Wikipedia

The House of the Dead(video game)

The House of the Dead[a]is a 1997horror-themedlight gun shooterarcade gamedeveloped bySega AM1and released bySega.It is the first game in theHouse of the Deadseries. Players assume the role of agents Thomas Rogan and "G" as they combat an army of undead experiments created by Dr. Curien, amad scientist.

The House of the Dead
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Sega AM1
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Takashi Oda
Composer(s)Tetsuya Kawauchi
SeriesThe House of the Dead
Platform(s)Arcade,Saturn,Microsoft Windows,mobile phone
ReleaseHouse of the Dead
March 1997
  • Arcade
    Saturn
    Windows
    Mobile phone
Genre(s)
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer
Arcade systemSega Model 2[7]

The game was developed for over a year on theSega Model 2arcade hardware. Targeting an adult audience, AM1 devised a story and atmosphere inspired by Western horror films. AM1's plans for detailed environments, non-linear level designs, and a gory aesthetic were challenged – and often limited – by the Model 2 hardware and other factors.

The House of the Deadwas well-received by critics. It has been, along withResident Evil,credited with popularising zombie video games, as well as re-popularising zombies in wider popular culture from the late 1990s onwards, leading to renewed interest inzombie filmsduring the 2000s.

Aremakeof the game was developed by MegaPixel Studio and published by Forever Entertainment forNintendo Switch,PlayStation 4,Stadia,Windows,andXbox Onein April 2022, forXbox Series X/Sin September 2022, and forPlayStation 5in January 2023.

Gameplay

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Gameplay from the first chapter, as the player approaches the house

The House of the Deadis arail shooterlight gun game.Players use a light gun (or mouse, in the PC version) to aim and shoot at approaching zombies. The characters'pistolsusemagazineswhich hold 6 rounds; players reload by shooting away from the screen. When a player sustains damage or shoots a civilian, one point of health is removed. The continue screen appears when all health is lost. If the player runs out of continues, the game is over.First-aidpacks are available throughout the game which restore one point of health; some can be obtained from rescuedhostages,while others are hidden inside certain breakable objects. Special items can be found within other breakables, granting a bonus to the player who shoots them. The player can earn additional health at the end of each level based on the number of hostages rescued.

Throughout the course of the game, players are faced with numerous situations in which their action (or inaction) will have an effect on the direction of gameplay.[8]This is exemplified in the opening stage of the game when a hostage is about to be thrown from the bridge to his death. If the player saves the hostage, they will enter the house directly through the front door; however, if the player fails to rescue the hostage, the character is redirected to an underground route through the sewers.

Players can score additional points by shooting enemies in the head, rescuing hostages and finding hidden items.[9]

Plot

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In Europe, the renownedbiochemistandgeneticist,Dr. Roy Curien, becomes obsessed with discovering the nature of life and death. While supported by the DBR Corporation and its own team of scientists, Curien's behavior becomes more erratic and his experiments take an inhumane and gruesome turn. The Curien Mansion, which serves as his home and laboratory, experiences an outbreak of undead zombies.

On December 18, 1998, AMS Agent Thomas Rogan receives a distress call from his fiancée, Sophie Richards, from the Curien Mansion. Rogan and his partner, "G", fly to Europe and arrive at the estate, finding it overrun with undead creatures, which Curien unleashed. A mortally wounded scientist gives them a journal containing information about Curien's creations and their weaknesses, and urges them to rescue the survivors still inside.

Rogan and G reach Sophie, only to witness her being carried away by a flyinggargoyle-like monster called theHangedman.[10]The two enter the house, and later find Sophie, just before she is attacked by theChariot,a hulking, heavily-armored mutant armed with abardiche.After killing the mutant, Rogan and G attend to a wounded Sophie, who warns them that they must stop Curien at all costs, before collapsing from her wounds. Furious, Rogan and G push further into the mansion, and upon reaching the rooftops encounter the Hangedman. In the ensuing battle, Rogan and G are nearly thrown to their deaths, but manage to shoot it down. Fighting deeper into the mansion’s laboratories, the two eventually find Curien, who is protected by a massive, arachnoid creature called theHermit.After killing it, Rogan and G continue their chase.

The duo traverse through several laboratories housed in a mountain cave system beneath the manor, arriving at a massive laboratory where Curien unleashes his masterpiece, theMagician,a powerful humanoid creature withpyrokineticabilities. However, the Magician refuses to serve any master and kills Curien. To prevent it from escaping, Rogan and G fight the Magician, and after being defeated, the Magician explodes, but not before warning the players that they "have not seen anything yet". With both Curien and the Magician dead, the agents leave the mansion.

