If there's ever going to be an advance in arcade gaming, this is definitely part of it.
I don't usually pay attention to stories in arcade games, but I do know that you have to shoot down some zombies. This time, you have automatic pistols. Hold the trigger and aim. But that doesn't mean you're spraying and praying. It would all be too easy if you only had to mow down a few with an automatic weapon. So now there are massive amounts of enemies on screen. Massive. You cannot get through this rapidly shooting a pistol. This is the largest amount of enemies I've seen in an arcade game. Or maybe any game at all.
So that's basically what you'll be doing. Aiming and holding down the trigger. A new mechanic brought into the game is shaking the gun. You'll have to shake your gun in order to reload, but also for things like opening doors and shaking off enemies. And the important thing is that it works. Your hand will be tired at the end of the day. There's also a grenade button that works wonders, but that's more of a thing you'd use luck to rely on. Other things you'll be seeing is choosing multiple paths and breaking certain objects for extra points and health. One cool thing I discovered is that the ironsights on the light-guns actually work. At least, on a well-calibrated machine.
Boss battles mainly consist of shooting their weak points before they manage to damage you. They can get very annoying and even the best players will be shelling out quarters to continue. The first boss is already a lot of work. A bit too much work. It's still fun, but the only reward you'll get is moving onto the next level. Even when you're not shooting down the big bosses, the mass amounts of zombies coming at you is already enough to create a horrifying feel.
And surprise, surprise. Even the graphics-obsessed gamers will find some love. Hands-down best arcade graphics. Period. It's probably not Gears of War level, but try finding other arcade games with better graphics. Time Crisis 4 is the only other contender I can think of. But there's always been a problem with this franchise: cheesy voice acting. If there's a Japanese version anywhere in Minnesota, please tell me.
But otherwise, be it 3 or 4 quarters, it's entirely worth it. Can't think of a reason not to play this. It's hard boss battles may cost you some extra cash, but the game itself is too good for the money. Maybe someday in the future we'll see a 360 or PS3 port. You never know...