplay is all that could be expected from a light gun game, and the campaign can be finished in under 3 hours. The infinite continues also assists in the difficulty level. After the campaign is all polished off, there is still plenty to do, with a harder 'Director's Cut' mode offering limited continues and stronger, more plentiful enemies to decapitate. This in turn will give you more money to purchase and upgrade weapons from the gun shop, which in turn offer more replay value. You might also want to go back and play the campaign in co-op with a mate, which makes the experience SIGNIFICANTLY easier, as the game does not scale for two people.
Graphically, the game is one of the most impressive on the Wii. A scratchy film filter to the levels and menus hides bad textures and this helps the game look much better than it would without them. The music is also brilliant, with a hilarious 60s porn vibe that suits the style of presentation that the game is going for.
This is a game with plenty of replay value that rewards those who go back with greater rewards. The dialogue is crass and the violence is some of the most graphic avaliable in a Wii game. House of the Dead has finally found a viable new direction. Bring on a sequel.
