Summary
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return: A Nostalgic Trip to the Arcade
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return is a compilation of two classic arcade light gun shooters, The House of the Dead 2 and The House of the Dead III. Originally released on the Dreamcast and Xbox, respectively, these games have been ported to the Wii with support for the Wii Zapper peripheral.
Gameplay
Both games in this compilation are on-rails shooters, meaning that the player’s movement is restricted to a predetermined path. The player uses the Wii Zapper to aim and shoot at the undead hordes that attack from all sides.
The House of the Dead 2 is a fairly straightforward shooter, with the player progressing through a series of levels, each with its own unique boss. The game features a variety of weapons, including pistols, shotguns, and grenade launchers.
The House of the Dead III is a more complex game, with a branching storyline and multiple endings. The player can choose to play as one of two characters, each with their own unique abilities. The game also features a new melee attack, which can be used to block incoming attacks or to stagger enemies.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return are faithful to the original arcade games. The character models are blocky and the textures are low-resolution, but this is all part of the charm. The games’ soundtracks are also excellent, with a mix of cheesy voice acting and pulse-pounding music.
Wii Zapper Support
The Wii Zapper is the perfect peripheral for playing The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. It provides a more immersive experience than using a traditional Wii Remote, and it makes the games feel more like the arcade originals.
New Features
In addition to the original arcade games, The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return also includes a new Extreme mode for The House of the Dead III. This mode features faster enemy attacks and smaller bullet blast radii, making the game more challenging.
The compilation also includes a new melee attack for The House of the Dead III. This attack can be used to block incoming attacks or to stagger enemies. It is a powerful move, but it requires a “reload” time.
Overall
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return is a great compilation of two classic arcade light gun shooters. The games are faithful to the originals, and the Wii Zapper support makes them even more fun to play. If you’re a fan of light gun shooters, or if you’re just looking for a nostalgic trip to the arcade, then I highly recommend checking out The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return.
Score: 8/10
Pros:
- Faithful to the original arcade games
- Supports the Wii Zapper
- New Extreme mode for The House of the Dead III
- New melee attack for The House of the Dead III
Cons:
- Graphics are dated
- Voice acting is cheesy
- Gameplay can be repetitive
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
