The House Of The Dead 2: Remake

“The House of the Dead 2 Remake is a disappointing reinterpretation that fails — and badly — to capture the spirit of the original. While it retains the classic gameplay, it presents an inconsistent aesthetic and a level of polish inferior to Megapixel’s previous remakes. The company’s lack of investment and care results in generic graphics, stiff animations, and an art direction that shows no understanding of what made the original such a classic and fun experience. Despite some accessibility options and the nostalgic appeal of the original content, the remake tarnishes the franchise, standing out as yet another lazy and disrespectful effort toward a beloved classic — something that has sadly become a pattern for Megapixel.”

“While there’s nothing inherently wrong with The House of the Dead 2: Remake, I still question who wants this and why no one has ever decided to make a new light gun to enjoy these games. Using a controller for such precise movement feels clunky; but at least you can play with one hand. If you enjoyed the original back in the day, this is for you, but if you’ve never played it, especially in the arcade, this is a hard sell.”

“The remake of The House of the Dead 2 continues Frontier’s excellent work in reviving the golden age for countless arcade and rail shooter fans.”

“While the remake of the original The House of the Dead proved to be a fairly entertaining jaunt, this update of the sequel inexplicably comes off far worse. From horrible controls to poor visuals that are simply too dark at times, it's a big disappointment. Still, it's the only way to play this arcade classic on modern consoles, and it boasts some new modes and features.”

“The House of the Dead 2: Remake serves as both a reunion for old-school gamers and a gateway for a new generation to experience the arcade classic.”

“House of the Dead 2: Remake fails to establish itself as the triumphant return fans had hoped for. Stylistic choices, toned-down violence, limited accessibility, and technical problems weigh down what could have been a great revival of a classic. Even so, it remains an experience that can entertain those who want to rediscover the arcade flavor of the series—though in a different, less faithful form.”

“Personally, I think the new House of the Dead 2: Remake is heads and shoulders and legs and bleeding torsos above the first game’s port. This one is playable, enjoyable and does a decent job of capturing the feel of the game’s core tenants. I don’t have an obvious solution for how to fix the gyroscopic problem, but players who have time and dedication will land on the right settings to make the game feel as fluid as possible. In the meantime, it’s still fun, it’s still gory, and it’s still a trip to enjoy in today’s modern gaming era.”

“The remake of the first version of The House of The Dead, although not perfect, gave us hope for an interesting sequel, but The House of The Dead 2 Remake is unfortunately everything it should not be. From choosing strange and suboptimal artistic approaches that have led to the weakening of the atmosphere and space of the game, to the removal of many of the QOL features and content of the previous remake. Although the enemies have been restored in a desirable way and the gameplay can also stand out, unfortunately, at the same time, the regressions or numerous mistakes in the technical aspects, sound, music and overall design are also unavoidable. Considering all these definitions, unfortunately, I cannot recommend this remake to anyone.”

“While it doesn’t very clearly set itself apart from its predecessor, there’s still no doubt that it can be a bloody good time… within limits”

“Instead of reliving the glory of one of the best rail shooters of the '90s, THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2: Remake feels more like an unfinished experiment, desperately trying to balance the new with the old, but failing. If you were hoping for a triumphant return of the series to the Nintendo Switch, you're better off waiting for a new attempt, or revisiting the arcade.”

“A gloriously gory glow up of a stone cold classic that suffers from irksome control issues”

“A faithful revival, the remake sharpens visuals, gives hits clear feedback and retains the silly audio that sets the tone. Improved menus and multiple modes add replay value, and local co-op turns frantic sections into something more exhilarating.”

“Ultimately, I am glad The House of the Dead 2: Remake exists. Control woes aside, I suspect many players will eventually find some enjoyment from the game, provided you're willing to spend considerable time in the settings menu beforehand. It's a fascinating blast from the past, warts 'n' all, and a real showcase of some truly terrible voice acting from the '90s. Just make sure you toggle the 'Mute "Reload!" Scream' option – good lord.”