DOA2: Hardcore

"An excellent fighting title that shows off some neat tricks"

Introduction
I've never really been much of a 2D-fighter fan (despite being an AOP in the room...) but ever since I first saw Tekken Tag Tournament on the Playstation2, I instantly LOVED these fighting games. Three months later, I find myself hiring one of the launch titles DEAD OR ALIVE 2 from my local store for a week. DOA has always been the shadow of Tekken everywhere. But in this polygon-mania release, there could just be an evening of the scores.

Gameplay
Dead or Alive 2 features some pretty neat gameplay elements not found in Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament. Whilst many will argue that the overall gameplay is better in Tekken Tag, there are quite a few advantages that DOA has. First of all, the fighting style. Unlike Tekken where the controls are based on using the D-Pad, DOA focuses on the use of the D-Pad AND the analogue stick. Using the analogue stick, you can spin it around anti-clockwise then clockwise quickly whilst using the kick to do a pretty nifty spin kick which is very well animated and is very fluid in movement.
Unlike Tekken where there is LEFT PUNCH, RIGHT PUNCH, LEFT KICK and RIGHT KICK, DOA uses the Punch (Triangle), Kick (Circle), Free (Square) and Throw (X) to execute moves. Believe it or not but it is a LOT easier to execute massive combos in DOA but unfortunately, this requires a lot of effort as for some unknown reason, the AI in DOA is a lot harder to beat than in Tekken so this requires you to be button-mashing for longer. All the special moves are grouped into different categories and just like in Tekken Tag, there are TAG combos you can do that are pretty but just not as impressive as those found in Tekken Tag Tournament. Reverse Attacks (or Counter-Blows) are much more active and play a very important role in winning the game.
There are many environments that are very detailed and definitely beat Tekken's basic maps. The environments are extremely huge and are similar to that found in Mortal Kombat 4 where you can step into the foreground (thus making a more ''3D'' fighter). The environments often have a special feature. One environment is based on a factory area. This environment, dubbed ''The Danger Zone'' has electrifying fences around the side so getting smashed into a wall is not the best thing to do. There is another map based on ice and there is an avalanche that if you don't manage to jump up and away, will result in you landing on your back on the ground below. There are several other multi stage levels such as when fighting on the roof of a building, you can get thrown off (whilst this doesn't do much damage somehow..).
The main mode of the game is STORY where you play as each character's story to become a champion of some sort and there is a lot of weird dialogue before and after the fights. I mean, how many people will taunt their opponents with ''I will start''? The STORY mode unlocks several other features (costumes) and each character has interesting story backgrounds.
The ''TEAM TAG'' mode is obviously a copy of something which seems familiar in another game *cough*. Whilst there aren't as many characters are Tekken Tag Tournament, the character models are a lot more detailed and I'll detail that in the graphics section of the review. The characters however are much more varied than that found in Tekken Tag Tournament where several characters can be found with similar speed/agility/strength. In DOA, each character seems to be more distant from each other in terms of abilities. Kasumi's excellent (and extremely fast) speed will outdo the old man. The TAG works similarly to Tekken Tag but it just ''doesn't feel right'' when you use it after playing Tekken Tag Tournament. Using any of the L or R buttons, you switch characters. Unlike Tekken Tag Tournament, to finish a TAG game, BOTH characters have to be knocked out and if one of them is knocked out, he or she can no longer regain health.
Another interesting mode is the SURVIVAL where the point of the game is none other than, to survive as long as possible. Over time, the more you win, the better you win, the more points you get, and the more special items you can pick up. Special items increase your health or points so of course, why not? Then there is the TIME ATTACK which is pretty much standard in every fighting game (fight against the clock). There is a SPARRING mode which is just practise but what really annoyed me was the fact that you couldn't see the move list during a normal game (unlike Tekken Tag Tournament).
One thing which really interested me was the SPECTATE option to view characters fight. Whilst I'm sure this'll probably entertain people who are just ''dying'' to see more of a character *wink*, it is nice to know you can learn how the computer fights. It should also be noted that you can change ''your age'' (as many people already know) which results in the girl's having slightly more ''bouncy'' breasts (no further on that..).
We mustn't forget that every fighter MUST HAVE a great multiplayer option. The multiplayer in DOA2 is extremely impressive and its a blast to play with friends. Unlike other fighting games where you only use two controllers and share them, with DOA2, you can use the multitap and give everyone their own controller which makes things a whole heap easier. DOA2 really has cut the cake with this prized fighting game.