Endings

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There are three different endings; which one players see is determined by their score rank. In what the developers called the "normal ending", Sophie is reanimated and becomes a zombie. What the developers have referred to as the "true ending" is only seen if the players get the highest rank: Sophie is alive, having survived her injuries.[9]In the third ending, a far view of the mansion is shown and Sophie is absent (leaving it unknown if she survived or not).

Development and release

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Development started in December 1995 and took one year and three months.[9]None of the development team could speak English, so they arrived at the nameThe House of the Deadby taking various horror-themed phrases in Japanese and picking the one where the English translated text had the most "cool" visual, without concern for what sort of connotations the phrase might have to English speakers.[9]The team saw people in their 20s and 30s as their target audience, and hoped that the game would primarily be experienced as a two-player game.[9]

The House of the Deadwas built on theVirtua Copgame engine.[8]The developers wanted to have a more complex system of path branches, and to have the system impact the game's story, but eventually realized these ideas were too ambitious to fulfill within the time allotted to make the game.[9]

The enemy designs were drafted quickly, going from idea directly to design drawing without any rough sketches.[9]Anticipating that foreign markets, particularly Germany, would require the violence be toned down, they built in an option for operators to change the color of the game's blood, with green, purple, and blue available in addition to the traditional red.[9]They also cut a female zombie from the game because they felt she looked too much like a normal elderly woman, which could provoke controversy given that the player is encouraged to shoot the zombies.[9]The Chariot was animated by usingmotion capturewith an actor wielding a broom, but the other enemies were all animated manually, using motion capture for reference only.[9]

Sega AM4designed the game'scabinetusing screenshots and illustrations given to them by AM1.[9]The House of the Deadcame in two cabinet formats, both upright: one with a 50-inch monitor and one with a 29-inch monitor.[11]

Ports

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In late 1997, Sega confirmed that work had begun on a port toSega Saturn,as an early version had been delivered to them.[12]The port was handled byTantalus Interactiveand released in 1998, with a port to Windows (PC-CD) by Sega arriving the same year.[13]Extra game modes were added to both ports, which include selectable characters with different weapons and a Boss rush mode.[14]The Saturn port supports the console's light gun peripherals.[10]

Both the Sega Saturn and PC editions have slightly remixed soundtracks. On Chapter 2, there is a reference to theSpace Shuttle Challenger disaster,as the words "Challenger, go at throttle up", spoken byRichard O. Coveyfrom the mission control room only seconds before the explosion, can be heard three times before the music loops.[15]These words do not appear in the arcade version; a snickering laugh is heard instead. The title, and Boss themes are reversed on the PC port as well.

A version for mobile phones was released in Japan, and aimed to recreate the gameplay and locations from the arcade version. The pre-installedtrial versioncontaining the game's first chapter was included withVodafoneV603SH in February 2005, and utilized the phone'saccelerometerfunctionality tocontrolthe camera.[16]

Remake

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In April 2021, it was announced that a remake of the game was to be released for theNintendo Switch.The House of the Dead: Remakewas developed by MegaPixel Studio and published by Forever Entertainment under license from Sega.[17][18]In January 2022 news outlets reported that the game was expected to launch in March 2022,[19][20][21]but it was ultimately released on April 7, 2022.[22]Ports forPlayStation 4,Stadia,Windows,andXbox Onewere released on April 28, 2022,[23]followed byXbox Series X/Son September 23, 2022,[24]andPlayStation 5on January 20, 2023.[24]

The remake uses ananalogcontrolled crosshair for aiming by default. The Switch version also includes an alternative control scheme by utilizing the controller’s built in “gyro aiming” system to emulate the use of a light gun, and the subsequent Xbox One and PS4 ports also have alternate control methods, such as USB mouse control and the PlayStation Move/Aim controllers respectively.

Reception and legacy

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In Japan,Game MachinelistedThe House of the Deadon their May 1, 1997, issue as being the second most-successful dedicated arcade game of the month.[41]The arcade game was also a major hit overseas.[42]It went on to be the highest-grossing dedicatedarcade game of 1998in Japan. By 1998, it had sold 8,600arcade cabinetsworldwide, including 1,600 in Japan and 7,000 overseas.[43]

Reviews

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The 1996 arcade version ofThe House of the Deadreceived positive reviews upon release. In July 1997Computer and Video Gamesmagazine called it "the bestshooting gameever! "[30][44]Next Generationreviewed the arcade version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Overall, this is an excellent take on the light-gun genre - a sheer bloody scream." The review praised the branching levels, story, creature design, graphics, and destructible environments.[37]In a retrospective review,AllGameawarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars, likewise praising the story, graphics, and destructible environments, but particularly focused on the game's intelligent challenge. The reviewer dubbed it "one of the best shooting games to hit arcades in the late 1990s."[26]

