You also have the option to play minigames like survivor (sort of like Horde Mode in Gears of War 2, wherein you fight wave after wave of enemies). They’re fun diversions, but the real meat here is in the story mode. Nonetheless, you can play each of them competitively with up to three friends, and they are worth a run through in order to practice those sharp-shooting skills.

Some may take issue with the game’s length. Frankly, I found it to be beefy enough for a lightgun game, and the co-op adds welcome replay value to the experience. Also, playing through the story mode once unlocks a longer, tougher “director’s cut” that offers new paths through the established scenarios. Still, unlike say Left 4 Dead, which has few stages but nearly limitless replay value, Overkill offers up the same ride each time you blast through a level. It’s a great ride, sure, but there’s only so many times you can get through “Scream Train” before things start to get stale.

The controls are a bit spotty – the Wiimote still has some shaky sensitivity issues and a game like this requires some serious sharp shooting. As such, the difficulty appears to have been dialed down a hair to accommodate the discrepancy. It’s a bit of a cheap trade-off, but it works.

The graphics are a little drab, dark and sometimes muddy. They’re stylish, with that characteristic film grain and flicker in the scripted scenes, but the darkness can be annoying when you’re trying not to get shanked by a shambling mutant construction worker. Thankfully, the sound makes up for it all. The music is incredible – you’re slaughtering the undead to slick, funky tunes that fit the 70s comedy/horror/schlock aesthetic perfectly. The voice acting is superb – it’s rare that a game actually has me laughing instead of rolling my eyes, but Overkill has the goods.

On a system that’s overcrowded with squeaky-clean casual games and Nintendo’s own family friendly fare, Overkill is like a breath of hot, sweaty, violent air. This is a hardcore game made with the gamer demographic in mind – try bringing this puppy to the family get-together and you may find yourself on the receiving end of a particularly angry lecture from your mother. Unless, of course, your mother has a sense of humor and enjoyed the hell out of Planet Terror. In that case, hand over a second Wiimote and enjoy.

In all seriousness, this game is exactly what Wii owners need. It’s fun, funny, violent and tuned right in to the sensibilities of the hardcore. If you love bad B-movies, and you like shooting things, this is a total no-brainer – no pun intended.

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