The House of the Dead: Overkill Review (Wii)

Never Has Incest Been So Fun!

First and foremost, this is a mature title. Not only am I surprised that not a single news outlet, that I’m aware of, has done a story on why this game should be banned, but I’m surprised the ESRB didn’t try and slap the game with the dreaded AO rating. Constant cuss words aside, the game has a ton of mature themes and situations. Most of which, I can’t even begin to explain. So if you are fully okay with a mature video game, then House of the Dead: Overkill may be for you.

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The game is an on-rails shooter that focuses its look largely on the grindhouse movie genre. Being a prequel to all other House of the Dead titles, this is really just like any arcade shooter, bringing not much originality as far as the gameplay is concerned. The game’s main Story Mode can be beaten in about 2 hours of playing.

For controls, you can use the Wii Remote alone, with the Nunchuk, or you can use the Wii Zapper. I used all control schemes, and I’m definitely a Zapper fan. Any substitutions such as the Nyko Perfect Shot would be great to use as well. You’d be surprised how extremely satisfying it is to shoot the living fetus out of a zombie’s stomach using a gun peripheral. I strongly recommend it.

The basic Story Mode follows Agent G and Detective Isaac Washington on a mission to defeat the evil mastermind Papa Caesar. Caesar has transformed many of the townspeople into zombies, which you, in turn, shoot to death. Eventually, Agent G and Detective Washington befriend Varla Guns, a sexy vixen whose brother is a mutated scientist. She joins your quest to defeat Papa Caesar.

The game is a non-stop blood bath, but not in the gag worthy Resident Evil 5 way, where it’s overly realistic look can make you feel guilty for murdering zombies. Instead, it’s so over the top bloody and gore-filled that you can’t help but have the biggest smile on your face while you shoot a zombie’s head off.

Gameplay wise, there is a constant balance of difficulty. Finding health packs throughout each level can help, but overall I never needed them, as I never came close to dying. Playing co-op definitely adds to the enjoyment, and makes the game easier. As you progress, you can earn money, which in turn can be used to purchase weapons, and weapon upgrades. While the gun selection is solid, I would have preferred some more variety. You can occasionally find grenades in each level to pick up and use, but they are few and far between. Games like Overkill are so over the top, adding some bold weaponry options really could have added to the experience. Say, some paintball guns or rocket launchers?

Pretty, pretty, pretty gross.

The different levels were really unique and all were fun to play through. A nice variety of environments were featured, from a train, to a carnival with zombie clowns, to a run down prison. I’m not sure if it was because most of my time playing the game was in co-op mode, but I did find that the bosses of each level were very easy to defeat. Only the last boss provided any real challenge.

Some technical issues were present when playing the game. In the level, The Fetid Waters, the game just locked onto a specific area, with no enemies to kill and no way to progress. It took a restarting of the Wii to fix the problem, but luckily that did the trick. The game also features some rather long load times. And while the story is fun and entertaining to me, some gamers who aren’t so fond of the “F” word might be unhappy about your inability to skip through the cut scenes, which are the most mature parts of the game.

The Game:
The game achieves exactly what it had set out to. I would say that the $50 price tag is way too high, and I’m sure it will drop fairly soon. The levels are fun and imaginative. The enemies are a bit repetitive, but creepy as hell. And if you have a bunch of friends to play with, the game will always be a blast. Finishing the Story Mode unlocks the Director’s Cut, which is a nice little incentive to try beating the game and adds to the replay value. In addition, there are a few mini games to play. Despite the unique story, and amusingly graphic language, the gameplay just doesn’t bring anything new to the table, good or bad. Overkill is a solid arcade shooter.
(8/10)

The Time:
You can pick up the game and start any level you choose, as long as you’ve unlocked them all. Each level can range from about 15 to 20 minutes, which is really a perfect amount. While the cut scenes are long, you can skip through them after you’ve seen them at least one time each. After your first run through the game, it’s easier to pick up and replay at your leisure.
(8/10)

The Verdict:
Despite some of the game’s shortcomings, Overkill succeeds at being fun. Anyone who is a fan of grindhouse films, or has an affinity for arcade shooters will thoroughly enjoy this game. In fact, I dare anyone to pick it up, try it for 10 minutes, and try telling me that they didn’t have a blast. The game’s short enough that you can beat it in a couple of hours, and twisted enough that you’ll want to show it off to as many friends as you can. As long as you enjoy a mature video game with zombies, incest and cannibalism, House of the Dead: Overkill is worth your time.