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Team Ninja’s long-awaited game is finally reviewed. Dead or Alive Ultimate, previously called Dead or Alive Online, is a two-disc compilation of an arcade-perfect version of Dead or Alive, and a remade Dead or Alive 2, complete with the Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball engine. And of course, both games include fully-featured online component; in fact, the online component is the deepest of any Xbox game yet.
As I mentioned above, Dead or Alive is included for collection purposes. Team Ninja really likes the Xbox and wanted to have the entire series on the console. It doesn’t include any graphical changes, but it is the closest in graphical fidelity to what Team Ninja originally envisioned the game. Of course, it includes the online play so important in this compilation.
Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate’s main offline mode is the story mode. Here, you’ll fight a number of players in hopes of learning just a bit more about your character of choice. Additionally, the game includes a typical versus mode, tag battles, and a survival mode in which enemies will continually come on-screen. The game’s AI isn’t particularly impressive. It just isn’t all that smart, and at higher difficulty all it seems to do is reverse more often. You’ll need to go through story mode to unlock the unlockable features including three characters (there are a total of 15) and outfits for them.
The game’s online component is its best features, sans visuals. Online is excellently implemented in the game, and there is no lag to speak off, so hats off to Team Ninja. The developers implemented a number of leaderboards and rankings to keep the online experience fun. It is easy to find a similarly-skilled opponent to fight against thanks to the game’s ranking system. Additionally, there are a number of statistics tracked for each person who plays the game but also overall leaderboards per characters and so forth. Lastly, it is easy to find a match just like you want it thanks to the excellent search ability. To create matches for the two different games, you’ll need to have the proper disc inside. However, you can enter either DOA1 Ultimate or DOA2 Ultimate matches with the DOA2U DVD.
The game includes a number of modes online with a few variables. The game includes a number of tag matches and tournaments with a few stipulations. You can set the game to automatically throw out the loser, so you’re continually given new challenges. Or you can also set it so that the loser stays. Aside from the actual fighting, the game includes an excellent lobby system that allows up eight players to gather around and chat with each other while two members fight. If you aren’t social, you can limit lobbies to just one more person and avoid having people discuss your fighting ability or comment otherwise.
The fighting remains remiscient of past Dead or Alive games. The game’s pace is still incredibly quick and the moves aren’t all that difficult to pull off and allow a newcomer to have a great time since random button mashing can result in some pretty kick-ass moves. The game’s different characters vary slightly but once you get the system down, it is easy to play well as any of the game’s characters. Because of the quick speed, blocking and reversing plays a large part of the game. The game has always included a complex reversal system and this game is no different. You’ll need to master the reversal system unless you want to get owned online.
The online component of the game is undoubtedly excellent. It is by far the most complete and robust mode of any 3D fighting game thus far. The main draw of the Dead or Alive series, after the second one anyway, has been the excellent visuals. Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate doesn’t disappoint in this area. The game was remade with the DOAX engine, so it looks considerably better than Dead or Alive 3. The character models are intricately detailed, with excellent animations and impressive facial expressions. The characters’ clothes are also detailed in their own right and you’ll have no trouble distinguishing among the different types of fabric. This is particularly good since the game has oh so many different outfits for the characters. Even more impressive than the characters are the environments. They are extremely complex, complete with many layers and tiers which interactively destroy themselves in the process. Dead or Alive 1 Ultimate looks as good as that version has ever looked but truly, the main focus is on DOA2U.
The game’s audio package isn’t quite as extraordinary but great nonetheless. The various sound effects for the fighting is top-notch, thanks in large part to the game’s excellent support of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. The soundtrack is very quick, and perfectly fitting for the game’s fast-pace. Additionally, the Japanese voice acting included is top-notch, although it’s a bit weird that an American track was not included.
Dead or Alive Ultimate kicks the ass squarely. It is a fast-paced, beautiful fighting game with an excellent online mode to boot. The game is definitely recommended to fans of the genre, and all of the unlockable content makes it a must-buy to fans of the series. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 3, 2004
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