Dead or Alive 2

"Wanted..... Dead or Alive! (Bon Jovi is awful, but... i had to!)"

Let me just start this review off by saying this is the most enjoyable Dreamcast fighting game I've ever played. And as such, that means it's THE best fighting game on Dreamcast. There is no debate about it. Now, onto the review:

Graphics (10/10)- Gee, this was really hard to score. No, seriously though, the graphics are amazing, especially the stages. And for that reason (stages) I have to say this game is better looking than Soul Calibur. It all evens out in the end. The actualy player-models in SC are slightly more impressive, but the background stages aren't half as cool as DoA. My favorite stage has to be the church level. It's a great feeling to send your friend flying through a glass window, onto the hard, unforgiving pavement below. Great work by Tecmo.

Music/SoundFX (10/10)- Great! The music is the game is awesome. If I ever see the Soundtrack for sale, I'll buy it. There are some really good songs on here. And I don't mean ''good for a videogame'', I mean good regardless. All of the punches, kicks and throws sound equally impressive. Grade A stuff here!

Gameplay (10/10)- Here's where DoA2 beats SC hands down. The depth of this game will overwhelm you at first. But don't worry, it's all good. A lot of people have been complaining about the reversal system. Don't listen to that rubbish. It's such an awesome system. This game is not for button-mashers. Because if you use the same level combo over and over again, you'll get beat down. And that's a guarantee. The multi-layered levels really play a part in gameplay too, as you will take damage when you fall off a cliff and what not. The combos are easy to learn, tough to master, much like VF 3. I could go on for days about how great DoA2's gameplay is, but I think you get the idea.

Extras (8/10)- Not nearly as much stuff as SC, but it's okay. The 4-player tag team battle is great! There are a few different costumes for each person, which I think is cool. I like that it keeps track of your stats, much like SC. Overall, not TOO many extras, but the ones that are there are nice.

Overall (10/10)- There's no reason you shouldn't own this game, unless you despise fighting games. Tecmo deserves a pat on the back.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/00, Updated 01/13/01