THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,925 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • gameplay
THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake Game Cover
The House of the Dead: Remake doesn’t reinvent the wheel, is brief in length, and does have some niggly control issues, but this is a welcome addition to the library of any Switch owner who enjoys on-rails lightgun shooters.
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Shoot creatures like in the 90s with the remake of this cult arcade shooting game! Limidead edition content: - Copy of the game The House of the Dead: Remake - An exclusive box with lenticular - Two character stands - Sticker sheet

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,925 reviews
graphics118 positive mentions
optimization40 negative mentions
  • graphics368 mentions

    The graphics of the "House of the Dead: Remake" have received mixed reviews, with some praising the modern updates and attention to detail that enhance the original's gothic aesthetic, while others criticize the art direction as generic and lacking the charm of the original. Many players noted performance issues, including crashes on certain hardware, and expressed a desire for an option to switch back to the original graphics. Overall, while the remake offers improved visuals and smoother gameplay, it has not universally satisfied fans of the original game.

    • “The graphics and lighting are excellent, and the performance has been excellent on both PCs I've played it on, one with an RTX 3080 Ti and the other with an RX 7900 XTX.”
    • “The graphics in this game are phenomenal with not only a massive level of care to make every area exciting and unique, but numerous minute details to make Curien's mansion look far more ravaged.”
    • “This remake is solidly made - modern and detailed graphics with an old school feeling.”
    • “The worst part is by far the graphics; it looks like one of those fake games you sometimes see in movies, and not in a good way.”
    • “The frame rate is terrible, the gore system is terrible (it was actually much better in the original), the graphics suck (honestly the old style ones not only fit it better, the graphics in this aren't up to snuff in 2023 regardless), there are glitches up to wazoo... (i.e., sometimes shots don't even register on enemies, usually in a situation in which you have to act quickly to rescue someone, so that isn't a good thing).”
    • “The realistic graphics are alright looking, but so much about the animation and stylization looks incredibly amateur, like they watched three Unity videos and nothing else before doing half the game.”
  • music334 mentions

    The music in the remake of "House of the Dead" has received largely negative feedback, with many players lamenting the absence of the original soundtrack, which is considered iconic. The new compositions are often described as generic or uninspired, failing to capture the energy and atmosphere of the original game. While some players appreciate the modern soundtrack and the option to mod in the original music, the consensus is that the new score does not live up to the high standards set by its predecessor.

    • “The original game is well remembered for its awesome soundtrack.”
    • “The original soundtrack, not present for a rights-related issue, can be added back in with mods, and the modern soundtrack is equally superb with many music cues reminiscent of the original score and fit well with the style of the series.”
    • “The new music may not be good as they say, but I really like it.”
    • “The most heinous crime of all is the soundtrack.”
    • “All they had to do was remaster the classic songs, but instead what we got is some boring elevator music that very superficially resembles the original.”
    • “The soundtrack is by far the worst thing in this, it sounds like a coffee house version of the original music with some parts not even being close to accurate to the original.”
  • gameplay186 mentions

    The gameplay of the remake has been praised for its tight and fast-paced mechanics, enhancing the original's experience with improved graphics and snappy animations, making it more challenging and enjoyable. However, some players noted issues such as short playtime, repetitive mechanics, and occasional performance problems, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many found the gameplay to be a nostalgic and fun homage to the classic arcade shooter, with added features that encourage replayability.

    • “No, it is in the gameplay department where this remake truly shines.”
    • “The core shooting mechanics are as tight and responsive as ever, prompting me to lean into every twist and turn of the mansion's labyrinthine halls with the same gusto as I did in my youth.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent and there is a lot of replayability.”
    • “Too many gameplay issues.”
    • “Encountered FPS issues mid-game which makes gameplay experience bad.”
    • “Also we understand that this is a 'remake' but extra content or DLC should have been available; otherwise, the gameplay is too short and players will get bored fast.”
  • optimization134 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on startup. While some users experienced smooth gameplay on high-end systems, the overall consensus indicates that the game is not well-optimized, leading to inconsistent performance across various hardware configurations. An optimization patch is widely anticipated to address these issues and improve the gaming experience.

    • “The graphics and lighting are excellent, and the performance has been excellent on both PCs I've played it on, one with an RTX 3080 Ti and the other with an RX 7900 XTX.”
    • “It's crazy how good the graphics are too; this is a really good remake and deserves to have 'remake' in its title because the devs did fantastic work on making this classic beautiful and getting it to run smoothly.”
    • “This PC port of 'House of the Dead: Remake' is the best one graphically and performance-wise compared to the PS4 and Switch ports, which the comparisons made are night and day.”
    • “Good to see it again but the optimization and loading time is horrible.”
    • “Not only is it poorly optimized, but it somehow runs and looks worse than the original from 1995.”
    • “Last thing, Christ is this optimized terribly, I don't usually talk about stuff like this because my computer is amazing and has some ridiculous specs, but this was going below 20fps for a third of the whole game, how does that happen?”
  • story84 mentions

    The story in the remake of "House of the Dead" is largely unchanged from the original, featuring a simple and straightforward plot that revolves around shooting zombies to reach the final boss. While some players appreciate the cinematic touches and nostalgic elements, many criticize the brevity of the story, which can be completed in under an hour, and feel it lacks depth compared to other titles. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop for the fast-paced gameplay rather than a focal point of the experience.

