Dead or Alive Ultimate

"Tecmo Does it Again, Another A+ game"

Dead or Alive Ultimate is part of the Dead or Alive Series made from Tecmo. The series is known for its exciting game play, graphics, and maybe the bouncing boobies of some of the girls ;). Button mashers may not like this game, only serious combos may apply. Trust me, you wont be disappointed playing this game.

Gameplay
Dead or Alive Ultimate is the collection of Dead or Alive 1 from Japan and Dead or Alive 2 for the American Dreamcast system. Although there is nothing new to the story line, except maybe the new “You should get away from here” cut scene once in a while. The graphics, new items, and more have been added to replace that missing void. New costumes such as the bikinis from Dead or Alive Xtreame Beach Volleyball, over 50 new collectible items for survival, and enhanced stage back rounds are just a few of the many new goodies. And possibly some characters for Dead or Alive 3 can be unlocked. I know my favorite girl from Dead or Alive 3 is in there.

There is no specific story line, as for each character you play, they have their own quest. From Kasumi finding her brother to the Ein with a lost past, there is a different ending for all of them. There will be some cross-links of course, two rival characters fighting during the last stage or two. Maybe Kasumi will find her brother? Will Ayane extract revenge? Does Leon complete his quest to become the strongest warrior for his lost sweetheart? Will Tina defy her father Bass and become a super model? And will Helena find the killer of her mother? Only completing their story will tell.

The new opening scene shows some more incite to the story between Kasumi and Ayane. Showing them as little children, Kasumi and Ayane were very good friends, catching fish at the local lake. Until something happens.......... Just watching this shows you a taste of the amazing sounds and graphics of the game.

Controls aren't bad either. You may customize them as you choose. Of course, like any fighting game, combos are the key to winning. Button mashers stop reading this, and go back to your hole, you may be able to throw a simple combo of Punch Punch Punch, but a skilled player will throw a combo grabbing your characters arm and slamming them against the wall, throwing them aside, depending on the character they're playing. But one of the main combos is the counter. A counter will deal maybe from 125 to 150% of the attack back to the other opponent.

The challenge in the game it to basically collect every item and costume. But that isn't an easy feat. Completing story mode multiple times on Easy, normal, hard and very hard will unlock them. And some characters have 20 costumes to unlock. That's playing story mode 18 times 3 or 4 times on each difficulty just to get a set of costumes for one out of the many characters. And sure it take about 5 or 6 minuets to beat it on easy. But hard mode takes up to 12 minuets to retry after a fatal blow has been delt by the CPU.

The CPU isn't the easiest to beat. After analyzing what combos you do the most, they will do a counter on it. For example, knowing that you like to deal many high kicks, they will start doing high counters to stop you in your tracks.

Graphics
The graphics and surroundings it creates are just super. Many include dust kicked up in the desert level, getting wet if you fall into a mud pool in the Sahara, making tracks in the snow, and more. You will play in areas that include modern day apartment buildings, to back streets and even labs. That's not the best part. Surroundings affect you as well. Lets say your fighting at the temple. If you deal a hard blow while your opponent is close enough to the edge or breakable wall, you shall knock them over and reveal a new map. Knocking your opponent off the edge from the snow cliff will throw you into the ice caves. And there's more. You can use the arena as a weapon. Slamming your opponent into the wall may cause more damage, as well as the wall cracking itself. Or throwing your opponent into a rock may break it as well as your opponents back.

Sounds
Sounds have been just excellent. New music from artist like Areosmith are just a touch. But of course there is the old music from Dead or Alive 2. The sounds fit the surroundings as well. You will hear opera music when your play at the opera house, not at the snow level. And there will be sounds of surrounds as well. Hitting your opponent against a lion or rhino may get you a roar, throwing your opponent into glass may shatter is as well as some sound. Just perfect.

Conclusion
Dead or Alive Ultimate may not offer a new story line, That's the job of Dead or Alive 4. Anyways, this game is one of the most fantastic games out there today. Everything is just amazing. And online play gets even better. Play in a tournament of 16, eliminating players to become #1 is just an example. Play this game, you wont be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/11/04