The House of the Dead 2 Remake Review (Switch)

The House of the Dead 2: Remake for Switch is a faithful revival of the 1998 arcade classic, but its control schemes are a frustrating hurdle.

Control Quirks Hamper Faithful Arcade Revival

Control issues plague an otherwise accurate and visually updated remake of a beloved 1998 shooter.

The House of the Dead 2: Remake offers a faithful resurrection of the 1998 original. It captures the memorable, wacky boss battles and infamously bad voice acting, all while boasting a significant visual upgrade. Watching zombies dismember with precise shots is a gory delight, and the enemy redesign feels both fresh and respectful.

The game includes plenty to do, with two campaign modes (original and arcade), a boss mode, and a training mode featuring challenges like protecting NPCs or destroying barrels under pressure. These modes help players get accustomed to the game’s mechanics on the Switch.

But let’s talk controls. The biggest hurdle for The House of the Dead 2: Remake is its limited and frustrating control options. Players are restricted to either analogue stick or gyro aiming, and neither feels ideal.

Gyro aiming, while promising on paper, is erratic. Despite tweaking sensitivity settings, hitting a sweet spot remains elusive. The aiming reticle can jump wildly when firing or drift inexplicably, forcing constant recalibration. It’s a far cry from a smooth experience.

Analogue controls offer more accuracy but require endless fiddling with sensitivity to find a comfortable setting. Even then, using a joystick for a light gun game feels inherently unintuitive. It’s telling that a 2008 port for the Wii reportedly feels superior.

It’s not unplayable, but a light gun game should be instantly fun. Having to constantly adjust settings to achieve a semblance of satisfaction is a major drawback, a problem that should have been addressed since the first Switch remake.

Ultimately, The House of the Dead 2: Remake is a welcome addition for fans. If you can look past the control issues and are willing to spend significant time in the settings menu, there’s enjoyment to be found. It’s a nostalgic trip, complete with its dated charm and notoriously bad ’90s voice acting. Just be sure to toggle the ‘Mute “Reload!” Scream’ option – you’ll thank me later.