The House of the Dead 2 and 3 Return
Review from Cav - Thursday, 08 May 2008 @ 9:48pm

Release: 27 March 2008
Distributor: Sega
Where's Barbara Streisand when I need her? I would happily let her belt out a soulful rendition of Memories right now. Well maybe just one verse. On second thoughts.

Um, hey, there's something on your face ...
These days I still can't walk past an Arcade, when I actually find one, and deposit a coin or twenty. You'd think that my 'Arcade Cravings' would be dampened by owning a few home consoles, but alas, this is one of those habits that I just can't kick. I still have two Replay tokens from the Arcade at Chermside Shopping Centre just outside Brisbane in my wallet, from my trip last year, on the off chance that I will be there again soon. It's memories like these that ensured that House of the Dead 2 & 3 on the Wii was going on be a member of my catalogue of Wii Games :). And the free PowerWave Wii-Qualizer gun peripheral that came with. I love free stuff, don't you?
From the moment I inserted the disc into the 'White Wonder', I wanted to rummage through the linen cupboard for a black sheet and nick down to the second hand furniture store to see if they had an old shower curtain rail I could pick up for a song, just to set the mood. The memories came flooding back! The poor voice acting! The blocky looking faces! It's all there! Nothing much has really changes except for the options at the start of the game, giving you various options for the game. Firstly you must choose between playing either HotD 2 or 3 and then you can through the Arcade or Original versions (which confused me as I always thought that the Arcade version WAS the original version!) You also have the options of a Tutorial and Boss Mode, I'll let you work out what the last one is all about. The game still has all the great pick-ups and upgrades that can be selected for use before you start Original Mode, although the Grenade Launcher doesn't have the head splattering effect that you would expect, it's more like an Air Cannon, knocking your enemies over. It's really hard to comment on a game that isn't really that new, just more personal now that it's in my home on a console and not stuffed away in the corner of a Pub or Bowling Alley. If someone gave me an ultimatum and I was forced to pick one game over the other? Well, personally, I prefer 2 over 3. Even though the graphics and voices improve slightly with the third instalment, I just can't help playing House Of The Dead 2 until the wee hours of the morning. Call me crazy, call me kooky, but it's part of my teenage years (albeit late teens ... okay, okay! I give!! Early twenties) that I just can't let go ... and when you get to my age you cling onto whatever comes your way.

Dead for 100 years but his hair STILL looks fan-tabulous
One of the main reasons I picked up this game, as mentioned previously was for the PowerWave Wii-Qualizer. Unlike the Nintendo Wii-Zapper, the Wii-Qualizer is more of a Hand Gun than a Rifle. I thought this may be better than the Zapper, maybe because it was bundled with the game, but I was wrong. The game is set up so that when you don't have a nunchuk connected, you only have to press B to shoot. If you do have a nunchuk connected, you hold B on the WiiMote and use Z for the trigger, thus easily done with the two handed Zapper, but really uncomfortable when trying to wrap both hands around the Wii-Qualizer. The one thing that the Wii-Qualizer has going for it is the Class 3a Laser that can be activated to assist with aiming, with the help to two AAA batteries. A great little bonus and great fun at the airport, just ask the pilots!
I am really finding it hard to comment on this game as I feel the only real difference is that I don't have to have an arseload of change in my pocket and that my couch is a hell of a lot more comfortable than standing up at an arcade .... and coming home with gum stuck to my shoe and smelling of cigarettes. Well no that the last option can happen anymore.
Summary
Those looking for new upgraded versions of the games, need not bother. Those who 'wanna kick it old skool?' Rock out with your Wii out! Hang on, can I say that?
Pros
Classic style gameplay. Two games - one disc. Occasional screams through the WiiMote speaker at the selection screen! Good that the Nunchuk or Wii Zapper isn't essential, but who doesn't have a Nunchuk, right?
Cons
The odd load delays, lack of instruction in the mini-games ... well nothing as long as you don't expect anything better than what you got in the Arcade. But hey, someone out there will find something. Good luck to them
Discuss in official forum
Have your say
Latest from Forum
oie jeux gratuit en ligne - jeux gratuit en ligne
injured sadly online payday loans haof perpignan payday loan lenders 47733
kreg plyometrics acheter cialis qcuiw panadol online apotheke pkczdb welcom casino en ligne 932943
malino keillor casino en ligne 578 boogers online apotheke 423
landeseuropaburo hochzeitskorbe ajanta pharma kamagra on line sales