Graphics
For a launch title, the graphics in this game are pretty darn good. They are fast and fluid (most important thing to me) and every kick, punch, combo attack, throw, grab and counter-blow are all perfectly animated with nice fluid movement. Every character from Kasumi to Helena all have different designs on their costumes and some look pretty damn good and realistic. Whilst we can figure out what the target audience is by the fact that there is a chick on the cover wearing a bikini, the graphics are still nevertheless damn good.
The fighting environments also have extremely detailed areas which are large and fun to fight in. Some areas are more detailed than others but overall, I feel that in the graphics area for both characters and environments, DOA definitely beats Tekken Tag Tournament.

Sound/Music
Dead or Alive 2's sound is very impressive. Featuring both English and Japanese voice acting, you really get the feel of what the characters originally sounded like (Kasumi's very cute-like voice). Whilst many will probably never use this feature, it is still a nice thing to have. In all the movies, and before/after match taunting, you can enable subtitles which I also found very useful as sometimes you just can't hear what is going on because of whatever reason.
The music is really suitable too but you never really listen to it, all I know is that it pushed me further in this game than anything else (maybe except Kasumi ;)).

Other/Overall Presentation
With close to 0 Load Times except when it ''Intializes the DOA2 Engine'' which is quite fast, the game really is quite good. The load times are much faster than those found in Namco's prized fighter. The menus are easy enough to navigate around and the multiplayer function just rocks! The manual is quite nice to read but it would have been nice if they included more information about each character's attacks but overall, the manual is better than Tekken Tag's manual. There are also several nice CGIs in every character's story to watch which I think are better than those found in Tekken Tag Tournament.

RENT/BUY :
*Rent if you have TTT then buy if you like it
*Buy if you don't have any good fighting games

SCORES
Gameplay : 10
The gameplay in this title is outstanding and it just cannot be competed with except maybe by Tekken Tag Tournament.
Graphics : 10
Many special effects and nicely animated characters really do show off the power of the Playstation2 nicely.
Sound/Music : 9
The English/Japanese is excellent plus the many voice acting sequences really are great.
Other/Overall Presentation : 8.5
Excellent but I'm sure they could have done more character profiles or included a move list during a game.
Lasting Appeal : 10
Multiplayer and Chicks'll last forever.

OVERALL (not an average) : 9.8) (rounded to 10)

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SPECIAL : TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT vs. DEAD OR ALIVE 2 : HARDCORE
Gameplay : Tekken Tag Tournament's special TAG arena is excellent but Dead or Alive 2's attacking and fighting ways are far superior in my opinion.

Characters : Tekken Tag has many characters but they are too blan and do not seem to have much difference in attack. However, Namco has given each of the characters from TTT a nice story and each character is linked elsewhere. Whereas in Dead or Alive 2, the story for each character is rather bare but the characters are far more different during the game and I thought this is a much better point. DOA definitely has superior characters. And lets not forget the female models.

Environments : Dead or Alive 2's multi-level environments featuring nice effects and boundaries as well as special wall moves avaliable to the characters make DOA a much better environment game. Tekken's basic environments are really shocking but they are nicely animated in the background whilst staying in 2D.

Multiplayer : Tekken Tag Tournament. Nothing more needs to be said.

Graphics : I can't really tell but maybe Dead or Alive 2 because of the faster more fluid and somewhat slightly realistic fighting styles result in a better graphical showdown. And like I said before, the models are slightly better.

Sound/Music : Tekken Tag Tournament has better music I think but DOA's English/Japanese option to change the large amount of voice acting in this title really shock so I'd say DOA would win this one.

Other/Overall Presentation : DOA is far better considering the menus are easy, little load times, and more options in the menus, but Tekken's interface during a game is more practical. Also, the CGs in Tekken Tag Tournament may have been interesting, but the CGs in DOA relate to the story and in my opinion are a lot nicer.

WINNER : DEAD OR ALIVE 2 : HARDCORE
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Author's Comment
Whilst there could have been many improvements, this game's multi-level environments and highly detailed characters prize this title over Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/22/01, Updated 07/22/01