The Typing of the Dead FAQ v1.17 by Gene (2/11/01) The Typing of the Dead Release date: 3/30/00 Japan 1-2 Players 1 Disc Memory: 22 Blocks Genre: Typing Game Dreamcast Keyboard Required, VGA Box Support Introduction Frequently Asked Questions How to play / Controls Play Modes Strategy Item List Endings Secrets Miscellaneous I Introduction --------------- This is the FAQ for the Japanese Dreamcast game The Typing of the Dead. The game was released on 3/30/00 in Japan only. There are plans to release the game in America or Europe, but this FAQ will deal only with the Japanese version. This game is a typing game that requires the Dreamcast keyboard. It can be purchased separately. The game sells for 4800yen. A Dreamcast keyboard pack-in option is also available for 8800yen. The game can be played with one or two players. The keyboards are used in ports one and two, with the VMUs used in three or four (a bit of a pain) You cannot play the game without the keyboard. The game is the same engine as the House of the Dead 2 (also available on the Dreamcast). Instead of shooting the zombies, you must type the word that appears on the screen. The game also appeared in the Arcades in Japan for a while, complete with keyboards. The game is quite addictive and surprisingly fun. The typing aspect offers quite a bit of tension. The game received excellent reviews from the Japanese magazines (including Famitsu), but has not sold well. This is probably due to the relative unpopularity of the Dreamcast in Japan and the few number of keyboard users in the Dreamcast community. II Frequently Asked Questions ----------------------------- Q: Can I play this game in the US? A: Sega plans to release an English version. But, you can play this game in the US or Europe, it is widely available on the internet through the various importers (Tronix is my favorite). The game can be played with the US keyboard, assuming that you have hacked or modded your Dreamcast to play import games (or with the swap trick). The words are Japanese, but you type in English. The only difficulty is the 3rd stage boss (Tower) when you are asked questions in Japanese and given three options. I usually guess if I don't know. But the game is fun and playable even if you have limited knowledge of Japanese. Q: I am playing with a US keyboard, but can't type some of the special characters, especially, the Yen. How can I do it? A: Well, I don't really have an answer here. I don't think that Sega planned on supporting a game outside of its market. Obviously, you have imported the game and are playing it in the US. I just don't think that it can be done on a US keyboard. Sure, Drill mode is going to be a problem, but otherwise, things should run okay. Q: How hard is the game? A: Well, I find it rather difficult. The phrases on the final stages get quite long and it is by no means an easy game. I have slightly above average typing skills and I got at least 30 hours of playing time out of it. Q: Do I need the Keyboard to play? A: YES! One is required and two makes it tons of fun. Q: Graphically speaking, what is changed from The House of the Dead 2? A: Not much really, but the changes are funny. Instead of guns, the characters have keyboards and Dreamcasts strapped to their backs. It looks quite hilarious. Otherwise, there isn't much difference. There are three endings now to the game, rather than just the one in The House of the Dead 2. But, the bosses are all the same, and so are the levels. There are some minor differences in the zombie's weapons. Sometimes they carry golf clubs, tennis rackets, bananas, etc. It can look quite amusing. Q: Is the VMU required to play the game? Are there any VMU games? A: The VMU is not required to play, but it is highly recommended. The game saves a lot of info (like new options) and it would be tiring to do that every time. It takes 22 blocks of memory. There are no VMU games in The Typing of the Dead. Q: Why does the word / phrase change when I am typing it sometimes? A: There are two ways of entering the letter "N". Usually in a Japanese word processor, you press "N" twice to enter the character "N". The game switches between pressing "N" once or twice automatically. You can use either method to enter the words, but the game will switch the display automatically for you. Similarly, you can enter "shi" as "si" or "shi" with the keyboard. III How to play / Controls --------------------------- The game requires the Dreamcast keyboard. Enter is the equivalent of the Start button. It is used to begin and continue during the game. Arrow keys direct the movement in the menus. The player must type the Japanese words as they appear to destroy the zombies. Each button is similar to a bullet in The House of The Dead 2. A mistyped letter represents a missed bullet, etc. The Kanji of the word appears in the top line, with the Romaji or English below (both are typed exactly the same). The players can change the input of the