    • “From the delightfully hammy voice acting to the laughably melodramatic plot twists, it's clear that the developers understand what made the original game so endearing to legions of fans.”
    • “The story is pretty good and simple; you basically shoot the monster until you get to the final boss, but compared to the original game, this one feels a bit more cinematic, like in the opening level where Rogan opens the first door, shoots it, and gives a little gun twirl. It's these little touches that just make it feel more cinematic.”
    • “The story does not change when taking these different routes, but they have their own interesting ways of going through it all.”
    • “I don't like how fast paced it is, I also didn't get much of a story. The arcade version gives you the full story; it's like a bite-sized version of said story.”
    • “There is hardly any story behind the game: you must kill the horde of zombies (and bosses) in Mystery Mansion and save the world from evil.”
    • “The story is rather simple and straightforward; nothing has changed from the 1996 version, and everything remains the same.”
  • replayability84 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its numerous unlockable weapons, branching paths, and additional modes like horde mode, which enhance replay value. However, others criticize its short campaign length and argue that replayability is limited, often depending on personal interest in score attacks or achievement hunting. Overall, while there are elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, the experience may feel repetitive for some players.

    • “Game offers plenty of replayability with unlocking all the weapons, finding different paths, various game modes, and couch co-op.”
    • “Not only is the tone and spirit of the original preserved amazingly well and the attention to detail as a 1-to-1 remake impeccable, but new features such as unlockable additional weapons, horde mode, and achievements add to the replayability.”
    • “This game has high replay value; there are different routes and outcomes per level.”
    • “I really enjoyed THOD: Remake during my first 2 hours, but unfortunately, it doesn't offer much replayability.”
    • “The new character and zombie models are well-done, and it's cool to see the 1996 original be brought to 2022 graphics standards, but the facial animations look clumsy and straight out of The Sims; the remixed songs aren't nearly as memorable as the originals; even the basic pistol can rip through zombies with relative ease, making the game much easier than before; and the replay value can be exhausted before you reach the 5 hours of playtime mark.”
    • “Replayability is low.”
  • stability64 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of freezing, crashing, and graphical glitches, particularly during loading screens and gameplay. While some players have experienced smooth performance, the overall consensus highlights significant optimization issues and a plethora of bugs that detract from the gaming experience. Many users express frustration over the game's unpolished state, making it difficult to enjoy despite its nostalgic appeal.

    • “The game looks and runs great on the deck.”
    • “Took a little while to boot up onto the menu, then froze for a second on the first chapter, but other than that, it runs great.”
    • “The game crashes constantly and is super buggy.”
    • “Game itself is poorly optimized and I have to start it twice every time or it won't play as the first time always freezes.”
    • “The game won't even launch and the amount of crashes and freezes is unacceptable.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its exaggerated ragdoll physics, which lead to amusing and often ridiculous enemy deaths, despite some players finding these mechanics obstructive. Many reviews highlight the unintentional hilarity stemming from the game's perceived shortcomings, such as its short length and visual clutter, with some players mocking negative reviews for not understanding the arcade-style experience. Overall, while the humor may not always align with the developers' intentions, it adds a layer of entertainment that resonates with some players.

    • “There is some truth to these complaints, especially the ugly enemy models, but I found the ragdoll physics to be very amusing. Seeing the ridiculous ways enemies could ragdoll upon death actually added a lot of humor, in my opinion.”
    • “It's hilarious to see people giving out negative reviews because the game 'is short.' Have you ever played an arcade game before?”
    • “The exaggerated ragdolls are hilarious but can obnoxiously obstruct your shots.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its faithful recreation of the original's grimey gothic horror, enhanced by grotesque zombie designs and modern visuals. However, some users criticize the music choice and sound design, which detracts from the overall experience, making it feel less immersive and more like a cheap arcade game. Overall, while the environments are well-received, the audio elements have received mixed feedback.

    • “Game is absolutely amazing; nothing bad about it. Just pick it up in a sale. I also hope 2 & 3 can get a remake, as I absolutely love them. The environments and atmosphere are great, or even better, we can get a PC version of the other arcade THOTD games. I love using my lightgun.”
    • “Things are a little more atmospheric; the zombies are more grotesque, and the bosses got amazing redesigns and vice versa.”
    • “It sounds like it skips constantly and the tone doesn't fit the atmosphere.”
    • “But, stupidly horrible music choice and design ruins the atmosphere and leaves it feeling like a cheap arcade game.”
    • “That is not the case here, and the grimy gothic horror atmosphere of the original first game is well and truly represented.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to achieve completionist goals, such as obtaining all achievements. The remake's lack of optimization and limited resources, like ammo clips, further exacerbate the grind, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “At the time of writing this, which according to Steam is about 4 hours of playtime, I have about 32 of the game's 41 current achievements, with the remaining ones being easily missable, secret, or grindy.”
    • “The remake is tedious, a mediocre HD re-version with almost no optimization, falling easily below average shooter games. It's alright to keep the original including the awkward dialogues, but at least make more ammo clips.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a "shameless cash grab," with players expressing disappointment over the lack of content for the $25 price tag. Many feel that the game relies heavily on nostalgia to attract players rather than offering substantial value.

    • “Shameless cash grab; you'd expect more content for $25.”
    • “Overall, this game feels like just another cash grab using nostalgia to bait players.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews indicate a significant decline in character development, with a loss of iconic designs and vibrant aesthetics that previously contributed to the characters' appeal. This shift has resulted in a less engaging and memorable experience for players, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Gone are the iconic character designs, the vibrant and striking color palette, the campy fun, the well-animated violence, the punchy sound effects, and the incredible soundtrack.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments that evoke strong feelings, such as tears during poignant lines like "I am the house of the dead." This suggests that the narrative and character experiences resonate profoundly, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

    • “I cried when they said: 'I am the house of the dead.'”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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