Co-op is where it’s at in on-rails shooters, and Overkill doesn’t dissapoint

The game follows the exploits of the cool and mysterious agent G and his comically racially charged partner, Agent Washington, as they track down the evil Papa Ceaser to prevent his mutant experiments from wiping out the human race. If it sounds a little generic, that’s because it is needlessly so; an element that demonstrates how self aware Overkill is. Whilst previous House of the Dead games have been memorable for their stilted and amusing B-Movie stories and dialogue, Overkill really takes this element to its full conclusion, resulting in a grind house film style that is both amusing and highly gory. Its extremity is what makes it unique though, making Overkill one of the few games I would describe as pulling no punches whatsoever.

The game takes on the mantle of a truly classic on-rails shooter, with little more than aiming and pulling the trigger taking up the majority of your time. Overkill thus has a simplicity and accessibility that comes with the genre, but it can lead to repetition as well. There are a lot of elements that spice things up such as upgradable weapons, multiple paths and collectibles you can pick up mid-game but, as hard as it tries, Overkill can’t escape the genre it’s attached too. Fear not though for, provided you can get two Move controllers (which is pretty essential for a light gun game) and a mate involved, the game justifies itself in short bursts.

The HD sheen is finally present in Overkill, but you can still tell it was a Wii game

There is an issue of lifespan as well. The PS3 Extended Cut features more content than its Wii counterpart, something that the original definitely needed. Whilst the game is impressive in its bizarre brand of comedy, its quantity was lacking on Wii. The Extended Cut remedies this, with two new levels (totalling up to nine now), additional weapons and new challenges, but it still isn’t all that long. Granted, you’ll no doubt be going through the game again to try new routes and the more challenging director’s cut mode, but don’t expect it to be an especially long ride. The upside of this is the price of Overkill, with it sitting comfortably below the standard RRP of a new title. It’s not quite bargain bin price, but it represents a fantastic bargain for some quality grind house action.

The main upgrades that really differentiate the two games are in the visuals department. Having originally only been available in standard definition thanks to the Wii’s output deficiencies, the Extended Cut of Overkill is the only way you’ll get to see the game in HD. It looks fairly decent overall, but it is still obvious that it started life as a Wii game. Solid animations are made smoother in 1080p, but the character models and textures feel very last gen; an unfortunate hallmark of any game that began it’s life on the Wii. 3D visuals are also supported and, whilst the new standard of stereoscopic 3D is included, users with standard TVs can also get involved too in Overkill: Extended Cut. The game comes bundled with two pairs of classic cyan and red coloured glasses that let you view the game in the 3D effects of old. This anaglyphic 3D has been a novelty in certain games for years and, whilst it’s an entertaining aside in Overkill, it doesn’t really add a lot to the experience. I found it cool for a few seconds, but washed out colours and severe headaches were two annoying side effects that really broke the deal. I can only assume that the stereoscopic 3D effects are more palatable but, without the necessary equipment, we were unfortunately not able to assess this particular feature in House of the Dead Overkill: Extended Cut.

It’s a nice try but, even with the glasses on, the anaglyphic 3D still looks rubbish

If you only get to buy one game this month, it’s hard to recommend Overkill: Extended Cut. Those on a budget will most likely feel let down by the retro gameplay and low lifespan. This isn’t to say that Overkill is a bad game though, far from it. It may not offer the most bang for your buck, but Overkill is one of the most classically refreshing and damn right amusing games I’ve experienced for some time, and the Extended Cut is now the best way to enjoy it. If you’re tired of space marines and mediocrity and have a little extra cash to spend, grab yourself a copy of Overkill: Extended Cut. After all, a game that has jokes about a Stephen Hawking look alike, mock blacksploitation and gun-toting strippers in the first hour alone can’t be all bad, right?

Here is the official launch trailer for House of the Dead: OVERKILL Extended Cut in case you missed it.  The House of the Dead franchise will never die starting from the old school gun ready arcade game, back when we used to still actually have arcades that you could go to in order to play your favorite game, among the place when many fighting games made a name for themselves.  It is sad to say many of the youth today will have no idea  what I am talking about when I mention a walk in arcade, although you can still catch them on boardwalks on the coasts of the U.S.

Enough of the reminiscence and down to the hardcore action in the extended cut of House of the Dead: OVERKILL, where you can take advantage of the PS Move for Playstation 3 and grab one of those gun peripherals to have a blast.  If you have a 3D TV/Monitor  you should really be in for an experience with it fully supporting 3D. The game is out now for Playstation 3 with much better graphics and more content then the Wii version released in 2009.  One of the best features about the game is the it will only run you $39.99 and you can’t beat that, especially if you have a PS Move.

Here is a new “Carnival” Trailer for The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut (PS3).  The trailer takes you to the creepy Mulholland Bros. Carnival where you will be able to use many different weapons in the game.  The park have everything from a shooting gallery to the House of Death but you will need to uncover the mystery behind the Bayou City outbreak. The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut will be available exclusively on PlayStation 3, and will support 3D capabilities on October 25, 2011.

Using a host of weapons, watch your back as mutants go mad for blood! Blast bloody pieces out of their wretched bodies and uncover the mystery behind the Bayou County outbreak. New goodies like PlayStation® trophies, new game modes and new content are outnumbered by only one thing: Bullets! Will you defeat everything this freakish nightmare town throws at you or will you become mutant chowder?

For more on The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut  please click here

“The House of the Dead: OVERKILL – Extended Cut on Playstation 3 now features anaglyphic and stereoscopic 3D! So whether you have a state of the art 3D TV or a 1970s home cinema system you can enjoy the most gruesome mutant mayhem in 3D! Bring your own popcorn.” – Said Gary Knight of SEGA.

Sega has released a new video for the upcoming Extended Cut for their zombie game, House of the Dead: Overkill. The video is some typical House of the Dead stuff, hilarious and all. You should have a look.

House of the Dead: Overkill was released on the Wii in 2009 and was well received by credits. The Extended Cut is being released for the PS3, and will feature PS Move support, 2 new exclusive levels, HD graphics and 3D support.

Overkill- Extended Cut will release on October 25 for the PS3. Stay tuned till then for more info.