Let's take a trip down memory lane. Do you remember walking into the arcade in the late 90s and early 2000s? There were probably two to three games on your radar, and the chances are high that House of the Dead was one of them.
The fun and intense zombie shooter was a precursor to the games that feature the undead that we see today. House of the Dead was created in 1996 by Sega and has spawned five additional games and reworkings. Along with Resident Evil, this game popularized the zombie genre, and it became a hit.
Ready to learn about some mindblowing facts related to this awesome title? Check out the points below.
10 The Mad Scientist Storyline
You may have jumped into this game blindly with the light gun in hand, but did you know the real story behind the game? Well, it all starts with a mad scientist named Roy Curien. Curien wanted to explore the nature of life and death, and his gruesome experiments led to the zombie horde in the game. You, Agent Thomas Rogen, are tasked with saving your fiancee from the situation. Who knew it was more than just shooting zombies?
9 Indianapolis Wanted To Ban It
The government of Indianapolis felt that the game was too graphic and moved to ban the game. The case went all the way to the U.S. Appeals Court, and the judge ruled that Indianapolis' ban was unconstitutional. The game's graphics were seen as so cartoonish that the judge felt it wasn't realistic enough to be seen as a problem.
8 Introduced A New Type Of Zombie
Before House of the Dead came on the scene, most zombies were seen as slow-shuffling. They were typically only a threat if they were in a horde. However, House of the Dead is credited as the first primary source of media to show fast-moving zombies.
This media likely inspired 28 Days Later and the Dawn of the Dead remake. This game changed the tone of zombie films and made these creatures more of a credible threat in pop culture.
7 Different Colored Blood
The developers of the game foresaw that there could be issues with the game's graphic content. As a result, they made it possible for customers to change the color of the blood to green, purple, or blue. So, if you were ever playing this game at a family-friendly arcade and wondered if zombies really bled purple or green, well now you have your answer.
6 The Game Was Inspired By Some Iconic Movies and Shows
Even though House of the Dead ended up in arcades and was easily accessible by children, the developers didn't want children playing the game. They wanted to mimic iconic horror movies and bring an unsettling mindset into this title. The X-Files as well as the films DNA and Se7en influenced the look and flow of House of the Dead.
5 The Zombies Weren't Really "Zombies"
So, while this game has influenced many parts of horror media, especially in the zombie genre, series director Takashi Oda preferred the term "creature." This reason is that the "dead" are not zombies; they are copied instead of created.
As a result, the enemies that you are facing in the game are really just monsters as they were not created through the traditional ways that we see zombies come about.
4 A "Creature" Was Removed From The Game
The developers of House of the Dead did a lot to prevent controversy from holding the game back from release. From changing the color of the blood to fighting a ban in Indianapolis, they went through a lot to get this game to their audience. They also had to remove a creature because it resembled an older woman. The developers foresaw the issue and caught it before it made it to the arcades. Their quality control process was almost flawless.
3 A British Journey
The violence of House of the Dead feels like a brash American experience. However, this story likely occurred across the pond. This game probably happened somewhere in the United Kingdom. Dr. Curien's accent is heavily British, while drivers are located on the right side of the car, a hallmark of locations within the United Kingdom. So, the next time you enjoy this game, you may want to grab a spot of tea and a scone.
2 It Could Have Been a Ghost Game
When the developers of House of the Dead were mulling over the idea of making a light gun game, they ran through some other scenarios. One option they considered was dabbling in the paranormal.
We could have had an arcade-style haunted ghost game. What would it have looked like? Would it have been Ghostbusters style, or would it have been more unsettling like Fatal Frame? It would have been pretty cool to see how a game like this would have turned out.
1 House Of The Dead Was Built On The Virtua Cop Engine
When it comes to developing video games, it helps to start somewhere. For the House of the Dead developers, this was the Virtua Cop Engine. Virtua Cop was a 1994 arcade game that utilized the light gun. The developers of House of the Dead took the game and created more advanced branching off points and enemies. If you play both games, you can see the influence that Virtua Cop had on the gameplay of House of The Dead.