THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake

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

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 961 reviews

graphics59 positive mentions

optimization20 negative mentions

Faithful remake of the original arcade classic with updated graphics and gameplay.
Nostalgic experience that brings back memories for fans of the series.
Fun gameplay with multiple paths and unlockable weapons, enhancing replayability.

Extremely short campaign, can be completed in under an hour, making it feel overpriced.
Performance issues including long loading times and occasional crashes.
Lack of light gun support and original soundtrack, which disappointed many fans.

graphics
184 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the remake have received mixed reviews, with some praising the modern aesthetic and improved detail, while others criticize the loss of the original's charm and art style. Many players appreciate the smooth performance and vibrant visuals, but some report graphical bugs and performance issues, particularly on AMD systems. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as a significant upgrade, there are calls for options to toggle between the new and original styles to cater to nostalgia.
- “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 are really good with plenty of great detail, nice use of color, and some very interesting set pieces with a lot of improvements on the original game.”
- “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 graphics are obviously not of AAA quality, but I was never expecting them to be.”
- “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.”
music
167 mentions
19 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
9 % negative 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. While some appreciate the new compositions, they often describe them as generic or lacking the energy and memorability of the original tracks. Players have noted that mods are available to restore the original music, which many feel would significantly enhance the game's atmosphere and overall experience.
- “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 soundtrack is great and there are mods to replace it with the original one.”
- “The remake, however, has a very lazy sounding rendition of the original's soundtrack.”
- “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.”
- “But, stupidly horrible music choice and design ruins the atmosphere and leaves it feeling like a cheap arcade game.”
gameplay
93 mentions
20 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the remake has been praised for its tight mechanics and fast-paced action, enhancing the original experience with improved graphics and snappy animations. While many players appreciate the nostalgic elements and replayability, some have noted issues such as frame drops, gameplay jank, and a relatively short playtime, which may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game retains the core shooting mechanics and branching paths of the original, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre, though some recommend waiting for discounts due to its brevity.
- “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.”
- “It's a great game, don't get me wrong; it has nice graphics and gameplay is enjoyable.”
- “Too many gameplay issues.”
- “Encountered FPS issues mid-game which makes the 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.”
optimization
67 mentions
15 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on startup. While some users experienced smooth gameplay on high-end systems, the general consensus indicates that the game is not well-optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many, especially considering the graphical improvements. An optimization patch is widely anticipated to address these issues.
- “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.”
- “This PC port of The 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.”
- “The game ran without a hitch in performance (was able to achieve Vsync locked 120fps @ 4k) and actually looks quite good.”
- “The optimization, while better than on other platforms, still isn't quite as good as it should be.”
- “It's sad for me to write this review because I'm a big fan of rail shooters and the House of the Dead series, but for this price, you are receiving a short arcade game with a few features and not that great optimization.”
- “The game is not optimized properly; however, it is awesome and has remained faithful to the classic.”
story
42 mentions
14 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in the remake of "House of the Dead" is largely a straightforward and brief experience, mirroring the original's simple plot of battling zombies to save the world. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and cinematic touches, many criticize the short length and lack of depth, noting that it feels more like a fast-paced arcade shooter than a narrative-driven game. Overall, the story is seen as a minor aspect of the gameplay, with players recommending the game primarily for its action rather than its plot.
- “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 a 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.”
replayability
42 mentions
24 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
10 % negative 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, suggesting that while there are elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, the overall experience may feel limited. Overall, the game offers a decent level of replayability, particularly for those who enjoy score attacks and achievement hunting, but may not satisfy everyone looking for extensive content.
- “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.”
- “Yes, it is the House of the Dead, a very short game with 4 chapters that you can finish in under 2 hours, but the game itself feels so great to play, has very nice graphics, and offers very high replay value.”
- “I really enjoyed the remake during my first 2 hours, but unfortunately, it doesn't offer much replayability.”
- “The replay value can be exhausted before you reach the 5 hours of playtime mark.”
- “Replayability is low.”
stability
32 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting frequent crashes, freezes during loading screens, and various graphical glitches. While a few players have experienced smooth gameplay, the majority highlight significant optimization issues that hinder the overall experience, making it difficult to enjoy the game fully. Overall, the port is described as incredibly buggy and unpolished, leading to frustration among players.
- “The game looks and runs great on the deck.”
- “It took a little while to boot up to 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.”
- “It freezes at the loading screen every time.”
- “Game lags and freezes on loading screens and menus, and the actual loading screen to enter the game just stops after a small percentage, so the actual gameplay can't even be played.”
humor
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative 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. While some reviews highlight the unintentional humor stemming from negative feedback about the game's length, others note that the overall comedic effect feels inconsistent and sometimes out of place. Overall, the humor is a mix of intentional design and unintended hilarity, contributing to a lighthearted experience.
- “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.”
- “The exaggerated ragdolls are hilarious but can obnoxiously obstruct your shots.”
- “It's hilarious to see people giving out negative reviews because the game 'is short.' Have you ever played an arcade game before?”
atmosphere
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its faithful recreation of the original's gothic horror elements, with grotesque zombies and well-designed bosses enhancing the experience. However, some users criticize the music choice and sound design, which detracts from the overall ambiance, making it feel less immersive. Overall, the environments are appreciated, especially when played with a light gun, contributing to an arcade-like feel.
- “Game is absolutely amazing; nothing bad about it. Just pick it up in a sale. I 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, the bosses got amazing redesigns, and vice versa.”
- “That is not the case here, and the grimy gothic horror atmosphere of the original first game is well and truly represented.”
- “It sounds like it skips constantly and the tone doesn't fit the atmosphere.”
- “But, the horrible music choice and design ruin the atmosphere and leave it feeling like a cheap arcade game.”
- “As of this writing, having beaten the game to see how faithful it is, I can safely say that it is very faithful, having closely recreated the original level design, enemy placement, and event branching while updating the visuals with a modern polish that nevertheless adheres to the original art direction and atmosphere.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative 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 unlocking all achievements. The remake's lack of optimization and limited resources, like ammo, further exacerbate the grind, making it feel less rewarding and more of a chore. Overall, the grinding experience is viewed 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.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a "shameless cash grab," with players feeling that the $25 price tag does not justify the limited content offered, suggesting it relies heavily on nostalgia to attract buyers.
- “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 development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant decline in character development, with a loss of iconic designs and vibrant aesthetics that previously contributed to the game's charm. The absence of engaging animations and sound effects further detracts from the overall experience, suggesting a shift away from the elements that once defined the characters.
- “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.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with one user expressing that a poignant line, "I am the house of the dead," elicited tears, highlighting the game's ability to evoke deep feelings and resonate with personal experiences.
- “I cried when they said, 'I am the house of the dead.'”