The Typing of the Dead | 2000
The Typing of the Dead is an arcade game developed by WOW Entertainment and published by Sega for NAOMI hardware. It was released in Japanese arcades in 1999 and later ported to the Sega Dreamcast by Smilebit in 2001. A Microsoft Windows version followed in 2000, and a PlayStation 2 port was released in 2004.
The game is a modified version of Sega's 1998 light gun arcade game The House of the Dead 2, replacing firearms with a computer keyboard. Players assume the role of a secret agent in a zombie-infested Venice, where they must quickly type letters, words, and phrases to defeat enemies.
Categorized as "edutainment," the game received praise from mainstream game critics for its humor, difficulty, and originality. The PC version sold 120,000 copies by 2003.
The PlayStation 2 port, titled The Typing of the Dead: Zombie Panic, was released in late December 2004 in Japan. This version came packaged with a USB keyboard and largely retained the original content, although the Dreamcast backpack was replaced with a PlayStation 2 equivalent, and new mini-games were added to the storyline. A sequel, The Typing of the Dead 2, was released in Japan in 2007. Another variant, English of the Dead, was launched as a language-learning game for Nintendo DS in Japan in 2008. In 2012, an iOS remake titled Flick of the Dead was released, followed by Typing of the Dead: Overkill for Windows in October 2013, based on The House of the Dead: Overkill.
The Typing of the Dead is often described as a remake or mod of the original The House of the Dead 2. The game retains the first-person rail shooter style but requires players to type words or phrases to defeat zombies and other enemies instead of shooting them. Words or phrases appear in boxes alongside enemies, and as the game progresses, the length and complexity of these inputs increase. Other retained features include challenges to rescue structures that alter game paths and hidden secrets and bonus items throughout.
Each level contains challenge areas where players must defeat a certain number of zombies within a time limit, culminating in a boss fight that often involves typing longer sentences or answering questions correctly. The console ports offer "Original" and "Arcade" modes for the main storyline, along with additional typing training modes such as "Tutorial," "Drill," and "Boss." Most other changes are superficial, such as replacing the weapons used by zombies with harmless items and providing AMS agents with battery-powered keyboards connected to the Sega Dreamcast.
The plot closely follows that of The House of the Dead 2. It begins on February 26, 2000, as several AMS agents are sent to investigate a zombie outbreak in Venice, Italy. Players can control two characters, James and Gary, who are tasked with finding the original game's "G" and restoring order. The outbreak is traced back to a banker and scientist named Goldman, who aims to end human dominion over the Earth. The game primarily focuses on defeating Goldman's creations, culminating in a final boss battle against "The Emperor." Depending on players' answers to questions during the fight, one of three humorous endings can occur.
Endings
There are three possible endings:
Explosion Ending: After defeating the Emperor, players witness Goldman falling from a building, leading to an explosion upon impact. This ending is achieved by answering honestly during the boss fight.
Bungee Ending: Similar to the first ending, but Goldman is attached to a bungee cord and returns to his original spot to trim. This ending requires a mix of honest and dishonest answers during the boss fight.
Superman Ending: Like the first ending, but Goldman bids farewell to the player and rises into the sky with his hand raised. This ending is reached by answering dishonestly during the boss fight.
The Typing of the Dead was initially released in Japanese arcades in 1999 through a special cabinet featuring dual QWERTY keyboards. It was one of the first projects from Smilebit, a Sega development team that had recently spun off into a new company.
The first home console release occurred on March 30, 2000, for the Sega Dreamcast in Japan, followed by a North American release the following January. The PC port was produced by Empire Interactive and released in September 2001. A second PC version, Typing of the Dead 2003, included higher resolution support and new characters with Japanese voice acting in a "Kids Mode," but was only released in Japan. Several additional Japan-exclusive PC versions were released later, with the original PC version becoming available on GameTap in October 2007.
In Japan, Game Machine ranked The Typing of the Dead as the fourth most successful dedicated arcade game in its March 15, 2000 issue.
Overall, The Typing of the Dead was well-received by critics, with review aggregation site Metacritic indicating "favorable" reviews across both platforms. The game was nominated for GameSpot's annual "Most Innovative Console Game" award, though the award ultimately went to Grand Theft Auto III.
Japanese magazine Famitsu rated the Dreamcast version 35 out of 40, with reviewers praising the game's absurd humor, particularly the bizarre phrases generated in the later levels, which were seen as a strength against the original game's weak voice acting.
The game's graphical quality, however, did not see updates from the original arcade version, leading to various criticisms. PC World expressed disappointment in the game's premise, ranking it second in their "Worst Games" list.
Game Informer even named it one of the strangest games of all time.