keyboard from Kana to regular input in the options mode. The player receives a Rank from A - E after destroying each zombie depending on their speed. There is a Perfect gauge in the top left corner of the screen. If the player scores perfect, the gauge rises a little. Once the gauge is filled completely, the player is rewarded with a Life +1, but cannot exceed their maximum. Also, the current streak of Perfects is displayed below the gauge. Each stage has a Mission. The first stage's Mission is to destroy ten zombies in thirty seconds, without taking any damage. If you take damage, the mission is automatically failed. When completing a mission, a player is rewarded with a random item. You can re-start typing a word by pressing the Esc key. This is helpful with the Axe throwing Zombies. For example, midway typing the word "taimingu", the zombie throws an axe, the "q", so you can press Esc, hit "q" and re-type "taimingu" to avoid the damage from the axe. F1-F4 controls the use of items in Original Mode. Pause brings up the pause screen (a blank screen with the word Pause) and pauses the game until it is pressed again. Ctrl-Alt-Del is used to soft boot the system. F12 is used in the Drill mode to return to the menu. After each stage, there is a scoring screen. Scoring depends on your accumulated Ranks, Accuracy percentage, Rescued civilians, Mission completion, etc. There is a thermometer looking gauge on the left, with the Average and Top scoring. Here, the player also enters his or her name if a High score is achieved. IV Play Modes ------------- Arcade Mode ----------- This is the regular mode that is the same as the arcade. You are given two options when selecting Arcade mode: Training or Story Mode Training Mode This is basically a part of the second stage, beginning with the first building. It only lasts a couple of minutes. Story Mode This is the regular play mode. Once you begin, you can select any of the first five stages. The sixth stage remains locked until you beat the fifth stage. If you jump ahead a stage, you can't go back to an earlier one. Original Mode ------------- This is the Dreamcast only mode. The only difference is that you may use some of the items collected during the game by pressing F1-F4. (see Item List) After the scoring screen, there is an additional coin screen. Characters may receive a coin depending on their skill in completing that level. Every five coins, the player is rewarded with a present. Here are the list of coin objectives and presents. Coin awarded for each of the following: (only receive each coin once) - Stage cleared - 4000 points or more (can vary per chapter) - 95% or better accuracy - Every zombie Rank A - Stage cleared using no continues 5 coins - 5 life available in option mode 10 coins - start with 2 firebombs in Original mode 15 coins - 9 continues available in option mode 20 coins - 6th stage playable from start 25 coins - Free play 30 coins - item bonus? Tutorial Mode ------------- This mode teaches the player how to type and tests their ability with a number of tests. Drill Mode ---------- This mode tests the player's ability in Speed, Accuracy, Reflex, Special Keys, and a final test. At the beginning, only the first levels are accessible. After receiving a Level 3 grade, you can pass on to the next test of that mode. After all the tests are completed with a Level 3 grade, you can access the Final Test. Generally, these are the same graphically as in The House of The Dead 2. There is the Flipping Coin, the Docks, the Underground parking area, etc. The player is shown a result screen with level achieved and problem keys. Boss Mode --------- Similar to The House of the Dead 2, players can fight the bosses. There are five levels in each boss, and "fight All bosses" option. Ranking ------- Here players may view their scores in the various levels, including drill and boss modes. Options ------- Difficulty (Arcade / Original) - Very Easy to Very Hard Life (Arcade / Original) - Begins at three, can unlock up to five Continues (Arcade / Original) - Begins at five, can unlock up to nine Input Method - Romaji or Kana input Word Size - Large or Normal (not much of a difference) Audio - Stereo or Mono Sound Test Special Effects Sound Test Music - Test sounds Blood Effects - On / Off (red gore not available in The Typing of the Dead) Display Adjustment - Allows you to change the size of the display Password Entry -------------- Similar to NFL2k, Players may enter passwords, which have effects on the game system. Once entered correctly, you will hear a woman's scream. Here are the passwords that I know: SSNTWHU - Unlocks 9 Continue option in the options menu. NJYUUDO - Unlocks FREE PLAY option in the options menu. WORDBOX - ??? V Strategy ----------- First Chapter The first chapter isn't really too difficult. The second civilian is difficult for beginners to save and the third civilian is even harder. The paths are not that different in difficult. The