The House of the Dead 2

The graphics have improved a bit from the first game, but apart from that, this is just a slightly watered down version of the first game. The zombies seem to have lost their edge... they often stand around, waiting for one of the others to attack first(a la B-movie fight scenes, with the hero fighting multiple henchmen) whereas in the first game, they just kept coming at you, constantly, regardless of how many of them there are. Well, maybe that's not exactly true. But the first game solved the problem of too many zombies at any given time by having them appear and then attack, rather than appear in groups only to have them move slowly at you, attacking you one by one, each time one falls down another one moving at you. That takes a chunk of intensity out of the game, and leaves it somewhat dull and boring(because without intensity, the game is just some fairly nice graphics to look at). The pace was just better handled in the first, adapting well to how good the players were doing. The faster you took down the zombies, the sooner it would move to the next group, and if you shot too slow, the enemy would attack once, then stand still for a second or so, to not stress the player, then attack again, and it would remain slow until either the player sped up again or he was dead. That created tension without giving a sense of the game being impossible. This goes both of the wrong directions, at different times(too easy early on, very difficult later in the game). The game is twice as long as the first, meaning about half an hour in total. The zombies are more detailed and there are more kinds of them now, with new weapons and new movement patterns, which increases the fun factor that is blowing them to pieces, but only slightly. The animation is more fluid and smooth, not to mention realistic and impressive. This makes it a good deal more appealing, and, together with the fun of finding and following all of the different paths through the game, makes you play through more than just a few times. The difficulty is slightly higher than the first game, so most players, even experienced ones, will have to try more than once to beat it. Something that is really great, and you(well, I) missed in the first game is the training and the fresh PC mode which now features interesting and entertaining items to find and use, including, but not limited to gun power-ups(machine gun, shotgun, etc.) and unlimited continues. The first game only had the different paths, saving all civilians and getting a good high-score as motivation for playing it through more than once or twice. This one has you looking for all of the cool power-ups and using them for ultimate shoot-'em-up entertainment. The game no longer really takes place in a house, making the title seem somewhat silly. A subtitle, like with the second Jedi Knight would have solved this, but no. There's not much left to say about the game... the bosses are mostly either shadows of those of the first or dull new creatures. One exception comes to mind, though; a giant zombie, clearly inspired by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, running towards you, swinging an equally giant chainsaw towards you, covering his head which is his only weak spot. The truly cool thing about him is that while in these games you're usually standing still when fighting bosses, this one chases you around. And there's no escaping him... he breaks through walls with the chainsaw, and jumps down at you every time you lose him. If nothing else in the game, that one boss, or, rather, the fight against him, is every bit as intense and adrenaline-pumping as the first game. The last boss really isn't terribly interesting(one of his attacks is illogically open, too)... when the final boss appeared at the end of the first, he made a lasting and powerful impression, and he was truly menacing and exciting to battle. The one of this game... didn't. One quick piece of advice for fighting the regular zombies(though this really applies more to the first game); don't ever think a zombie is dead until it falls down. Some of them can still charge at you with the better part of their body blown clean off. My last complaint about this game; Sega, the final level... cyborg-like futuristic zombies... why? You... you were doing so well, and then you just went and kicked us in the stomach with something totally unneeded like that. Even worse, you put freakin' *light-sabers*(or laser-sticks, whatever) on the arms of some of them. Finally, let me quickly make it absolutely certain to you that the writing, characters, voice acting and dialog is just as bad as it was in the first, and actually a little worse. The villain actually sounds like he's almost breaking out in laughter from the pure hilarity of the poor writing, making him sound like Mr. Bean(yes, seriously) during said 'half-laugh fits'. One final thought; what is it with the villains in these game and their faith in their own creations? Each of them leave you with a large zombie-enemy only to tell you they look forward to seeing you again... Oh, and yes, this has even more poorly hidden symbolism and everything less than subtle hidden messages than the first. OK, one final thought(seriously, last one, I promise); the first boss is a creature without a head... yet he can still see you... and roar at you... how, exactly? I recommend this game to any fan of the first and any fan of shooting games, and anyone who just finds pleasure in putting lots and lots of holes in anonymous bodies coming at you. I do think the first is better for relieving stress and aggressions, though, so if that's what you're after, go play that instead. 7/10

Rated M for Strong Graphic Violence/Gore.

I have played House Of The Dead 2 in many different arcades.I have not played it recently but I do remember playing it.This was actually the first M-rated game I ever played.THe first M-rated game I owned was Quake 2 when I was nine years old.I played this game when I was seven years old.House Of The Dead was made into a movie.I didn't see it but I hear it sucks.This is the only game in the House Of The Dead trilogy that I have played.If you can find this game then play it.Its an excellent and extremely violent zombie shooter.

