The Typing of the Dead FAQ v1.17 by Gene (2/11/01)

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 <[email protected]>:
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 ([email protected])