DOA2: Hardcore

"A hardcore update to an already stunning fighter."

Dead or Alive 2 was originally a Naomi based arcade fighting game released in 1999. The game was a moderate success given it's excellent next-gen visuals and easy play mechanics. "Hardcore" is an update of the game adding some extra polish to make it stand up to the Dreamcast version , with mixed results.

Story - 6/10
Ok, so it's an arcade fighter with a wafer-thin plot attached. If you read into it a bit more there's some plot going on. The main characters of the story are Kasumi, her half sister Ayane, their brainwashed brother Ein(Hayate), and Ryu of Ninja Gaiden fame. It's a fighting championship with each character having their own means for winning the tournament, with an ugly demon "Tengu" who you must battle at the end.

Graphics/Presentation - 9/10
It doesn't get much better than this. The games introduction is just a mix between various cut scenes interweaved with some combat demonstrations, but it gives an impression of the high quality visuals the game has to offer. The Japanese version includes some brief nudity in the opening demo.

Dead or Alive 2 on Dreamcast was the first game I considered a perfection of 3D gaming - the characters had an impressive polygon count and attention to detail that was ahead of the N64 and PlayStation, and the gameplay ran at a smooth 60 frames-per-second. Added to that are incredibly realistic physics for the fighters which closely mimic real-life fighting arts. The PlayStation2 port features all the grandeur of the DC/Arcade versions with a few more polygons.

The game has to be seen to be appreciated, its one of the first visually flawless games. In Hardcore, the cut scene demos now run at 60fps, whereas the DC version locks them at 30. The pre-fight scene before fighting Tengu is the best - it's almost like watching a cg rendered movie.

While it looks great, there is the problem of anti-aliasing - the PS2 doesn't have it, which makes some scenes look jagged. That's the only negative point I could give the graphics.

Gameplay - 8/10
The game is a 3D fighter - you have punch, kick, block and grab which is used for counterattacks. The game is similar to Tekken and Virtua Fighter, but you can freely move around the environment - and smash your opponents through it. Knock your opponent off the edge off a hill or building and jump down to follow them. I found this addition quite a joy.

The main story mode sees your character fight the rest until you face Tengu. In between are various pre-fight cut-scenes where the fighters exchange a bit of dialogue. The default setting is a one round fight, but you can change it in the options. The other modes are basically challenges and training. The Japanese version also supports network play if I recall correctly.

Each character has their own fighting style and combo moves to master. Counterattacks and grabs can be used to disrupt the flow of attack by your enemy, and turn the tables of the fight on them.

Multiplayer - 8/10
The game features standard versus fighting, but there are also four player tag battles so 3 of your friends can share the fun. A multitap is needed for more then 2 players.

Control - 8/10
The controls are fine on the Dual shock pad. You can use the digital pad and analog stick for movement - the digital pad is for walking around, but your characters will move around faster with the analog stick. The Hori stick is a great substitute for a closer arcade experience.

Soundtrack/Audio - 8/10
The music in the game spans several genres - Dance, Metal, Oriental, and Techno are the main styles you'll be hearing throughout the game. Despite the diversity of the soundtrack, its a great composition that has to be heard to be appreciated.

The voice acting is good or bad depending on which language you choose. The default English voices sound like the corny stuff from dubbed anime titles, and the Japanese voices are ok. Sound effects are loud crunches, punches and explosions.

Replayability - 8/10
While it's an arcade fighter, the home versions have enough to keep you coming back. There are plenty of costumes to unlock for each player, and the survival mode has its rewards such as collectible items. Multiplayer is a fun experience to. The PS2 update features a few more fighting locations and costumes to unlock that aren't in the DC version which is a plus.

Overall - 8/10
An outstanding 3D fighter with truly revolutionary visuals. While it's not an epic adventure you will have fun replaying it over and over, and the cute girls are pleasing to the eye.......

-Steven

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/22/05