The Typing of the Dead
The Typing of the Dead Box Art (original Japanese Dreamcast)
The Typing of the Dead Box Art (original Japanese Dreamcast)
Japanese Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)WOW Entertainment
Smilebit
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Masamitsu Shiino
Producer(s)Rikiya Nakagawa
Shun Arai
Composer(s)Tetsuya Kawauchi
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast, Windows, PlayStation 2,
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: 1999 (1999)
Dreamcast
  • JP: March 30, 2000
  • NA: January 23, 2001
Windows
  • JP: December 7, 2000
  • NA: September 23, 2001
PlayStation 2
  • JP: December 22, 2004
iOS
May 10, 2012
Genre(s)Survival horror, educational
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

The Typing of the Dead[lower-alpha 1] is an arcade game that was developed by WOW Entertainment and published by Sega for the NAOMI hardware. The game was released in Japanese arcades in 1999 and was ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 2001 by Smilebit. A Microsoft Windows version was released in 2000 and a PlayStation 2 port followed in 2004.[1]

The Typing of the Dead is a modification of Sega's 1998 light gun arcade game The House of the Dead 2 in which the gun is replaced by a computer keyboard. The player takes the role of a secret agent in a zombie-infested Venice and must quickly type letters, words and phrases in order to kill fast-advancing enemies.[2]

Despite falling under the criteria of "edutainment", the game was lauded by mainstream game critics for its humor, difficulty and originality.[2][3] The PC version of The Typing of the Dead sold 120,000 units in 2003.[4]

A PlayStation 2 port was called The Typing of the Dead: Zombie Panic. This version was released in Japan in late December 2004 and was packaged with a USB keyboard. The game was mostly unchanged, although the Dreamcast backpacks were replaced with PlayStation 2 backpacks and new minigames were incorporated into the main story.[5][6] A sequel, The Typing of the Dead 2, was released in Japan in 2007. English of the Dead, another revision of House of the Dead 2, was released as a language-learning game for the Nintendo DS in Japan in 2008.[7] In 2012, an iOS remake was released entitled Flick of the Dead.[8] Typing of the Dead: Overkill, based on The House of the Dead: Overkill, was released on Windows in October 2013.

Gameplay

A screen in which the player must type the names of flowers to kill zombies

The Typing of the Dead has been described variously as a remake or as a mod of the original The House of the Dead 2. It retains the original's first-person rail shooter style, but instead of shooting zombies and other enemies the player must type out words or phrases to kill them. The required word, sentence or phrase is displayed in a box that appears with the enemy. The phrases' length and complexity increase as the game progresses.[9][10] Other features retained include the rescue challenges that alter the path the game takes to its final destination and the secrets and bonus items hidden throughout the game.[3]

All levels contain specific challenge areas in which the player is required to kill a certain number of zombies in a limited time. These end with a boss battle that uses some altered form of usual gameplay, such as a long phrase or a question whose answer must be correctly typed.[10] The console ports have "Original" and "Arcade" modes for the main storyline and "Tutorial," "Drill," and "Boss" modes for additional typing training.[2] Most other changes are superficial, such as replacement of the weapons wielded by zombies with harmless items and equipping the AMS agents with keyboards attached to backpack Sega Dreamcasts with oversized batteries.[2]

Plot

The plot of the game closely follows that of House of the Dead 2.[2] The story begins on February 26, 2000, when several AMS agents have been dispatched to investigate a zombie outbreak in Venice, Italy. The player can control two characters, James and Gary, who are sent to find the original game's "G" and then tasked with restoring order.[11] Responsibility for the outbreaks is soon traced to "Goldman," a banking tycoon and scientist who attempts to end human control of the earth. Much of the game revolves around destroying Goldman's creations, concluding with the final boss of "the Emperor." One of three possible humorous ending sequences occurs, depending on the answers given to the questions asked to defeat the Emperor.[12]

Endings

There are three possible endings:

  • Explosion ending: The character defeats the Emperor, then sees Goldman committing suicide by falling off the building. An explosion is seen as Goldman hits the ground. This ending is achieved by typing honest answers to questions asked in the boss fight.
  • Bungee ending: This is similar to the first, but a bungee cord can be seen attached to Goldman's leg. Goldman returns to where he was and belches. This ending is achieved by typing a combination of honest and untruthful or strange answers to questions asked in the boss fight.
  • Superman ending: This is similar to the first, but as Goldman bids farewell to the narrator, he raises his hands and rises into the sky. This ending is achieved by typing untruthful answers to questions asked in the boss fight.