9/10

House of the Dead 2 provides good shoot'em up fun. It's on par with Time Crisis but takes place in an X-Files meets B Movie environment. You play as a special agent, armed with only your pistol. A once quiet city as now been infested with zombies, and other undead monsters. Each level contains different enemies so you must take different strategies to beat them. One shot will not kill them either. It usually takes 3 or 4 shots to cripple them before they reach you but they come quick! The game moves very quickly, which keeps the game intense, so you need to keep a sharp eye for aim and special items. Right after you finish off a group of zombies, you'll turn around to see rabid owls swooping at you. You'll also face adrenaline pumping bosses before each scene is through which are pretty challenging.

The game also has different paths you can take. Shooting a key you find on the ground will take you into a different situation which adds to the play value. There are also people in trouble throughout the different levels. Saving them will also alter where you go and give you health at the end of each "act".

The graphics are very detailed, crisp and clean. The story isn't so solid as you're just running around doing a lot of shooting and the voice acting isn't good but it fits. Has the potential to get frustrating at times, especially if you're still getting used to reloading. Worth a buy if you find it real cheap.

I got this game for my Sega Dreamcast. I also have it for my PC. I have played this game with a friend at a local arcade. I really love their other game called: Typing of the Dead. I got that demo on my PC. I am currently looking for a Dreamcast keyboard and the Typing of the Dead game. I also played the original House of the Dead at an arcade. I think Sega makes really good games, but bad consoles. They really flopped with the Saturn, 32X, Sega CD and Master System. The Genesis and Dreamcast sold fairly well. Because I love this series so much, I gotta get an XBOX and House of the Dead III. I also played House of the Dead III in the arcades. Vampire Night was a joint project between Sega and Namco.

I remember going to the movies every Friday night, with one of my friends. We both brought twenty bucks and paid our tickets...but we had ten bucks left after paying them, and these bucks were going straight in the "Insert Coins" hole of the House of The Dead 2 arcade. Every week during months...I've probably spent more than 100 bucks playing that game at the arcades. And then, I was the owner of a Playstation 2 and I had never heard about House of The Dead 3 being released...So, when I learned it, I decided to get rid of my PS2 (and my now-so-boring Vice City game) and to buy an XBOX...and the light gun that makes it so fun. Though the game was discontinued, I made sure to get my hand on a copy of it. And, on House of The Dead 3, you can unlock the whole House of the Dead 2 game. Now, at my home, comfortably, I close the lights, grab my gun and blow zombies to gory chunky bits. I can enjoy what I would describe as "the most arcade-ish game you'll see".

Now, more precisely, for House of The Dead 2, I'd say it's the best of the bunch. The graphics are not up to systems on the market today (XBOX in particular)...they're not smooth, pixels are big...but it gives the game even more qualities: it still feels like a game, it doesn't try to be realistic, it is funny as hell (the two heroes in this game are really cheesy...so is the dialog), it has basic but great lighting effects (that I'm also sure can be bad for the eyes or give bigger than usual chances for epilepsy), the gore is SO amazing...on a single head, there are about four or five different spots that can be shot and blown off. It really makes every killing different and varied, as you'll be amazed by how mutilated the next zombie you'll kill will be. The game also moves so fast, it keeps a very intense and dynamic pace, jumping from a horde of zombies to kill to the next. Plus, the bosses are fun and the training mode is a delight. There are also five levels of difficulty, which contribute to the re-playability. This game is short, though. But in this case, it's better that way. Think about this game as a B-movie you love and you want to sit through quite often, because it's fun. It's a game that you have to play several times...every time you'll sit through this interactive arcade movie with non-stop action, as we could call it, you'll have as much fun as you had in the beginning. Really great game, play two players, with light guns (or at least it would be better) and enjoy the roller-coaster of zombie butchering that House of The Dead 2 has to offer. This is a video game...video games have become so structured and have dull complex stories nowadays...And between the action sequences you'll get in a game, you'll have to fill up or follow an uninteresting story...rent a well written movie or book instead...House of The Dead 2 has no pretention, and offers only pure zombie carnage action while laughing at the concept of "story" in a video game...

Great game...simple, but incredible. Might not please to those who prefer conquest games, or that absolutely never want to reduce themselves to turning off their brain to zero and enjoying a nutty but honest fun.

House of the Dead 2 is a real good, short experience of gaming to play more than once a day. But beware...it gives headaches, because it really is intense...enjoy

9.5 out of ten