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Review: Dead or Alive |
Argh. This game is going to be terminally overlooked. I can tell from the initial reactions I’ve gotten from gamers so far. While DoA has elements of VF, Tekken, and a smidge of Mai Shiranui thrown in for good measure, it is by no means a ripoff, clone, or wanna-be. Why?
First: the way it looks. This 60 fps beast has fully textured models and some of the smoothest animation this side of SF3. Drool. What gets sacrificed? The arcade’s beautiful 3-D backgrounds. The new backgrounds are nice… but kinda plainish.
The music + fx are all pretty standard. There’s nothing especially noteworthy about the music. It sets the mood, but certainly doesn’t warrant purchasing a soundtrack. The fx are all clear, and the voices are all pretty damn cool, but the announcer has got to go. (Sounds like he/she’s inhaling helium)
Gameplay is, as always, the critical factor. Thankfully, DoA has enough nuances and originality to set it apart from other titles. The tapping of Tekken + VF shows up in Dead or Alive, but there’s no 10-hits, like TK. Also, like Tekken, multi-throws are a prevalent threat. However, unlike TK where only a select few can grapple you to your doom, 80% of the characters are throwin’, throwin’, throwin’. However, all the combos and multis in the world don’t make you original. What makes you original?
The hold button. This part reversal, part push-off, part throw button has an infinite amount of uses, and sets a new benchmark in 3-D gameplay. Oh yeah, there’s the breasts too. Every 13-year old male on Earth probably knows already, but all the women in this game are stacked, and have a tendency to defy the laws of gravity, if you catch my drift. (Think Mai from FF/KoF) It’s so excessive, there’s an option to turn it off. :)
Speaking of options, DoA’s filled with ‘em. With 14 costumes per character (from Zack’s Arthur outfit to Kasumi’s bunny suit, and Bayman’s S.C.U.B.A. stuff), loads of secrets (a whole menu full, unlocked by performing certain feats in the other game modes.), and at least 2 secret characters (Ayame + Raidou), DoA has enough stuff to do and enough replayability to warrant more than just a rental.
Problems? Well, the breasts thing gets really old, really quick. (Tired of getting hit by all my female friends with giant mallets) Not only that, but some of the character designs are a little weak. Bayman has more than a passing resemblance with Rolento from SFA2, Bass looks a lot like pro wrestling “great” Hulk Hogan, Jann-Lee is another Bruce Lee clone , and Gen Fu is a little too generic an old man (looks like Shun or Wang). Oh yeah, does Raidou shop in the same Demon Gear shop as Gouki? Just curious…
Bottom Line: At times a little generic, Dead or Alive still packs a graphics + gameplay 1-2 punch.
Note: Getting Tekken 3 the same day didn’t help… :) Tried to be impartial, though.
- Dark Schneider
