Software:The House of the Dead 2

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Short description: 1998 video game
This page is about the arcade game. For the 2005 film, see House of the Dead 2 (film).
The House of the Dead 2
European arcade flyer
Developer(s)Sega AM1
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Takashi Oda
Producer(s)Rikiya Nakagawa
Composer(s)Tetsuya Kawauchi
Haruyoshi Tomita
SeriesThe House of the Dead
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast, Windows, Xbox, Wii
Release
Genre(s)Light gun shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 1998 light gun shooter video game developed by Sega AM1 and published by Sega for arcades on the Sega NAOMI system. It is the second installment of the House of the Dead series, and a direct sequel to the original House of the Dead, released in 1997. The story picks up slightly over a year after the original game, and follows several AMS agents investigating a zombie outbreak in Italy. The protagonists are tasked with finding the source of the attack while also locating a fellow missing agent known as G.

After its release in arcades, the game was ported to the Dreamcast in 1999, followed by Microsoft Windows in 2001, the Xbox in 2002 as a bonus in The House of the Dead III, and the Wii in 2008 as part of the compilation The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. It would also serve as the basis for several spinoff games in the franchise, most notably The Typing of the Dead.

Gameplay

The House of the Dead 2 is a rail shooter light gun game with an auto-reload feature that allows players to point their guns off-screen to reload their weapons without pulling the trigger. Players must shoot their way through hordes of zombies and other monsters while attempting to rescue civilians being attacked. Health is represented by torches at the bottom of the screen and are lost when the player is hit by an enemy or shoots a civilian. Bonus health can be awarded by rescuing civilians and finding first aid kits hidden in crates and barrels.

As in the first game, this game incorporates a branching path system that allows for a variety of different routes in each stage depending on the players actions. This is expanded upon with more paths than the original which also lead a greater variety of stage layouts and locations, although the general story itself will always remain the same.

The flashbacks to the first The House of the Dead in the game's introductory sequence were recorded using the game's engine.

Plot

AMS Agent G's further investigation on the 1998 Curien Mansion incident leads to his mysterious disappearance upon his discovery of the remnants of Dr. Curien's operations in Venice, Italy, where a zombie outbreak takes place. The international government agency, AMS, sends American agents James Taylor, Gary Stewart, Harry Harris, and British agent Amy Crystal, to Italy in order to find G and evacuate the civilian populace.

On February 26, 2000, the agents arrive in Italy and soon encounter a massive undead horde, similar to the kind from 1998. James and Gary locate an injured G in a library, who provides them with a field journal containing information on the enemies. They continue on, trying to save the town's civilians in the process.

During the chaos, James and Gary face Judgment, consisting of the impish Zeal and his giant, headless, axe-wielding armored puppet, Kuarl. After defeating them, they meet up with Amy and Harry, who split up and plan to meet at Sunset Bridge. Upon meeting, the group faces the Hierophant, an amphibious monster which heads an assault on Venice's waterways and Central Plaza. After defeating it, the group takes a boat through the rivers.

It is revealed that Caleb Goldman, a wealthy businessman who financed Dr. Curien's creations leading to the 1998 incident, is now responsible for the new wave of zombies attacking the city. Goldman leaves a message on Amy's phone, inviting them to meet him at the Colosseum, which Harry fears to be a trap. James and Gary split up from the group again, and encounter five giant serpents known as the Tower. After killing them, they receive an emergency call from Amy, before getting cut off. The two quickly race to the Colosseum, only to discover Amy and a wounded Harry, injured by the Strength, a massive, chainsaw-wielding zombie, which James and Gary manage to kill. While Amy tends to Harry’s wounds, James and Gary drive to Goldman’s headquarters. Along the way, they battle Judgement, the Hierophant, and the Tower, who were revived by Goldman.

Upon arriving at Goldman's skyscraper, James and Gary are confronted by Curien's masterpiece, the Magician, revived by Goldman to oversee the birth of the Emperor, a shapeshifting crystalline entity designed to protect nature and destroy humanity. After defeating the Magician, they fight their way to the top of Goldman's Headquarters, eventually finding and confronting Goldman, who releases the Emperor. After one final battle, James and Gary defeat the Emperor. With his plans ruined and unable to escape, Goldman commits suicide by throwing himself off the roof of his building, though he warns the players that "in time, a successor will come".

Players are given different endings based on the following conditions:

  • If a solo game was finished as either player 1 or 2
  • If both players defeated the last boss
  • Number of continues
  • Points earned

In the good ending, James and Gary run into Thomas Rogan, the other main character from the first game, who tells them that G and Harry are all right, and that they should head off to their next battle "as long as they have the will to live" (in the case of James) or "as long as there is an answer" (in the case of Gary). In the normal ending, as James and Gary leave the building, they are greeted by G, Amy and Harry, as well as a large group of civilians, who thank them for their help. In the bad ending, James and Gary run into a zombified Goldman outside the building. As the screen goes white, a gunshot is heard.

