The House of the Dead 4
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| The House of the Dead 4 | |
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| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Platform(s) | Arcade |
| Release date | Arcade JP October 30, 2005[1] |
| Genre(s) | Rail shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Input methods | Light gun (trigger, 1 button (hand grenade) |
| Cabinet | 29" Upright, 52" (4:3 Screen) Deluxe, 62" (16:9 Screen) Widescreen Deluxe |
| Arcade system | Sega Lindbergh |
| Display | Raster, XGA |
The House of the Dead 4 is a light gun arcade game with a horror theme and the fourth installment of the House of the Dead series of video games, developed by Sega.
The House of the Dead 4 continues the story of the first two games and fills in the gap in the storyline between The House of the Dead 2 and The House of the Dead III, whilst introducing several new gameplay concepts. Players can control either James Taylor, from The House of the Dead 2, or Kate Green, a new character to the series.
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[edit] Gameplay
The arcade cabinet for The House of the Dead 4 is available as a 29" 4:3 ratio upright cabinet, 52" 4:3 ratio deluxe cabinet, or 62" 16:9 widescreen deluxe cabinet. It is also the first light gun game to be available in a 16:9 screen format.
In The House of the Dead 4, players use a Mini Uzi submachine gun which allows fully automatic fire. The gun also has a motion sensor that can detect when the player shakes the gun. The player can reload the gun by shaking it. The game also features grenades that the player can throw to destroy large numbers of enemies. Additional grenades can be earned by completing certain tasks or by shooting crates. At some points in the game, players are required to shake the gun vigorously in order to escape certain situations.
The game features a wide variety of branching paths. Most of the paths lead to the same point in the game's story. As with The House of the Dead III, there is an end-of-stage bonus where players can receive lives depending on critical shots, accuracy, and score. Another returning factor is the presence of the "Cancel" bar.
The most common enemies have three attacks. A "normal attack", a "grab," and a "push". The foremost inflicts one point of damage, while the second forces a shaking sequence that, if successful, pushes back attackers for easier disposal, but if unsuccessful, will result in the player being bitten or the player's character being knocked down and vulnerable. Multiple zombies may also pile on top of both players in an attempt to stomp on them.
[edit] Story
In the year 2003, three years after the events of The House of the Dead 2, AMS agents James Taylor and newcomer Kate Green are gathering intelligence at the fifth basement floor of the AMS European branch office. The former of the two still has the events of the 2000 "Goldman Case" on his mind, and believes that the ordeal had not yet ended. A sudden earthquake rocks the room while they talk, collapsing the basement walls and leaving the agents trapped.
Several days later, James and Kate await a rescue team. James' PDA goes off, and a group of undead are seen on the security cameras. Realizing that they are in danger, James has Kate gather all the weaponry they can find in preparation for the arrival of their foes. Soon after, the two travel through the sewers to an information room where they uncover a plot to fire nuclear missiles worldwide within twenty-four hours time, facing the four-armed Justice (Type 0053) and a pair of mutant tarantulas known as The Lovers (Type 6805) along the way. Taking the subway into zombie-infested streets from an underground shopping district, the agents narrowly avoid attacks by The Empress (Type 1210), a double-ended chainsaw-wielding assassin, and the obese, nearly impervious Temperance (Type 0483).
James and Kate then learn that the one-time president of the now-defunct DBR Corporation, Goldman (who committed suicide in 2000), is responsible for the resurgence of undead. After reaching the surface, finding the city about them completely obliterated, James and Kate receive a PDA message sent by Goldman: the nuclear missile launch will occur in 1 hour. After the agents set out for the abandoned "Goldman Building", a levitating humanoid, The Star (Type 0001), prevents their advance in the foyer, but the agents arrive in time to halt Goldman's plans, though it is revealed that his true intention is to revert humankind to its original state to prevent them from harming the planet any further. As such his final legacy, The World (Type β), is released in the opening of "Pandora's Box" to fulfill its role as the successor to his original Emperor project in 2000, having developed underground since his death. As the AMS agents fight it, the World continuously alters its form to meet their threats, each time growing larger and more powerful. Following the World's second defeat, James sets his PDA to self-destruct, telling Kate not to give up hope, sacrificing himself, alongside the World, in the following explosion. James' heroic act bestows hope upon humanity, giving Kate the resolve to move on.
In the game's "standard" ending, the view returns to the computer in Goldman's office, continuing the former president's pre-recorded message. Goldman gives a final statement as he walks away: "Ah yes, there is one thing I forgot. The human race has not been eliminated. Travel north...hope is such a splendid thing." If the player did not do well in the game, the camera focuses on Goldman's face, which suddenly becomes zombie-like. The meaning behind the message is known only to Goldman himself.
In one of the game's alternate endings, a businessman (previously seen in one of House of the Dead 3 's endings) limps on his right leg and sits at a desk in the corner of an office. He claims that Goldman was "soft" and that "wretched humans have no need of hope," stating that the "true end" will soon begin and that there is more than one "Pandora's Box".
In another ending, G (from The House of the Dead 1, 2 and 3) claims that the undead crisis was not over yet and says: "We'll fight this back to the source. It's now time for you to rest now, James." As G walks out of the camera, a zoom is made on Goldman's building. At the end it's written "The story continues in House of the Dead 3".
[edit] The House of the Dead 4 Special
The House of the Dead 4 Special is a two-player attraction based on The House of the Dead 4. Players enter an enclosed room, sit down, and buckle up. The game makes use of two 100-inch screens, one in front of the players and another behind, as well as a five-speaker sound system, giving the impression that enemies are attacking from all directions. The seat shakes when zombies attack, and players are blasted with air whenever they take on damage. The seat automatically rotates to face the players towards whichever screen zombies are attacking from. The game also features a new addition of a life bar. As the players are hit the life bar dimishes. If the life bar is reduced to zero the game is over. There are no continues.
This game features a side story in The House of the Dead plotline, taking place shortly after The House of the Dead 4, with Kate Green teaming up with G to destroy the zombie infestation at its source, leading them to confront Magician Type 0, a boss character who returns after having been obliterated in two previous installments.
In a two-player game, players are judged on how compatible they are based on performance alone.[2]
[edit] Possible Wii version
According to GamerCenterOnline, Sega has announced that if House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return for the Wii sells well, they will bring House of the Dead 4 to the Wii.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ The House of the Dead 4 Info - The House of the Dead 4 Information - The House of the Dead 4 Release Date
- ^ Wyman, Walt (2006-07-06). House of the Dead 4 Special reaches arcades. Gamespot News. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ PilarVIRUS, "House of the Dead 4 on Wii?," Gamercenteronline (February 26, 2008).
[edit] External links
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