Light up your dead with...
Mainline Entry 01 - The House of the Dead
Formats: Arcade, PC and Saturn
A fairly simple thread this week because key changes within this franchise aren't numerous, it's a long running series born of this game that evolves as the underlying tech rather than the core concept being messed with often. The original game expanded on the success of Virtua Cop by introducing the then popular undead theme and better visuals. Played via the usual light gun system where players blast oncoming threats and reload by shooting off screen, you worked your way through the various stages before facing the coin hungry bosses.
Mainline Entry 02 - The House of the Dead 2
Formats: Arcade, PC, Xbox, Wii and Dreamcast
Spin Off Entry 01 - The Typing of the Dead
Formats: Arcade, PC, Playstation 2 and Dreamcast
The sequel was a direct affair, using a new engine to justify its existence. It was well received and Sega wasted little time producing an alternate version bizarrely using a keyboard to make tackling enemies a reaction timed typing test.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Zombie Revenge
Formats: Dreamcast and Arcade
It rarely gets credited as being part of the series but the game contains many references to THOTD and was originally to be directly names as such. This simple walk along beat em up let players also weild weapons as the took on waves of enemies through several stages.
Mainline Entry 03 - The House of the Dead III
Formats: Arcade, Xbox, PC, Wii and Playstation 3
The third game added branching paths and several gameplay alterations such as no longer having civilians to rescue. The game was to be cel-shaded but this effect was wound down as releases approached.
Spin Off Entry 03 - The Pinball of the Dead
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Nintendo handhelds draw pinball adaptations for some reason and THOTD was no exception. Based on the first two games this was oddly well received containing several tables and six boss battles to contend with.
Mainline Entry 04 - The House of the Dead 4
Formats: Arcade and Playstation 3
Spin Off Entry 04 - The House of the Dead 4 Special
Formats: Arcade and Playstation 3
Set between the second and third games, this fourth entry continued the action in traditional terms and had an extra stages expansion the following year with Special. The game was mostly notable for being one of the first to move to using a HDTV as its screen to showcase the new Lindbergh board visuals.
Spin Off Entry 05 - The Typing of the Dead 2
Formats: PC
As with the previous game, this used typing as the method of combat and adapted the events of THOTD3.
Spin Off Entry 06 - The English of the Dead
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 05 - The House of the Dead: Overkill
Formats: Wii and Playstation 3
This grindhouse themed game is canonically a prequel to the original game adding in a combo meter and selectable route environments. The PS3 version expanded the experience a little and used the Move controllers to aim.
Spin Off Entry 07 - The House of the Dead EX
Formats: Arcade
Comprised of mini-games this was a more light hearted title using the lightgun and a foot pedal to take on small challenges like stepping on bugs.
Spin Off Entry 08 - The Typing of the Dead: Overkill
Formats: PC
The third entry was made just for PC and adapts the grindhouse prequel in the same typing manner as previous games. This release also includes the original lightgun version as well.
Spin Off Entry 09 - The Darts of the Dead III
Formats: DARTSLIVE2 Platform
Mainline Entry 06 - The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn
Formats: Arcade
Canonically the latest in the timeline, this recent sequel brings the series up to modern tech standards whilst continuing the traditional light gun gameplay the series is known for.
Share your thoughts and memories of the series
Mainline Entry 01 - The House of the Dead
Formats: Arcade, PC and Saturn
A fairly simple thread this week because key changes within this franchise aren't numerous, it's a long running series born of this game that evolves as the underlying tech rather than the core concept being messed with often. The original game expanded on the success of Virtua Cop by introducing the then popular undead theme and better visuals. Played via the usual light gun system where players blast oncoming threats and reload by shooting off screen, you worked your way through the various stages before facing the coin hungry bosses.
Mainline Entry 02 - The House of the Dead 2
Formats: Arcade, PC, Xbox, Wii and Dreamcast
Spin Off Entry 01 - The Typing of the Dead
Formats: Arcade, PC, Playstation 2 and Dreamcast
The sequel was a direct affair, using a new engine to justify its existence. It was well received and Sega wasted little time producing an alternate version bizarrely using a keyboard to make tackling enemies a reaction timed typing test.
Spin Off Entry 02 - Zombie Revenge
Formats: Dreamcast and Arcade
It rarely gets credited as being part of the series but the game contains many references to THOTD and was originally to be directly names as such. This simple walk along beat em up let players also weild weapons as the took on waves of enemies through several stages.
Mainline Entry 03 - The House of the Dead III
Formats: Arcade, Xbox, PC, Wii and Playstation 3
The third game added branching paths and several gameplay alterations such as no longer having civilians to rescue. The game was to be cel-shaded but this effect was wound down as releases approached.
Spin Off Entry 03 - The Pinball of the Dead
Formats: Game Boy Advance
Nintendo handhelds draw pinball adaptations for some reason and THOTD was no exception. Based on the first two games this was oddly well received containing several tables and six boss battles to contend with.
Mainline Entry 04 - The House of the Dead 4
Formats: Arcade and Playstation 3
Spin Off Entry 04 - The House of the Dead 4 Special
Formats: Arcade and Playstation 3
Set between the second and third games, this fourth entry continued the action in traditional terms and had an extra stages expansion the following year with Special. The game was mostly notable for being one of the first to move to using a HDTV as its screen to showcase the new Lindbergh board visuals.
Spin Off Entry 05 - The Typing of the Dead 2
Formats: PC
As with the previous game, this used typing as the method of combat and adapted the events of THOTD3.
Spin Off Entry 06 - The English of the Dead
Formats: Nintendo DS
Mainline Entry 05 - The House of the Dead: Overkill
Formats: Wii and Playstation 3
This grindhouse themed game is canonically a prequel to the original game adding in a combo meter and selectable route environments. The PS3 version expanded the experience a little and used the Move controllers to aim.
Spin Off Entry 07 - The House of the Dead EX
Formats: Arcade
Comprised of mini-games this was a more light hearted title using the lightgun and a foot pedal to take on small challenges like stepping on bugs.
Spin Off Entry 08 - The Typing of the Dead: Overkill
Formats: PC
The third entry was made just for PC and adapts the grindhouse prequel in the same typing manner as previous games. This release also includes the original lightgun version as well.
Spin Off Entry 09 - The Darts of the Dead III
Formats: DARTSLIVE2 Platform
Mainline Entry 06 - The House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn
Formats: Arcade
Canonically the latest in the timeline, this recent sequel brings the series up to modern tech standards whilst continuing the traditional light gun gameplay the series is known for.
Share your thoughts and memories of the series
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