View source for The House of the Dead (1996 video game)

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{{Game
|title1 = The House of the Dead
|image1 = <gallery>
HODArcadeFlyerJP.jpg|Arcade (JP)
1066899352 ea7023fa50 z-1.jpg|PC (JP)
HODSaturnJP.jpg|Saturn (JP)
</gallery>
|developer(s) = WOW Entertainment (SEGA AM1)
|publisher(s) = [[Sega]]
|release_date = 1996 (Japan)
March 4, 1997 (International)
|platform(s) = Arcade, SEGA Saturn, Microsoft Windows
|arcade_cabinet = Sega Model 2}}

{{For|the 2003 film adaptation by Uwe Boll|House of the Dead (film)}}
{{Quote|Quote = It feeds on your fear. Don't go into the house... Alone!|Attribution = Marquee}}

{{Nihongo|'''''The House of the Dead'''''|ザ・ハウス・オブ・ザ・デッド|Za Hausu obu za Deddo}} is a horror-themed rail shooting game developed by SEGA AM1 (now WOW Entertainment) and released by [[Sega]] to arcades in 1996. 

Set during the fictional events of December 18th, 1998, ''The House of the Dead'' follows [[AMS]] agents [[Thomas Rogan]] and [[G]], who investigate the [[Curien Mansion|mansion]] of genetic engineer [[Dr. Curien]]. In a fit of insanity, Curien has produced hostile [[creatures]] which threaten mankind.

Developed in just over a year, the game was envisioned by Sega AM1 as having replay value and appealing to adult horror fans. It ran on the Sega Model 2 arcade hardware.<ref name=":1" />

Despite controversy for its violence, ''The House of the Dead ''was well-received and has become a [[The House of the Dead (franchise)|franchise]]. A sequel, ''[[The House of the Dead 2]]'', was released in 1998 to critical acclaim. Although series director [[Takashi Oda]] does not consider the enemies [[zombies]],<ref name=":2" /> the game nonetheless has been credited for popularizing zombies in the media.<ref>Weedon, Paul (17 July 2017). "[http://paulweedon.co.uk/george-romero-transcript/ George A. Romero (interview)]". ''Paul Weedon''. Retrieved 2 June 2019.</ref>

The arcade game was ported to the SEGA Saturn and Microsoft Windows. It also received two mobile adaptations: ''[[The House of the Dead Mobile]]'', and [[The House of the Dead: Nightmare|''The House of the Dead: Nightmare'']]. While the basic premise and the characters involved stayed the same, the latter game deviated from the original by using an aerial perspective rather than first-person.

In 2019, Polish-based video game developer [[Forever Entertainment]] confirmed that they had signed an agreement regarding remakes of ''The House of the Dead ''and ''The House of the Dead 2'', with MegaPixel Studio serving as the developers. Further details have yet to be announced.<ref name=":0">https://twitter.com/ForeverEntert/status/1179705137616556038</ref>

==Plot==

=== Characters ===
<gallery position="center" columns="4" captionalign="center" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true" widths="100">
File:RoganFaceHOD.png | '''[[Thomas Rogan]]''' |link=Thomas Rogan
File:GFaceHOD.png | '''[[G]]''' |link=G
File:SophieFaceHOD.png | '''[[Sophie Richards]]''' |link=Sophie Richards
File:CurienFaceHOD.png | '''[[Dr. Curien]]''' |link=Dr. Curien
</gallery>

=== Synopsis ===
In his pursuit of controlling life and death, [[DBR Corporation]] research director [[Dr. Curien]] descends into insanity. On December 18th, 1998, he unleashes [[Enemies#Creatures|biologically-engineered creatures]] upon his staff at the [[Curien Mansion]] in Europe.

After receiving a distressed phone call from his fiancée, DBR researcher [[Sophie Richards]], [[AMS]] agent [[Thomas Rogan]] and his partner [[G]] arrive at the creature-infested mansion. Rogan and G reunite with Sophie, who is then kidnapped by the bat-human hybrid [[Hangedman]]. A mortally wounded scientist gives the agents a field journal notebook containing stronger enemies (bosses) and their weak points. The agents fight through undead enemies and find Sophie inside the mansion, but the armored behemoth [[Chariot]] seemingly kills her.

[[File:Magicianres.PNG|thumb|293px|[[Magician]], upon awakening, refuses to be given instructions and vows to destroy everything.]]

Rogan and G kill Hangedman in a rooftop fight. They find Curien, who escapes. After defeating the spider-like [[Hermit]] and a revived Chariot and Hangedman, the agents confront Curien in an underground DBR research center located in a cavern system underneath the estate.

