I dare anybody to name a more exciting horror game franchise than The House of the Dead. This is Sega's long-running franchise that has somehow gone beyond the light gun to become both a pinball game and a typing tutor. How many franchises can say that? With October upon us and everybody getting into the spooky spirit, I wondered what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought of the House of the Dead franchise. What was their favorite game?
As it turns out, EGM only reviewed five House of the Dead games. Seven if you include the Sega games that featured levels based on the zombie shooter. So, to add a little variety, I thought it might be fun to also toss a few Resident Evil games into the mix, namely the ones that either used a light gun or were supposed to. These are the two gun game franchises that promise monsters, mutants and zombie mayhem, with mixed results. What we're going to do today is countdown the best and worst House of the Dead and Resident Evil gun games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're just going to focus on what the critics said when these games first came out. I sure hope you brought some green herb, because this is what happens when EGM Ranks The House of the Dead and Resident Evil gun games!
Resident Evil: Survivor (PlayStation)
#10
“The worst part about Resident Evil: Survivor is it could have actually been a good game. I mean, the idea is cool: A first-person shooter taking place in the Resident Evil universe. Sadly, though, the game doesn't live up to its potential. First of all, it looks like crap. Really. The zombies are pulled right out of Resident Evil 2 and everything gets horrifically pixelly at times. Then there's the gameplay – you can't strafe, the bullets fire out way too slow and turning your character takes forever. The low price is great, but it doesn't make up for the fact Survivor looks and plays like a first-generation PlayStation title. Resident Evil fans will likely be disappointed.” (4.2 out of 10)
Resident Evil: Dead Aim (PlayStation 2)
#9
“With all the advances in gameplay and technology that we've seen over the years, you'd think Capcom would be able to come up with a light-gun game that involved more than just shooting the same three or four enemies through the same dull, repetitive environment for three hours. Dead Aim brings absolutely nothing new to the genre. Destructible environments? Nope. The ability to blow off zombie's limbs? Not here. Some puzzles, or a two-player mode at least? Bzzzt. The result? A game you really don't need to play.” (4.3 out of 10)
Sega Superstars Tennis (PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360)
#8
“The Wii controls may mix things up, but after playing the 360 version, I just can't get over the feeling that I'd rather be playing Virtua Tennis 3. The controls are indeed tighter in Virtua Tennis 3, the minigames are more entertaining and the character-upgrade system gives the game exponentially greater depth. I'm sure some players might enjoy the power-ups and nostalgic tie-ins with the Sega classics, but I found them pretty thin: Entertaining enough at first, but lacking any staying power ... kind of like the game as a whole.” (C+)
The House of the Dead (Saturn)
#7
“I suppose if you play this pitiful-looking port from 10 feet across the room and squint your eyes, it may look half as decent as the arcade game. The seemingly super-low-res background textures are sometimes so bad you can't even tell what you're looking at, while the monsters themselves look little better. Still, underneath all the ultra-blocky visuals lies a pretty decent gun game, and the new characters are a nice touch, too.” (6.4 out of 10)
Sega SuperStars (PlayStation 2)
#6
“No matter how I control it, I just can't get behind a collection of lame minigames. Superstars features 12 games based loosely on Sega classic like Sonic and NiGHTS. Some games accurately mimic the titles on which they're based, but the others – like the Crazy Taxi minigame, in which you flail around and scream in order to hail a cab – don't even come close. Superstars is single-player only, but it's obviously meant to be played with people not otherwise inclined to game. It's the kind of title you'd make your mom play to show her that not all video games involve stabbing hookers.” (6.7 out of 10)
The Pinball of the Dead (Game Boy Advance)
#5
At first, Pinball of the Dead seemed like a guaranteed slam dunk: Three giant tables to choose from, each with plenty of chutes, holes, ramps, bosses and bonuses. But soon you learn it's more than a matter of the standard learning curve – this game is tough. Mastering stuff like nudging the board and juggling the ball, usually advanced techniques, are practically required to get anywhere here. And seasoned pinballers will be disappointed by the annoying sound effects, no real multiball and a skill shot that takes no skill.” (8.9 out of 10)
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
#4
“I find it just a little funny that Sega's classic light-gun series House of the Dead has way more life than Umbrella Chronicles. Sure, it's great to take a gun-toting trip through the Resident Evil saga, but the actual creature-killing lacks the ghastly whimsy of the House of the Dead games, unloading oodles (and oodles) of bullets into the undead just wasn't as gratifying as I thought it would be. Play with a buddy, though, and it's way more fun. And easier – some bosses in the game are unnecessarily difficult without a companion at your side to help shoot down the frustration.” (7 out of 10)
The House of the Dead III (Xbox)
#3
“Hospitality in House of the Dead is best served from the barrel of a light gun. Sega's gone whole hog here with the extras, graphics and animations; beautifully ugly undead scum recoil when shot and twitch magnificently before they return to the Great Beyond. There's a good and varied crop of creeps to slaughter, but, sadly, using the Xbox controller with its imprecise analog stick to blast said creeps is more chore than it is pleasure. House of the Dead III truly demands to be played with a light gun. Without it, it's more lifeless than a mortician's jamboree.” (7.2 out of 10)
The Typing of the Dead (Dreamcast)
#2
“This is why I love Sega. Who else would have the rocks to bring a title like this to these shores knowing it won't likely make much money? Basically, this is a typing tutorial that plays out like House of the Dead 2. It's the same game, except for a few new challenges in each level and some weird power-ups that simplify the required words or change the form of your onscreen counterpart. Somehow, though, I don't see parents buying this as a typing tutor for their children with all the carnage and horrific themes involved. Plus, the font makes it hard to discern a period from a comma.” (7.5 out of 10)
The House of the Dead 2 (Dreamcast)
#1
“You shoot stuff and it explodes really messily. You shoot the right stuff and you can open up cool features. The acting may be appalling and the plot pretty dubious, but House of the Dead 2 is a classic gun game. Try not to spoil it for yourself by being tempted by the crazy features on the guns though ... playing through with the shotgun with everything switch to auto will get you through it quick, but make it boring. Savor the experience as it was intended.” (7.6 out of 10)
