Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The House of the Dead III remains faithful to its arcade roots while introducing a number of refinements that keep the action fresh. Players are guided along on-rails sections but are given critical branching paths at key moments, allowing for multiple playthrough experiences. Deciding to head left or right, or taking the elevator versus the staircase, can mean the difference between encountering wave after wave of shambling undead or stumbling into a boss chamber unprepared.

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Arguably the biggest mechanical innovation is the auto-reloading shotgun. Gone are the moments spent pumping manually between each barrel; instead, the weapon instantly refreshes its shells the moment the trigger is released. This change decreases downtime between volleys of lead, encouraging a more aggressive playstyle and ensuring the pacing never flags. Combined with a satisfying recoil animation and precise hit detection, every shot feels both powerful and responsive.

Cooperative play shines here, as two players can team up to clear corridors of enemies in tandem. The game supports link-ups between cabinets—or on the console version, two light guns plugged in—so friends can revive one another and cover blind spots. While aiming accuracy can sometimes be affected by calibration quirks, a quick adjustment at the start of each session ensures a smooth experience throughout.

Beyond standard zombie fodder, the game shakes things up with a variety of undead abominations and towering boss creatures. Some levels demand swift reflexes to dodge projectiles or environmental hazards, while others task you with target prioritization in high-density combat zones. These shifts in challenge keep each chapter feeling distinct, and repeated runs to discover hidden routes amplify the replay value.

Graphics

Leveraging the power of the Sega Chihiro arcade hardware, The House of the Dead III delivers a marked graphical leap over its predecessors. Textures are more detailed and environments more richly realized, from the glassed-in corporate atrium to the dripping subterranean labs. Reflections, dynamic lighting, and simulated particle effects all contribute to a palpable sense of dread in every corridor.

Character and monster models boast higher polygon counts than before, allowing for more grotesque and varied creature designs. You’ll see limbs twist at unnatural angles, sinewy muscle fibers writhing beneath shredded flesh, and textured wounds that react convincingly to each shotgun blast. While some textures can blur at extreme close range, the overall effect remains impressively visceral.

Cutscenes between levels help convey the story beats, complete with motion-captured animations and synchronized voiceovers. Although the acting sometimes veers into camp, the presentation ensures that narrative interludes never feel like an afterthought. In-game transitions are seamless, and load times are minimal, preserving immersion from start to finish.

Story

Twenty years after the events of The House of the Dead II, veteran agent G and his partner, Lisa Rogan, embark on a desperate hunt for Lisa’s missing father, Thomas. Their investigation leads them to the grand headquarters of the Amadeus Corporation—a sleek yet ominous complex that has become overrun with deadly creatures straight from the depths of the afterlife. The stakes are clear from the first scene: find the missing scientist and stop the horror before it spreads beyond the facility’s walls.

Although the narrative itself follows familiar B-movie conventions—an ominous megacorp, a family in peril, and hordes of the undead—the game makes up for its simplicity with atmosphere. Flickering lights, echoing footsteps, and ominous voice prompts heighten tension as you delve deeper into corporate back hallways and secret labs. Each new sector reveals hints of Amadeus’s twisted experiments, with logs and voice recordings painting the picture of a disaster about to unfold.

Dialogue is functional rather than flashy, but Lisa and Agent G’s banter strikes the right balance between camaraderie and urgency. Moments of silence punctuated by sudden ambushes remind you that the story isn’t just window dressing—it’s the thread that glues the action together. In the final stages, as the team confronts a gargantuan boss creature, the stakes feel personal and immediate, lending weight to every shot fired.

Overall Experience

The House of the Dead III stands as one of the most polished entries in the series, marrying relentless arcade action with modernized mechanics that respect the franchise’s legacy. Its branching paths, new auto-reloading shotgun, and cooperative play ensure that each session feels both familiar and surprising. Whether you’re a series veteran or a newcomer seeking a high-octane light-gun shooter, there’s plenty to enjoy here.

Despite a relatively short runtime—most playthroughs clock in around 30–45 minutes—the incentive to uncover every hidden corridor and alternate ending dramatically boosts replayability. Leaderboards, performance metrics, and the simple joy of chaining together headshots all beckon for just one more run. In an era when single-player shooters can often overstay their welcome, The House of the Dead III’s focused, bite-sized thrills remain a refreshing change of pace.

Its only real drawbacks lie in occasional calibration hiccups and a narrative that might feel underdeveloped to those seeking deeper plot twists. Otherwise, the game’s striking visuals, heart-pounding pacing, and satisfying gunplay deliver a cohesive package that holds up even years after its original release. For fans of arcade shooters or anyone craving a dose of undead-slaying carnage, this is one house you’ll want to revisit time and again.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10