Curien awakes [[Magician]], an armored creature with mastery of fire. However, the Magician refuses to recognize Curien as his master and kills him. Rogan and G defeat the creature, who, before exploding, warns that the ordeal is not over. As they leave the mansion, the agents bid Sophie and Curien farewell.

=== Endings ===
After the credits, the camera pans back to the mansion; depending on the player's performance, two extra scenes may play out:
* '''Good ending: '''The mansion doors open, revealing Sophie to be alive. She runs at the camera and exclaims "Thank you!" Sophie's survival is canon, as she marries Rogan and gives birth to their daughter [[Lisa Rogan|Lisa]].<ref name=":2">[http://www.thewebsiteofthedead.com/?tag=the-house-of-the-dead-interviews-takashi-oda The Website of the Dead's Exclusive Interview with Takashi Oda]</ref>
* '''Bad ending: '''The mansion doors open, revealing Sophie to be one of the undead.

== Gameplay ==
Players use a light gun (or mouse, in the PC version) to aim and shoot at approaching enemies. Both characters' pistols hold 6 rounds in a magazine; players reload by shooting outside the screen. Levels, or chapters, consist of fighting creatures, rescuing [[Civilians|DBR researchers]], and shooting destructible objects for bonus items. Each chapter ends with a [[Bosses|boss]] battle.

The players' [[lives]] are represented by torches next to each magazine; one torch is removed with every enemy attack and hostage shot. Losing all lives kills the player and triggers a "Continue?" screen, followed by a game over if one elects not to continue. Bonus lives are earned by rescuing researchers and collecting first-aid kits hidden in the environment. Other items include coins and hopping golden frogs, which award points.

The first three chapters have [[branching paths]], wherin the player's action (or inaction) determines the route taken; all routes differ in set pieces, enemies, and difficulty. For instance, in the opening chapter, a researcher is about to be thrown from the bridge to his death. Rescuing him takes players through the Curien Mansion's front door; failure redirects them to the sewers. If the player rescues all hostages, a secret room full of lives and bonuses is revealed toward the end of the game.

=== Chapters ===
<gallery position="center" columns="2" captionalign="center" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
HODChap1Location.png| 1. '''[[Tragedy]]''' |link=Tragedy
HODChap2Location.png| 2. '''[[Revenge]]''' |link=Revenge
HODChap3Location.png|3. '''[[Truth]]''' |link=Truth
HODChap4Location.png|4. '''[[The house of the dead (chapter)|The house of the dead]]''' |link=The house of the dead (chapter)
</gallery>
=== Bosses ===
<gallery position="center" columns="2" captionalign="center" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
File:chariot.PNG | '''[[Chariot]]''' (Type 27) |link=Chariot
File:handgedman.PNG | '''[[Hangedman]]''' (Type 041) |link=Hangedman
File:hermit.PNG | '''[[Hermit]]''' (Type 6803) |link=Hermit
File:Magician.PNG | '''[[Magician]]''' (Type 0) |link=Magician
</gallery>

== Development ==

=== Concept ===
After arcade development division Sega AM2 released ''Virtua Cop ''in 1994, Sega AM1 sought making their own light gun game.<ref name=":1">"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 58.</ref> They chose a horror theme in order to distinguish themselves.<ref name=":1" /> The game was first conceived as dealing with the paranormal.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">https://sega-interactive.co.jp/interview/14346/</ref> Sega AM1 ultimately used [[zombies]] because they were "real" and appealed to the game's target audience: adult horror fans aged 20 to 30.<ref name=":1" /> According to director and planner [[Takashi Oda]], Sega AM1 knew "[they] didn’t want children playing this game."<ref name=":5">http://shmuplations.com/houseofthedead/</ref>

The team wanted the game's tone and atmosphere to emulate horror films.<ref name=":3">"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 59.</ref> Influences included the science fiction television series ''The X-Files'',<ref name=":1" /> the 1996 crime thriller film ''Seven'',<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> and the 1997 science fiction horror film ''DNA''.<ref name=":3" /> They also watched other unspecified zombie films.<ref name=":1" /> In addition, Oda wanted morally gray characters like those in the manga ''Black Jack''.<ref name=":4" />

Sega AM1 brainstormed game titles by using Japanese horror-themed phrases that had the "[coolest]" visual when translated to English. As none of its members could speak English, the team was not concerned about what connotations the phrases might have to English speakers. ''The House of the Dead ''is a simple translation of the Japanese phrase ''shi no ie ''("house of dead"). Other titles that were considered include ''The Horror Show'', ''Zombie'', and ''The Deadly Dead''.<ref name=":1" />

=== Design ===

==== Characters and setting ====
[[File:HoTD1 zombie CA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Concept artwork drawn by Takashi Oda of three creatures (from left to right): [[Sam]], [[Ebitan (creature)|Ebitan]], and [[Harris]].]]
Although the team was influenced by zombie media, Takashi Oda has described the word ''zombie ''as "trite", preferring the term ''creature'' instead in reference to the main enemies of the ''House of the Dead ''series.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDMurQqwWc4</ref> The reason for this is that the enemies are not undead, but "copied and created".<ref name=":6" />

