Original Mode

Main series
(Sega AM1's universe)

Original Mode
Original Mode's item selection screen.
Featured in	The House of the Dead 2 (Dreamcast, PC) The House of the Dead III (Xbox, The House of the Dead 2 included as bonus) The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (Wii)

Original Mode is a game mode that can be selected in the Dreamcast and PC ports of The House of the Dead 2 and the Wii compilation The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return. It offers several more options and customizable content as opposed to the arcade mode, such as bullet strength, chamber effect, various guns, costumes, the amount of lives and credits, along with other miscellaneous choices.

Items

The main difference between Arcade and Original Mode is that items can be selected from an inventory at the beginning of each game to change up the experience. While the items are in small numbers at first, more can be collected throughout the levels. Some items cannot be combined together.

Guns

These items replace the game's default weapon, the pistol, with other weapons. The bullet icons on the UI (user interface) change accordingly.

Item	Name	Description
	Shotgun	Uses 2 powerful shotgun shells whose bullets scatter with a wide range.
	Air Gun	Changes the gun noises to "phtphtpht".
	Toy Gun	Changes the gun noises to "pew, pew, pew". Replaces bullets with batteries for its ammunition. Has the same effects of "Primitive Meat".
	Machine Gun	Holds 6 bullets, which all spray at once when fired.
	Grenade Launcher	Shoots out 3 powerful grenades which explode upon impact. The grenades will not affect the environment in the levels, however.

Bullets

These items are modifications to the default pistol.

Item	Name	Description
	1.2	Weak firepower.
	1.5	Has the same caliber as Arcade Mode.
	2.0	Stronger than the default bullet strength.
	Bullet Blow	Kills creatures instantly, but only deals twice as much damage to bosses (The same with the 2.0 item).

Gun Chambers

These items increase the player's maximum bullet count by varying amounts.

Item	Name	Description
	+2 Chamber	Increases the player's maximum bullet count by 2.
	+4 Chamber	Increases the player's maximum bullet count by 4.
	+8 Chamber	Increases the player's maximum bullet count by 8.
	Infinite Chamber	Grants players unlimited ammunition.

Gameplay Options

These items enhance gameplay in varying ways.

Item	Name	Description
	+2 Credit	Increases the player's number of credits (continues) by 2.
	+5 Credit	Increases the player's number of credits by 5.
	+10 Credit	Increases the player's number of credits by 10.
	Infinite Credit	Grants the player infinite credits (continues). "Free Play" will appear on the screen.
	+2 Life	Adds 2 lives to the player's current life count.
	+5 Life	Adds 5 lives to the player's current life count.
	Extra First Aid Kits	Allows for more life-ups to be found whenever the player breaks barrels, crates, and vases.
	Life 1/4	Cuts the health of enemies down to a quarter of their regular health.
	Double Score	Doubles all points earned throughout the game.

Costumes

These items alter the player's character model, but will not alter their voice and the story.

Item	Name	Description
	Amy Costume	An Amy Crystal costume.
	Harry Costume	A Harry Harris costume.
	G Costume	A G costume.
	Rogan Costume	A Thomas Rogan costume.
	Goldman Costume	A Caleb Goldman costume. Unlocked after completing Original Mode.
	Civilian Costume	A costume of a civilian.
	Bruno Costume	A costume of Bruno Delinger, a protagonist from Sega's 1998 beat 'em up Dynamite Cop (Dynamite Deka 2 in Japan).

Miscellaneous items

These other items have varying properties.

Item	Name	Description
	Primitive Meat	Increases head and hand size of all human characters.
	Rotten Meat	Increases head size of all humanoid creatures (excluding bosses).
	Bass Lure	Shoots out lures with bullets.
	UFO	At certain points, UFOs have a 2/3 probability of appearing in the sky. They can be shot for a 2000 point bonus.

Where to make items appear

Chapter 1

1. Shoot the chandelier in the library and the item will fall out to the floor. (Credits +, Chamber +, etc.)
2. Destroy the bucket over the well while saving the man under attack. The camera will then pan over the side of the well. (Meat, Life +2, etc.)
3. After going through the courtyard, break the barrel to the left of where Max will attack. In Arcade Mode, a diamond comes out instead. (Chamber +, Power-ups, etc.)
4. Shoot the vase below the window a Johnny will throw axes from. A coin is revealed when playing on Arcade Mode. (Air Gun, Chamber +, etc. Also may not appear)
5. Shoot the door on the far left as 2 creatures drop down from a bridge. An old woman inside will give the item as a reward. (Shotgun, Grenade, etc.)

Chapter 2

1. Right after saving the driver, shoot the doors of the van on the right before his car finishes stopping. Once he's given his thanks, the camera will focus on the van's trunk. (Machine Gun, Power-ups, etc.)
2. Shoot the door at the back of the upper alley as Randys attack. An old man inside will give the item as a reward. (Power-ups, Chamber +, etc.)
3. Destroy the pumpkin-shaped lamp on the counter in the restaurant before the camera focuses on the locked door. (Chamber +, Credit +, etc.)
4. After going down the stairs in the back of the restaurant, the camera will shift behind to show one on the floor. (Power-ups, Life +5, etc.)
5. Save the man at the drinking fountain outside the restaurant. (Double Score, Credit +, etc.)
6. Upon reaching the top floor of the water gate, shoot the barrel closest to the pillar the Murrers emerge from. (Credit +, etc.)
7. Just before leaving the water gate, at where 2 Kageos attack, shoot the rat in the far back before it runs away. The camera will pan to the right thereafter. (Life +, Amy/Harry Costume, etc.)
8. Nearing the control panel, destroy the box behind the Max in the clock tower. (Life +, etc.)
9. Immediately after leaving the jewelry store, break open the door on the far right. The item will be inside along with an old woman lying on the floor. (Shotgun, Extra First Aid Kits, etc. Door seems to only break with alternate weapons.)
10. Save the elderly couple in the ruins outside the entrance to the dungeon. The old man will give the item as a reward. (Credit +, Power-ups, etc.)
11. Upon entering the cellar from the dungeon, the camera will focus on a chain. Shoot it to make the item come out. (Toy Gun, Air Gun, Credit +, etc.)
12. After passing by the closet, the item is found in the water of a flooded room where 4 Kageo Js attack. (Bass Lure, etc.)
13. In the wharf's waterway, a man on a boat is being attacked by an Ebitan. The item will pop up when the Ebitan is killed and when the boat crashes into the port. (Power-ups, UFOs, etc.)

Trivia

• A "big head" mode, like the effects of the Primitive Meat item, was first considered for the Sega Saturn port of The House of the Dead. This feature, which Sega AM1 jokingly called a "kids mode", was scrapped because it made the game too easy.
• For some reason the Thomas Rogan costume item looks like the Amy Crystal costume item in the game, but the costume itself is correct while using it in Original Mode.

Gallery

Guidebook scans

Item list from page 17 of The House of the Dead 2 Perfect Guide.

Screenshots

The player character driving with the Bruno costume.

The player character meeting G with the Bruno costume.

The player character meeting G with the Thomas Rogan costume.

The player character with the Amy Crystal costume.

The player character with the Goldman costume.

Sources

Excerpts

References

v • eGame modes
The House of the Dead / Remake	Boss Mode • Horde Mode (Remake) • Saturn Mode
2	Boss Mode • Original Mode • Training Mode
III	Extreme Mode • Time Attack
Scarlet Dawn	Master Mode
Zombie Revenge	Original Mode • VS Boss Mode • Fighting Mode • Training Room
Vampire Night	Special Mode (Mission Files • Training Mode • Shop )