Releases

An original arcade cabinet of the game

The Typing of the Dead was originally released for arcades in Japan in 1999 with a special cabinet equipped with dual QWERTY keyboards.[10][13] The game was one of the first developments by Smilebit, a team of Sega developers that had recently spun off as a new company.[14]

The first home console release was for the Japanese Sega Dreamcast market on March 30, 2000. The North American release took place the following January.[15] A PC port was produced by Empire Interactive and released in September 2001.[16] A second PC release, Typing of the Dead 2003, featuring support for higher resolution and a "Kid's mode" featuring a new character with Japanese voice acting, was released in Japan only; several other Japanese-exclusive PC versions followed. The original PC version was made available on GameTap in October 2007.[17]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed The Typing of the Dead on their March 15, 2000 issue as being the fourth most-successful dedicated arcade game of the month.[36]

The Typing of the Dead was regarded overall by critics as an enjoyable game, receiving "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[18][19] It was nominated for GameSpot's annual "Most Innovative" prize among console games, which went to Grand Theft Auto III.[37]

In Japan, Famitsu gave the Dreamcast version a score of 35 out of 40.[25] Reviewers appreciated the absurdist humor of the game's format, especially in the unusual phrases the game generates during later levels.[3][9][10] The sub-par voice acting of the original House of the Dead 2 was considered to enhance this aspect of the game.[9][30][31]

The quality of the graphics was criticized to varying degrees, as they had not been updated from the original House of the Dead 2 arcade version.[31][38] PC World was so unimpressed with the game's premise that they listed it as a runner up on a "Top Ten Worst Games" list.[39]

Game Informer has named the game the weirdest of all time.[40]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ザ・タイピング・オブ・ザ・デッド, Hepburn: Za Taipingu obu za Deddo

References

  1. ↑ "Typing of the Dead: Arcade Data". Arcade Museum. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chau, Anthony (2001-01-23). "Typing of the Dead (DC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gantayat, Anoop (2000-04-24). "The Typing of the Dead (Import) (DC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  4. ↑ "Consolidated Financial Results for the Year ended March 31, 2003" (PDF). Sega. 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  5. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (2004-09-17). "Typing of the Dead to PS2". IGN. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  6. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (2004-09-24). "The Typing of the Dead: Zombie Panic Hands-On". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  7. ↑ Fletcher, J.C. (2008-02-06). "Learn English like G did". DS Fanboy. Archived from the original on 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  8. ↑ Spencer (2012-05-09). "Text Or Die! Typing Of The Dead Gets iOS Remake". Siliconera. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  9. 1 2 3 4 zerothreat (2001-02-20). "The Typing of the Dead". PlanetDreamcast. Archived from the original on 2009-01-25. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "The Typing of the Dead". Just Games Retro. 2007-03-31. Archived from the original on 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  11. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (1999-09-08). "House of the Dead 2 (DC)". IGN. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  12. ↑ Gene (2000-05-15). "The Typing of the Dead FAQ". passagen.se. Archived from the original on 2003-07-05. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  13. ↑ "Typing of the Dead". Killer List of Videogames. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  14. ↑ "Smilebit Games". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  15. ↑ Kollin, Mike (2000-03-28). "Sega Keys In Some More Typing Of The Dead Information". IGN. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  16. ↑ Walker, Trey (2001-09-24). "Typing of the Dead now available". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  17. ↑ Sliwinski, Alexander (2007-09-19). "GameTap gets Typing of the Dead in October". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 2007-09-25. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  18. 1 2 "The Typing of the Dead Critic Reviews for Dreamcast". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  19. 1 2 "The Typing of the Dead Critic Reviews for PC". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  20. ↑ Frankle, Gavin. "The Typing of the Dead (DC) – Overview". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  21. ↑ Knight, Kyle. "The Typing of the Dead (PC) – Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  22. 1 2 Edge staff (January 2001). "Typing of the Dead". Edge. No. 93.
  23. ↑ EGM Staff (March 2001). "The Typing of the Dead (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on 2001-03-09. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  24. ↑ Taylor, Martin (2001-02-15). "Typing of the Dead Review (PC)". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  25. 1 2 "ドリームキャスト - THE TYPING OF THE DEAD". Famitsu. Vol. 915. 2006-06-30. p. 41.
  26. ↑ "週刊ファミ通クロスレビュープラチナ殿堂入りソフト一覧" [Weekly Famitsu Cross Review Platinum Hall of Fame Software List]. Geimin (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 27, 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "The Typing of the Dead (DC)". Game Informer. No. 94. February 2001.
  28. ↑ Dan Elektro (2001-01-26). "The Typing of the Dead Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  29. ↑ Liu, Johnny (February 2001). "Typing of The Dead Review (DC)". Game Revolution. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  30. 1 2 Gerstmann, Jeff (2000-04-11). "The Typing of the Dead Review (DC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  31. 1 2 3 Park, Andrew (2001-10-09). "The Typing of the Dead Review (PC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  32. ↑ Bub, Andrew S. (October 2001). "The Typing of the Dead (PC)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 2004-09-09. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  33. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (2001-10-09). "Typing of the Dead Review – PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  34. ↑ Sulic, Ivan (2001-10-04). "Typing of the Dead (PC)". IGN. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  35. ↑ Kuo, Li C. (2001-12-25). "The Typing of the Dead". PC Gamer: 68. Archived from the original on 2006-03-15. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  36. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 606. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 March 2000. p. 17.
  37. ↑ GameSpot VG Staff (February 23, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst Video Games of 2001". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002.
  38. ↑ Bock, Dave. "Typing of the Dead". Monsters At Play. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  39. ↑ Townsend, Ermu (2006-10-23). "The 10 Worst Games of All Time". PC World. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  40. ↑ "The Top 10 Weirdest Games of All Time". Game Informer. No. 180. April 2008. p. 28.
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