???The House of the Dead: Overkill is one of those rare instances in the gaming industry where the final product is so over-the-top corny that it doesn't even take itself seriously.
???Headstrong Games wanted to develop a game that was fully aware that it was nothing more than mindlessly killing zombies. Thankfully, this is exactly the gift Wii owners received last month and it's a gory, chunky and disgustingly offensive good time.
???In the gaming business, being unfamiliar with the House of the Dead franchise is a sin against the fundamentals of the trade. After all, it was one of the original rail shooter arcade games.
???Amid joysticks, Pac-Man and wall-to-wall acne-infested nerds, House of the Dead stood out as that game parents feared with all their hearts and souls. Putting guns directly in the hands of gamers and virtually unleashing them upon hordes of zombies was like heaven for these pre-pubescent dreamers.
???Today, this formula proves to still retain some of its original splendor, and Overkill does everything that it needs to without creating anything groundbreaking.
???Like any rail shooter, the game progresses by itself and stops intermittently to allow players to shoot enemies on-screen. Simply point the controller at the screen and blast away hundreds of undead in one sitting - that's the true arcade style.
???The plot is straightforward; players take on the role of Agent G and Detective Washington on their mission to stop a lunatic from spreading a virus that turns people into flesh-eating zombies.
???Everything about Overkill screams Grindhouse goodness, with absurd dialogue, predictable plot twists and an in-game camera that acts just like a low quality silver screen. Once again, there is no beating around the bush with this game as it knows exactly what it's meant to be and never strays away from that expectation.
???The barrage of constant f-bombs from the lips of Detective Washington rivals even the newest Grand Theft Auto, and will certainly ensure that this game is only purchased by the most hardcore and mature Wii gamers.
???During a few moments in the story mode it's pretty hard not to laugh, but the endless string of vulgarity will quickly bog down gamers' experience to the point where it gets tiresome and annoying.
???Story mode is extremely easy and can be completed in less than two hours. However, Overkill contains nearly endless replay value with upgradeable weapons, alternative mini-games, a tougher difficulty titled "Director's Cut" and the highly addicting co-operative play.
???Controls are spot on and easy enough to perform that a 90-year-old grandmother would have no problem going on a zombie-killing spree.
???Considering the dedication put into this product and the guaranteed hardcore experience Wii gamers have been waiting for, it would be easy to cash this one in as the complete package. Sadly, Overkill suffers from various technical issues that prevent it from being an unspoiled performance.
???Frequent hiccups in frame rate cause considerable frustration, especially when an item is missed or the combo meter is lost because the game simply can't keep up with itself.
???Despite these shortcomings, Overkill is by far one of the most visually impressive Wii games on the market. This will come as a relief to Nintendo fans because many games look terrible on the system, and it's nice to know developers are continually trying to push the hardware to its fullest potential.
???To get the most rewarding experience from Overkill, gamers should purchase a Nyko Powershot pistol and really play in style. There is even an option to disable the on-screen reticule, giving a chance for the old-fashion arcade lovers to return to their roots.
???The House of the Dead: Overkill is available now for the Nintendo Wii and retails for $49.99.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
