Dead or Alive

"An underrated game that deserves to be played."

One of the most underrated games for the Playstation. And yet, I have no idea why. Because even though most gaming magazines would lead you to believe otherwise, in reality, Dead or Alive is one of the most entertaining 3D fighting games available for the Playstation. And no, it's not because of the huge, bouncing breasts. :)

Graphics: 9.5 - I'm getting REALLY tired of all these Tekken 3 lackeys yelling out their endless praise for a game that I don't really like that much. I know, I know, there are some people out there who'd swear up and down that Tekken 3 was some sort of "gaming paradise", and that no other game in the world could even compete. I'm here to tell you that all the DoA bashing is total BS. They're wrong, they're doing it for attention, and in reality, Dead or Alive is the only PSX fighter around, aside for your Tobal 2's and Bloody Roar's, that'll give the "almighty" Tekken franchise a run for it's money. Yes, you heard me right.

Graphics: 9.5 - You know, I dunno why DoA gets such a bum rap for "fan service". Anime does it so very often, even the pristine Pokemon TV series here in America, and yet no one complains about that. But even though we've been checking out fighting game babes ever since Chun-Li flashed us a peek of her light-blue panties in Street Fighter II, still, someone finds breasts that bounce in a video game "hideously offensive". Please. Ever watch a episode of Baywatch?? I've seen women with MUCH smaller packages give the DOA girls a run for their money, in terms of "bounciness". And when I say that, I'm not kidding around!! Seriously, the "breasts" are not that exaggerated; well maybe in size, but c'mon...games are just fantasy anyway. There's no harm in it.

Back to the original point (sorry about the hooter rant) I was making, the graphics in Dead or Alive are some of the best seen on Playstation. The backgrounds are not as bad as some would have you believe, and the character models are still some of the best seen on Playstation. You'd be hard pressed to find more defined character models on any other fighting game, and that includes the blocky-as-hell Tekken 3.

Sound: 8.0 - I dunno, but I really liked the music in Dead or Alive. Pretty techno-ish in flavor, but still good listening. Not soundtrack-worthy, though. In game and option SFX are solid, the hits sound nice and hollow, and character voices are convincing. The yelps and screams from the four females in combat are just perfect. Kasumi's yells in particular (EEEEIIIII!!!) are just classic, though. And some of the music (listen closely to the BGM on Zack's stage...rrrowww!) is pretty racy...almost to the point of eroticism. Well, in a way. But this is Dead or Alive, after all. Tecmo's got standards to uphold here.

Gameplay: 9.0 - Don't let quotes such as "simplistic fighting engine" and "button-mashing gameplay" shy you away from a classic PSX fighter...Dead or Alive is a complex game with a extensive list of moves for each character. The training mode is second to none, and the controls are oh-so-accurate, which makes doing some of the harder moves less of a pain. No character endings is pretty sucky, though.

Extras/Features: 10.0 - Do I even need to comment here? This game is second only to Soul Blade for PSX in the sheer amount of extras and secrets you can unlock (extra character and announcer voices, wallpapers, extra options, hidden characters, etc.) in the game, along with a virtual treasure trove of game modes, from Kumite, Survival, Versus, Training, and Tournament. Face it, this game screams "replay value".

Overall: 9.0 - Why is everyone a Tekken 3 lackey? I admit that the Tekken series, especially Tekken Tag Tournament, are solid fighters, but just because of the bouncing tits, Dead or Alive gets the short-end of the PSX stick. This game deserves better than the 'cult' status it currently holds. It's a great fighter that should've became a "greatest hits" seller last year. But maybe the whole sexuality thing makes Dead or Alive threatning to average gamers. Well, to that, I say "open your eyes to the light"! Dead or Alive is a fun, solid playing game that has plenty to offer to die-hard fighting game fans. Go rent it now!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/22/00, Updated 01/22/00