House of the Dead but not as you remember it

User Rating: 8 | The House of the Dead: Overkill WII
House of the Dead has returned to home systems only this time developed by Headstrong Games (publishing duties still fall to Sega). It brings with it a new subtitle and new attitude. Now gone is the static voice acting and serious tone - replaced with great voice acting and humorous tone; both of which are very much tongue-in-cheek.

You are Agent G. If you're wondering what the G stands for then you're not alone, that very question pops up several times throughout the story each time with funny quips from the man himself. You'll have a companion on your adventure in the form of Detective Isaac Washington. Isaac will provide something of a running commentary during the game and is responsible for many of the laughs, be warned though he drops the F Bomb more times than you'll find in any Michael Bay movie pre Transformers.

Just like the previous entries in the series, Overkill is a rail shooter. You're on a fixed path from beginning to end with no alternative routes in sight. This shouldn't put you off however as it's a game that works best in bite sizes and one you should let take you by the hand and lead you if you want to get the most enjoyment out of it. At its core there's nothing here you haven't seen before. If you have quick reflexes you'll be able to shoot special items to unlock bonus art work, music and 3D models. Beyond that you have health pickups and a DNA strand that oddly slows down time momentarily.

The story in Overkill is ridiculous; the characters are ridiculous, the dialogue is ridiculous; here is a game that could have easily gone very wrong and somehow managed to go very right. The key is that it's a parody of itself, not once does it intend to be taken seriously. You [the player] are there to be entertained and Overkill does so at its own expense.

Graphics are bad. Yes, bad. Poor textures, bad lip syncing & clipping issues all present and accounted for. Despite this there is a certain charm that oozes through, whether it's the cheesy retro film grain or the B movie camera angles the presentation somehow, just like the plot, is great.

This has been a difficult game to review. I really enjoyed Overkill despite all its glaring problems. As a reviewer the game is practically a train wreck; as a gamer, it's a ton of fun. If you've ever enjoyed a Kevin Smith movie, a Rail Shooter and aren't easily offended by stereotyping then give House of the Dead Overkill a chance – you may be pleasantly surprised.