A Classic Arcade Experience

If you’ve never played the original, the game is a straightforward rail-shooter. You play as an AMS agent fighting through hordes of zombies and monsters in the mansion of the mad scientist Dr. Curien to save your fiancée. The story is campy and bare-bones, but that’s part of its charm; you’re here for the action, not the narrative.

The core loop is simple yet satisfying: shoot enemies, avoid hitting innocent scientists, and defeat extravagant bosses. A single playthrough of the four chapters is short, taking about 30 minutes. However, the game encourages replayability with multiple pathways, different endings, and a mission to save all scientists in one run to unlock powerful new weapons like an assault rifle and a grenade launcher.

Gameplay and Control Considerations

The most critical aspect of any light-gun game is the controls, and this is the remake’s biggest talking point. Since modern TVs and the Switch don’t support old-style light guns, the developers had to get creative, with mixed results.

The game offers several control schemes, and your enjoyment will heavily depend on finding the one that works for you. The critical consensus is that the default analog-stick controls are serviceable but can feel “lifeless”. The gyro controls, which mimic pointing a gun, are more fun but are widely reported to be wildly inaccurate and prone to frustrating “gyro-drift”.

Many reviewers found a hybrid approach to be the most effective method.

Control Method	Description	Best For
Analog Stick	Move crosshair with thumbstick	Players who value precision over immersion
Gyro Aiming	Tilt Joy-Con/Pro Controller to aim	Players seeking an arcade-like feel (requires patience)
Hybrid (Recommended)	Thumbstick for large movements, gyro for fine-tuning	Most players; offers a balance of speed and control

Beyond controls, the game has some technical issues. Reviewers noted occasional frame rate stutters and, most consistently, painfully long loading screens between chapters.

Cup of Coffee or Game Verdict

So, is this remake worth your $2.49, or should you stick with a premium brew?

• ✅ A Steal at This Price: For less than the cost of a coffee, you get a faithful remake of a beloved arcade classic. The core shooting is still fun, and features like local co-op, multiple difficulty settings, a new “Horde Mode,” and different scoring systems add significant replay value. If you have a friend to play with, the experience is even better.
• ❌ Maybe Skip It If: You have zero patience for finicky controls or are sensitive to technical hiccups like long load times. If you’re looking for a deep, lengthy narrative, this isn’t the game for you.

The Bottom Line: The House of the Dead: Remake is an easy recommendation for this series. Its flaws are real, but at $2.49, the price of admission is a bargain for the chaotic, nostalgic fun it provides. It’s a perfect game to pick up for short bursts or a co-op session.

I hope this helps you decide! If you do pick it up, I’d recommend starting with the hybrid control scheme to save yourself some initial frustration. What other classic arcade games would you like to see featured in this series?