The Saturn version ofThe House of the Deadgarnered generally favorable reviews. It had a 71% rating onreview aggregationwebsiteGameRankingsbased on five online reviews.[25]

The Nintendo Switch remake received mixed reviews.[45]Starburstpraised the new soundtrack, added game modes, and the exciting atmosphere. They concluded that the remake is "a fantastic revival of an old favourite".[46]Gaming Biblesimilarly commented that the graphical upgrades and extras are appealing.[47]Nook Gamingwas laudatory of the game's "clever camera angles and situations" that encourage efficient play.[48]Reviewers criticized the gyro and thumbstick controls.[47][48][49]Nintendo Lifefelt that unlike theWii,the Switch is unsuitable for light gun games due to its lack of a sensor bar, without which the gyro controls cause the cursor to twitch when firing. They concluded that while the gameplay still held up and the graphical upgrades and extras were reasonably well done, those who are not fans of the original game might not have the patience for it.[49]

Cultural impact

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According toKim Newmanin the bookNightmare Movies(2011), the "zombierevival began in the Far East "during the late 1990s with the Japanese zombie gamesResident EvilandThe House of the Dead.The success of these two 1996 zombie games inspired a wave of Asianzombie films,such asBio Zombie(1998) andVersus(2000).[50]The zombie revival later went global following the worldwide success ofResident EvilandThe House of the Dead,which inspired a wave of Western zombie films during the 2000s, such as28 Days Later(2002) andShaun of the Dead(2004).[50]In 2013,George A. Romerosaid it was the video gamesResident EvilandHouse of the Dead"more than anything else" that popularised his zombie concept in early 21st-century popular culture.[51][52]

Controversy

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When the American city ofIndianapolisattempted to ban violent video games in 2000, it argued thatThe House of the Deadwasobsceneand so unprotected by theFirst Amendment.This required U.S. Appeals Court JudgeRichard Posnerto review the game at length, ultimately finding Indianapolis' ban was unconstitutional. Unimpressed by the graphics, Judge Posner wrote "The most violent game in the record,The House of the Dead,depicts zombies being killed flamboyantly, with much severing of limbs and effusion of blood; but so stylized and patently fictitious is the cartoon-like depiction that no one would suppose it 'obscene' in the sense in which a photograph of a person being decapitated might be described as 'obscene.' It will not turn anyone's stomach. "[53]

Notes

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  1. ^Japanese:ザ・ハウス・オブ・ザ・デッド,Hepburn:Za Hausu obu za Deddo

