Dead or Alive

"The first game of a series which offers great looking girls with poor gameplay"

Storyline-4/10
Firstly any game where there is no FMV ending is very unlikely to get a high score from my in this section. The execption is Soul Calibur II because their storyline is really that good that its good enough to become a RPG. Anyway trust me on this one the Dead or Alive series never have a great storyline. Although they did made some improvement in Dead or Alive 2.But you really have to give them credit in coming out with a storyline where the main character is a female and where the female characters are the focus of their series.

Graphics-5/10
Well when this game was made it actually didn' really looked that good. Yes please compare this game with Soul Edge which is made earlier if you don't believe me. Yes please compare the stages and even the female characters if you don't believe me. But I do admit that Dead or Alive 2 deserves a 10 for graphics but the first Dead or Alive didn't really have great graphics. Soul Edge was and is better so do check it out. Also the bounce effect of the girls is really too much in this one that they are that unrealistic. Fortunately they fix this one in the sequels.

Sound Effects/Soundtrack-6/10
Well they made a great improvement in Dead or Alive 2. Yes seriously once again do listen to both to tell the difference. Alas for this game I will make a comparison between its music with Tekken 2 and Soul Edge 2 games that are older than it. The end result their soundtrack did not come near to the standards of these 2 game's soundtrack.

Gameplay-4/10
Firstly the moves are stiff and hard to pull off. Secondly these game has the terrible reversal problem which its sequel Dead or Alive 2 hardcore would inherit. Yes so they use the system of reversal beat strikes and holds beat reversals and strikes beat holds. But believe me you can see a hold coming from a mile so don't do it. Also if you master the art of reversal there is like no point playing this game. In fact you must play everyone defensively unless you are playing against a newcomer to the game who doesn't know how to reverse.

Secondly there are no endings. So why do you even play it in the first place ? Hey if the game is fun maybe I will play if but a game with bad gameplay and zero endings is a terrible game that can't be played.

In terms of modes there are no other modes to distract you. Yeah and so you are forced to fight. But since I already mentioned that the fighting is terrible don't bother with it. Also there are very few characters and most of them are badly designed.

Conclusion-If not for the fact that Dead or Alive 2 and Dead or Alive 2 hardcore were better this series would have been dead if they continue to release games with such quality. If you want to play this game for the girls and their revealing outfits. Please dont' do it and do play Dead or Alive 2 hardcore instead. But if you are looking for a 3D fighter with great gameplay do play the Tekken series instead. If you don't own a PS2 and simply want to find a nice game with great gameplay and beautiful girls do play Soul Edge instead. Yes you really must trust me on this one and steer clear of this terrible game.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 06/13/03, Updated 06/13/03