I've always been a fan of arcade-style shooters and HotD: Overkill is one of my new favorites. From the very beginning you're thrust head-first into a 1970's style, cheesy [censored] horror movie that's absolutely crawling with zombies. (Oops, I mean "mutants". We don't like to use the Z-word.) The story seems to come straight out of Robert Rodriguez's "Planet Terror" with a well-endowed stripper, a detective that takes [censored] from no one, a mysterious secret agent, and a drug lord / mad scientist bent on world domination. The action is fast-paced and keeps you jumping as monsters crawl, stumble, and sprint from every corner of the screen. The game features a weapon upgrade system that, if used correctly, turns you into an unstoppable killing machine. There is also a combo system that increases with each kill and allows you to generate some ridiculous high scores.

The graphics are nothing great. While the levels are highly detailed, they're so dark that you can't tell unless you crank the brightness way up and the monsters and characters are grainy and pixelated. The over-the-top voice acting is more annoying than entertaining and their flagrant use of the word "[censored]" almost made me want to remove it permanently from my vocabulary. There are a few genuinely funny moments but for the most part they try way too hard to force humor down your throat. However, the soundtrack more than makes up for the [censored] commentary. I found myself laughing more at the songs, written by several different bands specifically for the game, than anything the characters had to say.

All this aside, the game is an absolute [censored] riot. The flying body parts and incredible blood sprays are intoxicating. After my first play-through I found myself fiending for more. So I played through again with the "Extra Mutants" option which does just what it promises and adds extra mutants. You can also unlock "Director's Cut" which adds more to the existing levels and gives the difficulty a bit of a boost. But wait, there's more... "Dual Wield" mode allows you to use a Wiimote in each hand to dish out some seriously devastating [censored] kicking. There are very few things as satisfying as tromping through a zombie (mutant) infested circus with an automatic shotgun in each hand blowing off arms and legs and heads as you bathe in an endless shower of blood.

If you are a hardcore fan of arcade shooters then I would recommend buying this game. To everyone else, rent it, have your fun, and move on. The story is shallow, the acting is horrible, but the carnage is magical.