Design was prioritized on the creatures and bosses, while the human characters were made more generic to maintain realism.<ref name=":2" /> The creature designs evolved heavily throughout production, with Sega AM1 even removing one creature because of its resemblance to an elderly woman.<ref>"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 62.</ref>

The idea for the final boss, Magician, was conceived after 2 days of brainstorming. The team wanted the final boss to be "really strong and really cool."<ref name=":5" /> They designed him to be more handsome in order to contrast with the other enemies of the game.<ref name=":8">"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 63.</ref>

According to designer Hiroyuki Taguchi, once the team began detailing the Curien Mansion, "[they] didn't want to stop—[they] wanted to craft every detail, right down to the trim on the doorways."<ref name=":5" />

==== Gameplay ====
A major challenge for Sega AM1 was tailoring game difficulty around enemies that approach the player without firearms, gradually becoming larger targets.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> Test players were confused by the creatures being resilient and requiring multiple shots to kill.<ref name=":5" /> The solution was having creatures boast fast and unpredictable movements, yet also allowing them to die faster if certain body parts are shot.<ref name=":4" />

The branching path mechanic was designed to increase replay value and encourage players to discover their preferred routes. It was originally more complicated: players could select routes when the game began, and the plot could change. For system space and data-related reasons, this mechanic was simplified. Sega AM1 drew rough sketches in order to plan out the routes.<ref>"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 60.</ref><ref name=":7">"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 61.</ref>

Sega AM1 wanted the scoring system to correlate with the quality of the player's performance.<ref name=":7" /> They also felt revealing boss weak points would help players who could not discover them on their own.<ref name=":8">"[https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n58/mode/2up Interview: The House of the Dead]", ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', issue 23, September 1997, page 62.</ref>

==Release==

=== Console ports ===

[[File:HODRoganArcadeConsoleGraphics.png|thumb|369x369px|Graphical comparison between the arcade (left) and home port versions (right).]]

Initially released to arcades, ''The House of the Dead'' was ported to the PC and Sega Saturn with downgraded graphics.

=== Remake ===
In late September 2019, Polish website Grampospolita.pl reported that Forever Entertainment, the developer responsible for remaking the first two games in Sega's ''Panzer Dragoon ''series, will remake the original ''House of the Dead'', as well as ''The House of the Dead 2''.<ref>https://graczpospolita.pl/polacy-stworza-remake-dwoch-czesci-the-house-of-the-dead/</ref> Forever Entertainment confirmed via Twitter on October 3, 2019 that they had signed an agreement to produce said remakes. No further details were provided.<ref name=":0" />

==Reception==

The arcade version of ''The House of the Dead'' was generally well received. However, the PC and Saturn releases were both met with mixed reviews. The game received a percentage score of 70.54% by GameRankings. The arcade version received 4.5 out of 5 stars, while both the Saturn and Windows port were rated 4 stars by Allgame.

The Sega Saturn port was released in the final days of the console's lifespan. Despite its high market value, it is generally considered a poor port due to its lower framerate and graphical resolution compared to the arcade version.

== Trivia ==
*Although the game takes place in an unknown country in Europe, it is implied that the setting is in either England or Scotland in the United Kingdom, due to the agents' car being a right-hand drive type (driver on the right), which is a characteristic of British cars. Dr. Curien's notable British accent also serves as an indicator.
*Though the game's intro shows the date December 18th, 1998, the game actually takes place on December 20th. The game's Sega Saturn manual revealed that December 18th was when Curien unleashed his undead experiments and Rogan received Sophie's message.
*The Sega Saturn port lost many graphical details due to the console's low graphic resolution, causing such details as Hangedman's armor to be lost.

== Gallery ==

=== Arcade cabinets ===
<gallery>
20987172 270656910088352 4205087902671044608 n.jpg|Deluxe version.
</gallery>

=== Arcade flyers ===
<gallery>
HODArcadeFlyerJP.jpg|Japanese variant.
HODArcadeFlyerNA.jpg|North American variant.
</gallery>

=== Game covers ===
<gallery>
1066899352 ea7023fa50 z-1.jpg|PC (Japan)
HODSaturnJP.jpg|Sega Saturn (Japan)
House-of-the-dead-saturn-front-cover.jpg|Sega Saturn (North America)
</gallery>

=== Data ===
<gallery>
GameoverMap HotD1.png|Texture for the route map shown upon game over.
</gallery>
== References ==
<references />
{{wikipedia}}
{{HotD}}
[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Main Series]]