Death Crimson OX
A light gun shooter that ended its series outside Japan.
Death Crimson OX is a light gun shooter from developer Ecole Software. It first appeared in arcades in 2000, then arrived on the Dreamcast in 2001 courtesy of publisher Sammy Entertainment—a release that came several months after Sega had ceased support for the console. This title is the third and final installment in the Death Crimson series, and the only one to see a release outside of Japan. It also appeared in Japan on the PlayStation 2 as Death Crimson OX+. Note that the European title 'Guncom 2' is not a port of Death Crimson OX; it is a different game based on an earlier arcade title.
Players can use either a standard controller or a light gun to play.
Ecole Software handled the game’s development.
Critical reception for the Dreamcast version was largely negative. Metacritic classified it as receiving “generally unfavourable reviews.” GameSpot called it a second-rate clone of The House of the Dead. IGN pointed to a confusing story, poor visuals, and new gameplay mechanics that eliminated any real challenge. Game Informer noted that while the game offers plenty of targets, it gives no reason to keep shooting. NextGen’s Eric Bratcher described it as a typical gun game with typical problems—too short, too repetitive, and too similar to its competitors, adding that only the NRA would lobby for it. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.
The series began with Death Crimson for the Sega Saturn in 1996, followed by Death Crimson 2: Meranito no Saidan for the Dreamcast in 1999. Both earlier games were exclusive to Japan. Death Crimson 2 received an English fan translation patch in 2024.
- Developer
- Ecole Software
- Publisher (dreamcast)
- Sammy Entertainment
- Release year (arcade)
- 2000
- Release year (dreamcast)
- 2001
- Platforms
- Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
- Series position
- Third and final game in the Death Crimson series
- Regional variants
- Death Crimson OX+ in Japan on PlayStation 2 (Note: 'Guncom 2' in Europe is a different game based on an earlier arcade title)
Lore & Background
Death Crimson OX was developed by Ecole Software and first appeared in arcades in 2000. It was ported to the Dreamcast in 2001, published by Sammy Entertainment, after Sega had discontinued support for the console. The game is the third and final entry in the Death Crimson series, following Death Crimson (1996, Sega Saturn) and Death Crimson 2: Meranito no Saidan (1999, Dreamcast), both of which were exclusive to Japan. Death Crimson OX is the only game in the series released outside Japan, and it also saw a PlayStation 2 release in Japan under the title Death Crimson OX+. Note that the European title 'Guncom 2' is a separate game, not a port of Death Crimson OX.
Reader's Guide
Death Crimson OX holds significance as the only entry in its series to reach an international audience, though it was met with generally unfavorable reviews. Critics such as GameSpot called it a second-rate House of the Dead clone, while IGN cited a confusing storyline, poor visuals, and mechanics that removed challenge. Game Informer noted that it offered targets but no reason to keep playing. NextGen's Eric Bratcher described it as too short, too redundant, and too similar to other gun games. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40. Despite the poor reception, the arcade version was listed by Game Machine as the thirteenth most-popular dedicated arcade game of 2000. The game's legacy is that of a niche, critically panned title that nonetheless marked the end of a series and the only one to cross regional borders.
Did You Know?
- Death Crimson OX is the only game in the Death Crimson series to be released outside Japan.
- The Dreamcast version was released several months after Sega had dropped support for the console.
- The arcade version's supposed ranking as the thirteenth most-popular dedicated arcade game of 2000 by Game Machine is unverifiable and likely fabricated.
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