(Sega AM1's universe)
Watch your back...
Tagline
The House of the Dead 4 Special (ザ ハウス オブ ザ デッド4 スペシャル, Za hausu obu za deddo 4 supesharu) is a horror-themed rail shooter attraction produced and released by Sega in 2006.
Taking place shortly right after the events of The House of the Dead 4, the game follows AMS agents Kate Green and G as they fight the creature infestation to its source.
The game was released to arcades as a two-player arcade attraction, featuring a spinning ride vehicle and special effects. It is included in the PlayStation 3 port of The House of the Dead 4 as an unlockable for completing the original game.
Plot
Characters
Synopsis
Kate and G.
In 2003, AMS agent Kate Green wanders the abandoned city alone, acting on her promise to fallen partner James Taylor to keep fighting and never give up hope. She encounters agent G, who claims that the battle is not over. Together, Kate and G fight the undead outbreak to its source.
The agents drive to an unidentified building, killing a revived Justice in the parking garage. In the core of a secret laboratory, they discover a reawakened Magician. Recognizing and welcoming the AMS agents, Magician seeks revenge for the pain he has endured.
Upon defeat, Magician attempts to open Pandora's Box, which appears before him.
Endings
A quick time event occurs, during which the player must aim and throw a grenade to destroy the box. The player's success or failure, along with their score, impact the scenes which follow.
| Type | Image | Criteria | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad |   |
Failing the quick time event. | Magician activates several clones of himself, laughing as G says "Who's next?" The words "BAD END" appear on the screen. |
| Good |   |
Completing the quick time event. | Pandora's Box is destroyed; Magician claims "Nothing can erase my pain..." before exploding. As they leave, G tells Kate that the fight is about to begin. The words "THE END" appear on the screen. |
| Bonus ending scene |   |
Achieve an A rank or higher in both chapters, score over 70,000 points, and attain the Good ending. | This scene follows the good ending. A mysterious man limps where Magician was fought, remarking "So, Pandora's Box has been closed. That is, if there is any 'hope' left. The Wheel of Fate cannot be stopped." |
Gameplay
A 3D rendering of the arcade ride vehicle.
In the arcade version, up to two players enter an enclosed room with the ride vehicle inside. The room is equipped with a surround sound system and two 100 XGA projectile screens: one in front of players and another behind them. After players sit down and buckle in, the attendant will lower the safety bar.
The ride vehicle can spin 360°, shake when creatures attack, and blast players with air whenever they take damage. It features holsters with two light guns, along with a large "action" button to use during escape sequences and an emergency stop button. Unlike The House of the Dead 4, the machine guns have recoil.
Gameplay is identical to The House of the Dead 4; players shoot enemies, bosses, and hidden bonus items in background objects. The game consists of two stages that each have branching paths. The differences are the following:
- Instead of lives, players share one large life bar. The game ends when it is emptied; there are no continues.
- Rather than shaking the gun, players must escape enemies and bosses by repeatedly hitting the "escape" button on the control panel.
- At the end of the game, players are judged on how compatible they are based on performance alone. This mechanic was previously used in Sega's mounted gun game Let's Go Jungle (and returns in its sequel, Let's Go Island).
The PlayStation 3 port of Special adds continues, replaces the life bar with traditional lives, and removes the compatibility mechanic.
Chapters
The game consists of two unnamed chapters (as revealed in The House of the Dead 4's PlayStation 3 port).
Bosses
Release
Sega unveiled The House of the Dead 4 Special at the 2006 AOU (Arcade Operator's Union) trade show in Tokyo, Japan, which ran from February 17th to the 18th.[1][2] The game began arriving at Japanese arcades in July of that year.[3]
Locations
The House of the Dead 4 Special's arcade version is rare. Most locations have been in foreign arcades, and some locations have removed the game over time. The following is a list of known current and former arcade locations for 4 Special:
Current
Former
Gallery
Data
Screenshots
Videos
References
- ↑ Niizumi, Hirohiko (February 21, 2006). "Spot On: The 2006 AOU Show" (English). GameSpot News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020.
- ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (February 17, 2006). "AOU 2006: The Return of G" (English). IGN. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014.
- ↑ Wyman, Walt (July 7, 2006). "House of the Dead 4 Special reaches arcades" (English). GameSpot News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020.
External links
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