General Games Discussion

Bioshock

Spoiler:

Yep, don't know a single person who saw that coming lol.

looking forward to mafia now, not played a single player game in a while

Week on Friday

Been a long time since i played an open world crime game. I have two concerns with the game but i doubt it will take away from my enjoyment either way.

Very close to ordering overwatch

Wish we got a proper BioShock prequel that took place during the war between Ryan and Fontaine. Apparently such a game was in development for PS Vita.

#25

Game: The House of the Dead: Overkill.
Year: 2009.
Genre: Rail Shooter.
Publisher: Sega.
Developer: Headstrong Games.



First things first, I am changing my rating system to better rate different genres according to their own rules. It will still be from 50 quality points, but every title will start from 25 and earn/lose points according to criteria important to the titles and genres themselves.

The House of the Dead series has always been a typical zombie rail gun game with a typical zombie story. Some secret agency or another developed a bio weapon to dominate the world, and a couple of cops or something need to stop that from happening.

With Overkill, we have the typical zombie rail gun game, but the story is anything but. Here we have a funny, crazy take on the series, and it aims to shock anyone playing it. And boy does it succeed.

"Love ain't always right"

Overkill takes its subtitle seriously, as it tries to be over the top in every way imaginable. Starring Agent G (whom the game seldom misses a chance poking fun at code names in general) and the foul-mouthed cop, Isaac Washington, the game is basically a buddy cop movie. Except, it is one of the most foul of those movies.

Every other sentence is punctuated with a swear word, and the dialogue is internationally infantile, and is actually funny as a result. This is not a game taking itself seriously, but one with intentional self-depreciating satire built in. If you didn't get that, the game will actually break the fourth wall to explain it to you.

This batshit style is what ultimately separates Overkill from all other games. Starting with a title sequence featuring a low-res FMV pole dancing scene, the game clearly shows its inspiration from B-Movies in road house cinema, complete with the missing reel trick.

Most of the time, the game's over the top humor is funny or at least simply tolerable. Some lines fall flat, while others doe actually inspire some laughter. However, the game does actually veer too far in crass humor, at one point uncomfortably making fun of a character's handicap.

Ultimately, this is a game that you will judge purely based on how you respond to is crass brand of humor and the interaction between Agent G and Isaac. If over-the-top and foul mouthed buddy cop antics is not your thing, then this will not be a game that you enjoy.

Funny Story and Dialogue: +4
Commitment to Its Style: +4
Sometime its just Too Much: -2

"We are in an express elevator to he...Man, SHUT UP and the press the Damn button"

As the first and only game to be exclusively made for consoles (as opposed to Arcades as well), you might think that Overkill's rail gun gameplay is different from the rest of the series. This is not the case, as the game still retains the focus on scoring typical with Arcade games. Hence, the game is designed with multiple playthroughs in mind, and is predictably short.

However, whereas I remember The House of the Dead games actively trying to rid me of my coins, Overkill is a pretty simple affair. Not until the final level was I threatened, and my score was never in jeopardy because of death. If you don't even care about your score, then dying is nothing but a temporary pause.

This simplicity works against playing the game more than once, especially when combined with the game's basic gameplay and lack of variety. Its your basic Wii rail shooter, with a point and shoot mechanic using only a few really similar weapons. As for variety, there is very little in terms of actual zombies, and the stages are the same everytime you go through them.

That is not to say the basic gameplay isn't fun. It never gets old blowing a fat zombie's head with a shotgun, but it is not the main draw of the game. Maybe with alternate paths, more zombie variety, and some actual challenge the game could have been better.

Easy: -2
Lacks Variety: -2
Still Fun: +2

"A seductive she-devil leading a couple of pigs on a roaring rampage of revenge"

To complement its crass, childish adult humor, and unique style, the game tries to pull off the B-Movie style. It generally succeeds in doing so.

Let's start with graphics, which are muddy, not really pretty at all, and sometimes suffer from a frame rate drop when reloading. Its not actually ugly, and the game rarely suffers because of it, but a lot of other games on the Wii look considerably better than this.

What saves the game from being a complete visual mess is its art direction, specifically regarding the creatures you face. The zombies are all generic fodder, and with the exception of the freaky clown, they are the regular Extras working in every zombie movie. It is the bosses that are serious nightmare fuel. One zombie is two twin joined together in a horrific fusion, while another is simply the result of a lot of motherly love.

It is the audio however that steals the show. Starting from the cool sound effects, especially the announcer calling a "Goregasm" as the American flag flutters in the corner, and ending with a really good soundtrack.

You rarely have time to notice it in the hectic parts of the game, but once you do, it helps you get into a serious shooting groove. As a collection of cheap tracks from unknown singers, it works well as a B-Movie soundtrack, and works well for the game.

It actually gives you the best incentive to replay the game twice, so that you can unlock those tunes and listen to them while taking a look at the game's grotesque gallery.

Muddy and Ugly Graphics: -4
Some Cool Creature Design: +2
Very Good Sound and Music: +6

In Conclusion:

Overkill is certainly not the best rail shooter on the Wii, not in its story and certainly not in its mechanics. It certainly won't be remembered at all as a rail shooter.

Yet, for anyone who actually plays the game, it will be remembered for its two characters, and the over-the-top juvenile humor it employs. It should also be remembered for actually being an effective satire of itself, unlike the stupid Duke Nukem game.

For you, any enjoyment you get from the game is hinges on your tolerance to its crass humor and your ability to appreciate the satire within.

Final: 33/50

"Tips"

1- If you want to make it super easy, simply buy the shotguns and upgrade them.
2- You can easily get combo hits by focusing on the body and ignoring the consistently jerking heads.
3- Do look around the environment and see if there are any golden brains or grenades to shoot.
4- Combos and activating the more zombies feature are the key to getting a high score.
5- For bosses, simply hitting the weak point enough times will stop any of their attacks.

"Next Game"

I will be honest and say that I wished for a more basic House of the Dead experience, but Overkill was good for what it is. One thing I couldn't do was actually play the game with someone being in the house.

Next game is the highly rated revival of the classic Punch-Out series, with Punch-Out!! on the Wii at #23. As someone who enjoyed the early Punch-Out games much later than they were released (playing it my SNES reviews series), I am looking forward to this game.

Stay Tuned

lot of stores ion the UK are gonna be running a promotion over the next few days where you get a PS4 + FIFA 17 for 149.99, pretty insane this point into the generation IMO.

That can't be legit?

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/from-midnight-massive-ps4-pricedrops-500gb-fifa-17-149-99-ps4-1tb-fifa-17-179-99-2519285

crazy

Ridiculous

Considering 40 is fifa17 alone. They are selling a ps4 for £110

I think I know why, they are discontinuing the OG PS4 soon and replacing it with the Slim and obviously the Pro.

Planning an all nighter tomorrow ES

All this hype better deliver ffs

LeVersacci wrote:Planning an all nighter tomorrow ES

All this hype better deliver ffs

You buy FIFA lol?

Taking that as a yes tbh.

FIFA and COD in 2016

He meant WoW Legion

It'll be great Sacci, going DH ye?

Yeah

what's your battletag and what server did you play on again?

ES wrote:He meant WoW Legion

It'll be great Sacci, going DH ye?

WoW in 2016

My battletag is LockeLamora#21256 and i play on Draenor EU

Horde ye m8?

The underperforming hero shooter Battleborn will go free-to-play within the couple of months, a person familiar with plans for the game told Kotaku. Word is the announcement will come by mid-November, but that could change.

@Thimmy

will actually check it out when it does tbh, heard some decent things, just got ruined by OW releasing around the same time

Battleborn

Battleborn in any year