Development

Ports

The House of the Dead 2 went on to receive several home ports. In 1999, the game was ported to the Dreamcast as a launch title for the system, then to PC in 2001, on Xbox as an unlockable on the 2002 port of The House of the Dead 3, and Wii, in a double release with The House of the Dead 3. It was also the second and final game in The House of the Dead series to appear on a Sega console, with the original The House of the Dead for the Sega Saturn being the first.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastPC
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[4]StarStarStar[5]
Edge7/10[6]N/A
EGM7.62/10[7]N/A
Famitsu33/40[8]N/A
Game Informer8/10[9]N/A
GameProStarStarStar[10]N/A
GameRevolutionB+[11]N/A
GameSpot6.7/10[12]N/A
GameSpy7/10[13]N/A
IGN8.7/10[14]N/A
Next GenerationStarStar[17]N/A
Aggregate score
GameRankings77%[15]74%[16]
Award
PublicationAward
Game Informer99th Top Game Of All Time[18]

In Japan, Game Machine listed The House of the Dead 2 as the third most successful dedicated arcade game of December 1998.[19]

The Dreamcast version received "favorable" reviews, while the PC version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[15][16]

AllGame gave the arcade version a score of four-and-a-half stars out of five.[20] In Japan, Famitsu gave the Dreamcast version 33 out of 40.[8] IGN praised the same console version's detailed level design and varied enemy designs but criticized poor voice acting.[14] GameSpot said of the same console version, "Just a gun that lines up with the sights doesn't seem too much to ask for."[12] Game Informer ranked it at number 99 in its best games of all-time list in 2001. The staff praised it for its expansion of its predecessor's gore and intensity, but noted that the lack of a light gun accessory for the Dreamcast version was slightly disappointing.[18]

Blake Fischer reviewed the Dreamcast version of the game for Next Generation, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "Without the light gun, this game is a complete loss. With a gun, it's better, but not for very long."[17]

A consensus among reviewers was that the quality of the English voice acting was very poor, with one calling it "easily some of the worst in the genre".[5] Others found it to be so bad that it became amusing.[21][22] In 2020, The House of the Dead 2 was ranked as the best game in the series by Screen Rant.[23]

Legacy

The House of the Dead 2 was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the most iconic entries in the series. Its impact on the franchise is also the result of it having served as the springboard for the arcade, Dreamcast, and PC release The Typing of the Dead, and the Nintendo DS release English of the Dead. The game also served as the inspiration for the Game Boy Advance game The Pinball of the Dead.

A remake of the game was announced on January 10, 2025. It was scheduled for release originally in Spring 2025, but was delayed until August 7, 2025 for Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It was developed by MegaPixel Studio and published by Forever Entertainment.[24] The remake received generally negative reviews, with many players citing the PC release as having been released in a broken and unplayable state.

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006) (in ja). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 38, 132. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n37/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ "Software List (Released by Sega)" (in ja). Sega. https://sega.jp/history/hard/dreamcast/software.html. 
  3. ↑ "House of the Dead 2". http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=1102. 
  4. ↑ House, Matthew. "The House of the Dead 2 (DC) - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18660&tab=review. Retrieved 2016-09-28. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Knight, Kyle. "The House of the Dead 2 (PC) - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=37066&tab=review. Retrieved 2016-09-28. 
  6. ↑ Edge staff (May 1999). "The House of the Dead 2 (DC)". Edge (71). 
  7. ↑ "House of the Dead 2 (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1999. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "ドリームキャスト - HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2". Famitsu 915: 35. 30 June 2006. 
  9. ↑ "The House of the Dead 2 (DC)". Game Informer. October 28, 1999. https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4236. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  10. ↑ Scary Larry (1999). "House of the Dead 2 for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2693.shtml. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  11. ↑ Baldric (November 1999). "House of the Dead 2 Review (DC)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/house-of-the-dead-2. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Fielder, Joe (1999-03-30). "The House of the Dead 2 Review (DC)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/house-of-the-dead-2-review/1900-2540054/. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  13. ↑ Fragmaster (1999-10-18). "House of the Dead 2". PlanetDreamcast. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/hotd2. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gantayat, Anoop (1999-09-08). "House of the Dead 2 (DC)". http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/09/house-of-the-dead-2. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "The House of the Dead 2 for Dreamcast". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/197579-the-house-of-the-dead-2/index.html. Retrieved 2014-02-15. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "The House of the Dead 2 for PC". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/580610-the-house-of-the-dead-2/index.html. Retrieved 2014-02-16. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fischer, Blake (September 1999). "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) 2 (1): 84. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100)". Game Informer. 2009-11-16. https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx. Retrieved 2013-11-24. 
  19. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (579): 29. 1 January 1999. 
  20. ↑ Williamson, Colin. "The House of the Dead 2 (ARC) - Review". AllGame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15998&tab=review. 
  21. ↑ This Game Has Such Bad Voice Acting It Used To Make Me Cry, Ebaumsworld
  22. ↑ A new House of the Dead is heading to arcades , Eurogamer
  23. ↑ "Ranking the House of the Dead Arcade Games, Worst to Best". 22 April 2020. https://screenrant.com/house-of-dead-arcade-games-ranked-worst-best/. 
  24. ↑ "The House of the Dead 2: Remake" (in en-US). 2024-06-14. https://www.gematsu.com/games/the-house-of-the-dead-2-remake. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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