Mission is really quite easy. Kill ten zombies in thirty seconds. Boss: Judgment The boss is rather easy too. At first, you must type quickly before Karl hits you with his large axe. After killing Karl off, you must shoot the gargoyle once the counter reaches zero. Second Chapter The second chapter is longer and a bit more difficult. The first civilian in the car is really hard, but if you are quick, you are rewarded with a shorter and easier path. The Mission is really simple. Some of the zombies require only one key to kill. This path takes you to the key area. Always get the key. I think that it leads to the easiest ending. The hawks are hard, but everything else is easy. If you cannot save the first civilian, you have to go through the building. The second civilian is also a bit hard. After leaving the building, you get the mission. It is easy, but not as easy as the other route. Kill ten zombies in thirty seconds. Boss: Heirophant The fish guy. Actually he is really easy in the Typing of the Dead, and much harder in the House of the Dead 2. For the first part, his words will phase in and out. The player can only type them when the words are in-phase. It is really pretty easy. Afterwards, he jumps at you and you just have to type fast to kill him off. Third Chapter The third chapter is shorter than the second, but there are a lot of quick enemies, like piranha and bats. The best way to go is to save the gatekeeper. He can open the gate, which leads to the easiest type of boss. The mission is another kill ten zombies in thirty seconds. Boss: Tower This is the hardest boss for non-Japanese players. A question is asked and there are three options (one for each head). I usually have to guess unless it is an easy one, and I end up using a ton of continues here. After the questions, the last head snakes out of the room and into either the waterfall or sand ruins area. The key here is to be quick, but I think that the sand ruins area is easier. ** From Jerry Hsu : The key to this strategy is that just before the boss attacks due to running out of time, the wrong answers disappear and you have a split second to finish typing the right answer. So if you are in two players mode, each player picks one head and types everything up to the last letter. When the boss then is about to strike, whoever has the right head finishes the letter. You've got a 2 out of 3 chance of getting it right and chances are you won't run out of continues. Additionally, in 2 player mode, an entering player gets a free hit if there's any words on the screen. Fourth Chapter This level has a lot of pathways, and the zombies require a lot of typing. Furthermore, there are two sets of bats which you have to type quickly. The major pathway is saving the civilian who is being pulled down the hole. I think that it is best to let him die because it leads to the easiest ending. There is a mission at the start of this level. You must survive the thirty seconds to receive the random item. It can be hard because sometimes zombies throw items at you when you are typing a long phrase. Boss: Strength This boss is difficult. There are three sets of long phrases that you have to type to damage him. It can be tiring. But, you only have to do it several times to kill him off. Fifth Chapter This board is difficult mainly because of the bosses, specifically the final one. The hardest enemy is the zombie that shoots out the leech when killed. It can be difficult to shoot quickly. First, you must fight Judgment again, followed by Heirophant. Just before Magician, there is a difficult part. There are three enemies. You must shoot the middle one first, followed by the one on the right and finally the left. There are no missions in this level. Boss: Magician At the start, you must relax and type accurately. If you miss one letter, you lose a life. It can be difficult at times. Then, he shoots fireballs at you. There are three fireballs you must hit. The words get longer if you are successful and shorter if you are not. You have to hit him six times, and you are almost guaranteed to lose some life. Final Chapter The final level is inside Goldman's headquarters. There are no paths here. The enemies are quite long, but the real difficulty is the Tower boss that you have to re-fight just before the final boss, Emperor. There are two mission in this level and no pathways. The first mission is very difficult. You must destroy seven zombies without losing a life. Finally, before Emperor there is an easy mission. You must survive the thirty seconds without losing a life. Boss: Emperor He is difficult because not he shoots these balls at you and you have to type quickly. He changes into the other bosses, but these parts are where you can do the most damage to him. Finally, there are three questions, but whether you get the questions right or not only gives you a different ending. VI Item List ------------ Arcade Mode Life +1 Diamond (+100 points) Category (allows the next set of zombies to have similar words or phrases which allows easier typing) Boss Category (allows the boss to have similar words or phrases which usually allows easier typing) Strength potion (makes enemies stronger = longer words) Needles (Red, Green, Blue and makes opponents weaker = shorter words) Original Mode Life +1 Diamond (+100 points) Strength potion (makes enemies stronger = longer words) Needles (Red, Green, Blue and makes opponents weaker = shorter words) Category (allows the next set of zombies to have similar words or phrases, usually allows easier typing) Boss Category (allows the boss to have similar words or phrases which usually allows easier typing) The Original Mode also has the following items which are accessed through the Function Keys. These items may be carried over between stages, but may be used only once. Vitamins (increases Life) Golden Hands (Any key is correct. This last about 10 seconds) Purple Potion (damages opponent) Health Potion (protects the player for a few seconds from attack) Firebomb (damages opponent) VII Endings ----------- Endings ------- - There are three different endings for the game. What ending you see depends on the final three questions asked when fighting Emperor, the last boss. - If you answer zero correctly, you see the explosion ending. Here, Goldman jumps off and there is an explosion when he nears the ground. - If you answer 1-2 correctly, you see the bungee ending. Here, Goldman jumps off of the building and bungees back up to the top and burps. - If you answer all three correctly, you see the flying ending. Here, Goldman flies off the top of the screen. Staff Roll / Vs. Cpu Mode ------------------------- - After completing the game in The House of The Dead 2, the player is shown escaping the building with the credits and finally seeing all of the rescued civilians at the end. The Typing of the Dead is different. - Here, the player sees a wide-screen view of ten tubes with zombies inside. The credits roll at the bottom of the screen in Kanji and Romaji. The player types the names and frees the zombies from their tubes. Once freed, the zombies dance to the music of the ending. There are ten categories of personnel, and if you type all of the names in that category, you free a zombie. - Once all of the zombies are freed, a password is given and Vs. Cpu Mode is unlocked. - Vs. Cpu Mode is a two-player option for Arcade and Original modes. After Chapter select, a special Vs. Cpu Mode screen is presented. The player may choose from five characters to join as the second player. The computer controls the player and types for you. There are originally only three characters and the final two are unlocked by beating the game with the others. The five characters have different abilities in speed, accuracy, etc. -- Arcade Mode Staff Roll Original Mode Staff Roll -------------------------- ------------------------ Arai Shun Arai Shun Nakagawa Rikiya Nakagaw Rikiya Kawagoeta Kayuki Kawagoeta Kayuki Shimamura Masato Shimamura Masato Ichikawa Hiroshi Kawase Satoshi Kawase Satoshi Tanaka Tomoharu Tanaka Tomoharu Takanashi Makoto Takana Shimakoto Shimura Keisuke Shimura Keisuke Kouzaki Tatsuya Kawauchi Tetsuya Kumatani Fumie Tomita Haruyoshi Nakamura Teruaki Kenda Nanae Takahashi Naoto Ueda Tensei Ueda Tensei Nakamura Teruaki Watanabe Isao Hironaka Yoshinori Hironaka Yoshinori Takahashi Naoto Satouo Samu Sugita Masahiro Oouchi Takayoshi Araki Mika Hisada Hiromichi Hisada Hiromichi Satou Yoshinao Satou Yoshinao Ooto Kouji Ooto Kouji The House of the Dead 2 ti-mu The House of the Dead 2 ti-mu Iidana Ohiko Murahashi Takashi Ogawa Eiichi Tamaizumi Shunsuke Kawauchi Tetsuya Takase Katsuya Takase Katsuya Shiino Masamitsu Dori-mukyasuto Magajin Henshuubu Famitsuu DC Henshuubu Dengekidori-mukyasuto Henshuubu Shuukanfamitsuu Henshuubu Moriyata Kuji Imase Kenichi Watanabe Kouichi Desumasu Yarou Jun Satou Yuuji Kuuzyou Q Tarou Hiro Kun Auri-Pu Baka Purio Gonzaaoi Shiino Masamitsu VIII Secrets ------------- - Sometimes when you finish the first stage, your player turns into a zombie or a civilian after destroying the boss. Weird... I have no idea what triggers this. - Along with the zombies, there is a monkey in the test tubes in Goldman's headquarters. - Sometimes, Big Head mode is activated without using a password. - One of the categories you can receive is a Sega Game System category. You have to type the words, Super 32x, Mega Drive and even Dricas 2.. Strange. IX Miscellaneous ----------------- This FAQ is not associated with Sega, or any of its products either software or hardware. Sega retains all copyrights of its products mentioned in this FAQ. Thanks to Sega for making this fun game! Other FAQs written by me: - Tetris with Cardcaptor Sakura: Eternal Heart (PSX) - Hundred Swords (DC) - The Great Khan Game (Card game) Please don't email me about the PC, American, or European versions as I do not have them! ---2/11/01 Gene (intv@canada.com)