This game is too gory for all kids ages 10 and up. It has nude zombies, gore every second of the game and it has NO positive messages
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House of the Dead: Overkill
(2009, Video Games - First Person Shooter, Rated M, Play it on: Nintendo Wii)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Gruesome, semi-humorous zombie shooter for mature players.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of House of the Dead: Overkill was written by Harold Goldberg
Parents need to know that this is a bloody zombie shooter with semi-humorous dialog that is peppered with profanity including "f--k." Blood sprays when you shoot a zombie anywhere on the body, and the game rewards taking head shots and ones that take off a limb. Zombies are sometimes partially nude. In one cut scene, a zombie urinates on the ground. Later, he is seen passionately kissing his zombie mother.
Families Can Talk About
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Families can talk about the zombies-meets-Tarantino aspect of the game – but only when those under 17 aren't around. Do you think the Grindhouse aspect of the game works for Overkill? Why or why not? Did any of the over the top themes make you want to stop playing the game, or did they make you want to play more? Which ones and why?
More on House of the Dead: Overkill
What’s the Story?
Ever since the invention of the video arcade, games have been inspired by carnival shooting galleries. House of the Dead, the first-person zombie shooting game, which first made its appearance in 1996, is one of the more enduring creepfest shootouts. HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL is the series prequel in which two foul-mouthed, crimefighting buddies blast their way through seven short levels, each with a Quentin Tarantino/Grindhouse theme. As funky music plays and bloody zombie brains spew, the team pursues a bearded thug named Papa Caesar. But Caesar is the least of their worries: giant monster bosses abound.
The game works with the Wii Remote (or with the Wii Zapper gun). Point at zombies to shoot with the "B" button and reload by pressing "A." Shoot many zombies in a row and you're rewarded with more points for each kill, the most being during Goregasm, which scores a mammoth 1,000 points per kill. One powerup makes zombies die in slow motion. The result? Watching the red-tinged gore arc in molasses-slow detail. Additionally, there's a first aid powerup so you don't die after being slashed. While the game offers two-player co-op mode, there's no online play.
CloseIs It Any Good?
There's just as much to commend this game as there is to "dis" it. For those who like horror games, shooting zombies has always been a neat distraction, and the graphics here, while never perfect, are certainly monstrous, especially in the carnival level. While the story isn't tightly constructed, it adds a fair amount of humor to keep you going. Each level, however, isn't more challenging than another. In single player mode, you almost never die (unlike some previous versions where you died often and had to begin the game from level one).
The real problem with Overkill? It's never frightening. While it's often thrilling, you never experience fear. There are attempts to shock with cut scenes featuring incest, urination, and tons of swear words. If these somehow fit well with the story, they'd be more forgivable. Yet it's undeniable that Overkill is engaging for mature players, especially when you go back to play the game in Director's Cut mode and try to beat your highscores. Yet it's gore is like cotton candy -- ephemeral and unmemorable.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 2/11/2009, price $39.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language)
Our Members Say
See all 7 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title off for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
Horror-game too horriffic for little kids
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
House of the Dead: Overkill is one of the best titles for teen and adult Wii owners. Note that it's definitely rated M for a reason however. Think a playable Shaun of the Dead on crack, and you'll see what HOTD: Overkill has to offer. The loading screen says "RATED XXX", and that's accurate (not to mention very grindhousey). From the first cutscene, there's a nonstop barrage of F-bombs (almost 200, in fact, which gave the game a WORLD RECORD). Not to mention, this is a House of the Dead game. So expect plenty o' violence. However, in keeping with the total grindhouse nature of this game, it looks totally fake. The headshots are extravagantly gory, but again, they look fake. The only major sexual content is in the opening, which is basically a zombie striptease (but it's not terribly explicit). Overkill is a cinch to play, especially if you have the Wii Zapper gun peripheral. It's also very fun to play with a friend. However, the game is short (just like another awesome grindhousey game on the Wii called MadWorld). But if you can overlook that, play this game. You won't be disappointed.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
Nasty awsome, though mabye best to rent.
One of the most mature games ever, HotD has constant violence, sex, and actually broke the world record for most swears in a game. Upgradable weapons are a nice addition, and playing co-op is always fun. However, most of the game is suprisingly easy compared to its arcade brethren. Even more so if you have a friend with you, which can suck a lot of the challenge and fun out of boss fights. Couple this with it's legnth of only a few hours, and it might be better to rent this, unless you like going back for better scores.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
how can you no call this game classic
the gsme is so funny by the way the f word is used so much you become imune in the very first level. the game is campy fun gory profane, the only real thing for sex is the opening striptese sequence. the game is fun it's nothing more than a rail shooter but it's good rail shooter. if you are mature gamer. and played every other mature game out there then this is a must play
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