References

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  1. ^Sega Arcade History(PDF).Enterbrain.2002. p. 144.
  2. ^"sega-europe.online".December 2, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon December 2, 1998.RetrievedMay 3,2023.
  3. ^"Sega Online: Central (Press Releases)".June 28, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon June 28, 1998.RetrievedMay 3,2023.
  4. ^"Press release: 1998-05-05: The House of the Dead Finds New Home On Sega Saturn".Sega Retro.March 12, 2016.RetrievedMay 3,2023.
  5. ^"News Briefs".IGN.September 3, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2000.RetrievedDecember 6,2019.
    "Sega has released The House of the Dead, a first-person shooter."
  6. ^"THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD FINDS NEW HOME ON PC".Sega Central.Sega of America. September 3, 1998. Archived fromthe originalon February 22, 1999.RetrievedNovember 9,2024.
  7. ^"AOU".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 93.Ziff Davis.April 1997. p. 79.
  8. ^ab"NG Alphas: House of the Dead".Next Generation.No. 29.Imagine Media.May 1997. p. 108.
  9. ^abcdefghijkHarrod, Warren (September 1997)."Interview: The House of the Dead".Sega Saturn Magazine.No. 23.Emap International Limited.pp. 58–63.RetrievedNovember 4,2019.
  10. ^abYeo, Matt (January 1998). "The House of the Dead".Sega Saturn Magazine.No. 27.Emap International Limited.pp. 18–23.
  11. ^Webb, Marcus (June 1997)."Sega and GameWorks".Next Generation.No. 30.Imagine Media.p. 28.
  12. ^"News in Brief".Sega Saturn Magazine.No. 25.Emap International Limited.November 1997. p.15.RetrievedDecember 3,2019.
  13. ^"Official Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 31".May 1998.
  14. ^"House of the Dead: The Zombie Smash Comes Home".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 105.Ziff Davis.April 1998. p. 44.
  15. ^Tetsuya Kawauchi (October 29, 2011)."The House Of The Dead Music: Chapter 2".Sega Saturn.
  16. ^"V603SH hướng けに “ザ・ハウス・オブ・ザ・デッド モバイル” ".IT Media Mobile(in Japanese). February 1, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon July 12, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 9,2022.
  17. ^"First Look at House of the Dead: Remake on Switch, a Stylized and Spooky Reboot".IGN.April 14, 2021.RetrievedApril 14,2021.
  18. ^"THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details".nintendo.RetrievedApril 15,2021.
  19. ^"The House of the Dead: Remake for Nintendo Switch".Gamepressure.January 26, 2022.
  20. ^"Nintendo Direct February 2022: New leak hints at what to expect from next Direct".Daily Express.January 26, 2022.
  21. ^"Nintendo Direct 2022 May Debut In February; Featured Games And Announcements Details Leak Online".International Business Times.February 9, 2022.
  22. ^"The House of the Dead: Remake launches April 7".March 4, 2022.
  23. ^"The House of the Dead: Remake is Coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Stadia".April 21, 2022.
  24. ^abRomano, Sal (January 16, 2023)."The House of the Dead: Remake coming to PS5 on January 20".Gematsu.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
  25. ^ab"The House of the Dead for Saturn".GameRankings.Archived fromthe originalon May 18, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 16,2014.
  26. ^abBaize, Anthony."The House of the Dead (ARC) - Review".AllGame.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 28,2016.
  27. ^House, Matthew."The House of the Dead (PC) - Review".AllGame.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 28,2016.
  28. ^House, Michael L."The House of the Dead (SAT) - Review".AllGame. Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 28,2016.
  29. ^"The House of the Dead".Consoles +(in French). No. 76. May 1998. pp. 106–8.
  30. ^ab"Arcade: Sega's Greatest Gun Game! The House of the Dead".Computer and Video Games.No. 188 (July 1997).EMAP.June 11, 1997. pp. 84–5.
  31. ^Randell, Kim (1998)."PC Review: House of the Dead".Computer and Video Games.Archived fromthe originalon June 24, 2007.RetrievedFebruary 16,2014.
  32. ^Edge staff (April 1998). "House of the Dead (SAT)".Edge.No. 57.
  33. ^"The House of the Dead (SAT)".Game Informer.No. 61. May 1998.
  34. ^Ferris, Duke (September 1998)."The House of the Dead Review (SAT)".Game Revolution.RetrievedFebruary 16,2014.
  35. ^Alway, Robin (March 25, 1998). "The House of the Dead".GamesMaster.No. 67 (April 1998). pp. 46–8.
  36. ^Fielder, Joe (April 23, 1998)."The House of the Dead Review (SAT)".GameSpot.RetrievedFebruary 16,2014.
  37. ^ab"Dead Men Walking".Next Generation.No. 34.Imagine Media.October 1997. p. 183.
  38. ^Williamson, Colin (December 1998)."House of the Dead".PC Gamer.Archived fromthe originalon March 3, 2000.RetrievedMarch 26,2014.
  39. ^"PC Review: The House of the Dead".PC Zone.1998.
  40. ^"The House of the Dead"(PDF).Sega Saturn Magazine(in Japanese). No. 1998-10 (April 3, 1998). March 20, 1998. p. 194.
  41. ^"Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - hoàn thành phẩm tịch イプ の TVゲーム cơ (Dedicated Videos)".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 540.Amusement Press, Inc.May 1, 1997. p. 21.
  42. ^"The House of the Dead".Computer and Video Games.No. 196 (March 1998). February 11, 1998. p. 35.
  43. ^Akagi, Masumi, ed. (February 1, 1999).""Tekken 3", "House of the Dead" Top Annual Chart "(PDF).Game Machine.No. 580.Amusement Press, Inc.p. 22.
  44. ^"Arcade:House of the DeadPlayer's Guide! ".Computer and Video Games.No. 189 (August 1997).EMAP.July 11, 1997. pp. 82–5.
  45. ^"THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake".Metacritic.
  46. ^Jackson, Chris (June 4, 2022)."The House of the Dead Remake".Starburst.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
  47. ^abDiver, Mike (April 6, 2022)."'The House of the Dead: Remake' Review: More Zombies, Rotten Controls ".Gaming Bible.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
  48. ^abParker, Isaiah (April 22, 2022)."The House of the Dead: Remake - Review".Nook Gaming.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
  49. ^abScullion, Chris (April 8, 2022)."The House of the Dead: Remake Review".Nintendo Life.RetrievedDecember 31,2022.
  50. ^abNewman, Kim (2011).Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s.A&C Black.pp. 559–566.ISBN9781408805039.
  51. ^Weedon, Paul (July 17, 2017)."George A. Romero (interview)".Paul Weedon.Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2018.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  52. ^Diver, Mike (July 17, 2017)."Gaming's Greatest, Romero-Worthy Zombies".Vice.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  53. ^American Amusement Machine Ass'n v. Kendrick,244 F.3d 572 (7th Cir. 2001).

Further reading

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  • "The House of the Dead".EGM2.June 1997.
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