Both versions of DOA which feature on the disks are Xbox Live compatible, making DOA the second online 3D fighter ever released, after Mortal Kombat Deception. The original Dead or Alive features an arcade mode, online play, time attack, survival, kumite (fighting against either 30, 50 or 100 computer opponants) and training. The original DOA really only serves as a great piece of nostalgia. PALGN would have been much happier had the original DOA also been remade. This version of DOA looks like the Sega Saturn version which, is a little inferior to the arcade version. The Xbox could have easily handled the Arcade version so we are a little disappointed to see the Sega Saturn version was the one ported.
Does this really need a caption?
The real asset of Dead or Alive Ultimate is the DOA2 remake. Dead or Alive 2 has been released on the Dreamcast and Playstation 2, but the superior version is definitely the Xbox version which features the best graphics out of these three incarnations. The overall interface of DOA2 has been changed and is extremely similar to that of DOA3.The game features a story mode, time attack, survival, tag battle, team battle, versus mode, sparring mode, watch mode and online mode. DOA2 features significantly more modes than that of the original DOA and is really the disk that gamers will spend 90% of their time on.
The films for each character have been reworked so the story mode makes a lot more sense. Tecmo have also added new costumes and new environments, so hardcore DOA fans who played through the Dreamcast and Playstation 2 versions will still want to play through the Xbox version. There is definitely a lot more to unlock in DOA 2: Ultimate than in any previous version.
The addictive DOA game play has been retained and the game is truly brutal and fast. Button mashers will still be able to play the game but true masters will really shine through and overcome more novice players. The game play is good enough so that the game can be picked up and played, or it can last for hours, just trying to master that five hit combo or completing the arcade mode.
One of the best assets of this game are the truly captivating graphics. The fighting arenas really aid the graphics from the pure white snow to the sandy beach. This game is the best looking DOA game we’ve come across and the best looking fighting game we’ve ever played (Apologies to Mortal Kombat). Some of the environments are just awe inspiring.
A sneak preview of the new 1080 Snowboarding game
The sound of Dead or Alive 2 has been kept from the previous incarnations. There has been no real enhancements to the sound and most of the vocal work is in Japanese with subtitles. This leaves a distinctly oriental flavour to the game and distinguishes it from other fighters such as Mortal Kombat and Tekken, and gives Dead or Alive a really unique feel in both the sound and looks department.
The two disk edition of Dead or Alive really ensures that the game will last a very long time for anybody who is a fan of the fighting genre. The costumes, character endings and unlockable characters provide a challenge for anybody who wants a lot of life span out of their game. One inclusion which the game is missing is a career mode which would have made the game seem a bit deeper and also made it last longer and feel more satisfying.
It's a wall. One might even say, a great wall. Cough.
Dead or Alive Ultimate is appropriately named. It is truly the best version of Dead or Alive - but it is not without its faults. Thankfully none of the faults are so large that they take away from the enjoyment of the game. The original Dead or Alive is only good for the novelty side and despite the plethora of unlockables included, we would have liked to have seen a more indepth single player mode, like Mortal Kombat: Deception’s konquest mode. However, it is clear Tecmo have done a brilliant job creating this for the Xbox and the game looks absolutely amazing and is an essential purchase for any Dead or Alive fan and a great buy for any fighting game fan. We still have our apprehensions about paying full price for a five year old game, but there are enough new inclusions to warrant the price tag. We look forward to the next Dead or Alive title - we just wish that we knew what it was or where it will appear.
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