Dead or Alive 2

"Not the pinnacle of the genre, but an excellent game regardless."

Graphics (10/10): Obviously the graphics in DOA 2 are absolutely beautiful, and for many people they will be the element that attracts them to the game in the first place. Both charcacters and backgrounds are incredibly detailed, and the game moves at a constant 60 frames per second. But the real showstoppers are the real-time cinemas, which have the best graphics I have ever seen in a game. Granted, the frame rate drops from 60 to 30, but the detail on the characters (especially their faces) is so incredible it must be seen to be believed. Next to Soul Calibur and Sonic this is the best looking game on the DC.

Sound/Music (7/10): While the graphics on DOA2 are obviously its high point, the sound takes a back seat to the visuals. That's not to say the music and fx are bad, they're just nothing that stand out. The music is actually well-composed and fits the action well, and there are many different styles, but its nothing that you'll be humming all day like SF or Tekken tunes. The sound effects are realistic and appropriate, but that's to be expected in a fighting game. The only real drawback to the sound is the annoying female announcer.

Story (?/10): can't....make....out...story...just...cutscenses...look...pretty..dont make...any.........sense............

Control (8/10): Like any good fighting game the control in DOA2 is spot on, and is perfectly adequate in the areas of pulling off moves, combos, and blocking and countering, but runs into trouble in other areas. Getting up off the ground (either rolling or attacking ) is not nearly as intuitive or fluid as in tekken or soul Calibur, and the 8-way run system is tough to get used to and not nearly as smooth as soul Calibur's. With only one punch and one kick button, the control is also very beginner friendly.

Gameplay (8/10): While DOA2 is in every sense of the word a good game, it lacks that special something that makes a game a classic. But it is still very fun to play. Like other 3d fighters, there are literally hundreds of moves to choose from, and one of the things that makes DOA2 unique is that you have much more freedom than most other figting games in deciding how to link moves together. This means that it is fairly easy to create combos, but also means that button mashers can simply hit p,p,p over and over again and bust out 3-hit chains. Fear not, however, for this is where reversals come into play. Every character has a high, mid, and low reversal, which, obviously, reverse the respective incoming moves. Opponent using the same annoying combo over and over? Don't just block, reverse it! Characters also have a nice variety of throws, although you use the same buttons to break every throw, so multiparts are pretty useless. The interactive backgrounds are also very cool, but are more of a novelty than anything else. DOA2's only real gameplay fault is that it is a little too fast for its own good, as by the time you see many moves coming it's already too late. Altoghether though, this is definitely a deep fighting game and like all good 3d fighters will take quite a bit of skill to master.

Replay value (8/10): While doa2 is certainly a good one or two player game simply due to its depth and modes of play (including story mode, single vs., team battle, tag battle, time attack, survival, and practice), the lack of any secrets (so far, this review is being posted a day after the game came out) is seriously dissapointing. Half the fun of playing through a fighting game at home is discovering all of the hidden stuff. Even so, DOA2 is fun enough to keep you playing for a long time.

Overall (8/10): DOA2 is certainly a fun game, and it has lots of depth and variety, but it lacks that special something that all the classic fighting games have. You probably won't be playing this game as much as a street fighter or namco fighter, but that doesnt mean it isnt good. Dead or Alive 2 is one of the best fighting games released within the past year, and is the only fighter of its kind on the DC. Doa2 is higly recommended for any fan of fighting games.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/00, Updated 03/16/00