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House of the Dead Overkill Review | May 1, 2013
PlayStation 3, iOS, Android, Nintendo Wii

The House of the Dead series gets some big changes in House of the Dead Overkill and House of the Dead Overkill Extended Cut in this rail shooter. This prequel to the original House of the Dead is made in a 70’s “Grind House” movie style featuring way over the top dialog and storyline elements, super politically incorrect language and good voice acting plus gross creepy boss battles. This change is surprising done really well and gives gamers a great change in the series and a very high replay value video game.

You can play one player or two and this game has all of the stuff we like about rail shooters. The zombies (we mean mutants) are a mix of super-fast ones sprinting right at you and really slow ones that you have to keep attacking over and over to take them down. There are unlockables all throughout each level to shoot and to collect and of course civilians to rescue that just happen to wonder into the area surrounded by zombies ready to eat them. The civilian rescue is not only fun but it is one of many different things that Overkill changes up the gameplay. There are glowing red orbs that if you shoot them you get to play the game is slow motion for a while and at different times you will be attacked while you have to hit targets in a certain period of time in order to move on or help defeat bosses. It all works great with no problems.

The main difference in the Extended Cut version besides HD is that you get two additional campaigns to play through Naked Terror and Creeping Flesh. Both feature Varla Gunns and a new female character Candi Stryper, taking the total number of levels to play to nine for the PlayStation and seven for the Nintendo Wii. The extended cut also has two new bosses, enemies, weapons and a comic book to locate but you have to shoot the pages that you find while playing through the levels. After you beat either of the games you unlock the Director’s Cut. You have the same levels to to play but the journey takes you through the game in a different way, each level takes longer too and you can earn more money per level to upgrade weapons faster. Overkill Extended Cut is exclusive to PlayStation while Overkill is a Nintendo Wii Exclusive at the time of this review.

House of the Dead Overkill and Overkill Extended Cut might be the most politically incorrect game we have ever played. This is a super M for Mature game so if you are an easily offended gamer this may not be what’s right for you. Some of the language and storyline plot points are so adult themed that we are surprised that this game was released for the Wii. Once again gameplay mechanics are perfect. No problems with the camera, aiming, ammo or reloading. Some of the weapons take a long time to reload but you get to upgraded them and increase stats. The game takes about 5 to 7 hours to beat but it has a very high replay value because it is just fun and easy to pick up and play a level. Plus, you get to upgrade weapons making replay easier. As far as rail shooters this is one of the best, keep the purchase price under the $35.00 mark.
 
9.0 out of 10
Worth Your Money

9.0 out of 10
Worth Your Money

Rated
M for
Mature

Rated
PEGI 18

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