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Dead or Alive was originally released as an arcade game that ran on Sega's Model 2 board. A perfect arcade port later appeared on the Saturn in Japan and was considered one of the better fighting games on the system. The title resurfaced on the PlayStation with a fresh new look, with new character models that look significantly better than the Saturn and arcade versions.The game features nine playable characters from the get-go with two more attainable via total completion of the game. Every time you beat the game you are rewarded with a new outfit for one of the characters. There is a total of 84 costumes in all, which range from your typical karate gi to scuba gear. The design of the characters themselves isn't groundbreaking by any means, in fact some look suspiciously similar to characters from the Street Fighter, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter series. Overall, Dead or Alive delivers a realistic fighting experience.
Dead or Alive 2 did not originally release in the USA; it was only available in Japan. However, a much improved incarnation of Dead or Alive 2 was released in the United States as DOA2: Hardcore. DOA2: Hardcore on PS2 is the most complete version of DOA2 available, possessing more features than either of the original versions or the Japanese Dreamcast release.DOA2: Hardcore shares its new costumes with that last version there, but unlike either Dreamcast version, it includes three new tag battle arenas, all of them a sight more attractive than the drab Danger Zone arena where all the tag action in the Naomi and DC versions takes place. It has a pair of gallery modes, where you can check out movies and still art of the various DOA2 characters, and both Bayman and Tengu are eventually playable, although neither is that impressive an addition. Leon was more than half a carbon copy of Bayman to begin with,and Tengu achieves the improbable feat of being even cheaper and uglier than Shin Ogre. DOA2: Hardcore is one of the most visually stunning and deep fighting games to be released, maximizing the DVD data storage capacity of the PS2 to generate gorgeous environments, dazzling effects and unbelievable character models. DOA2: Hardcore brawlers duke it out in interactive environments, so feel free to toss your opponent through a plate glass window or over a balcony. The fighting system is topnotch, and it includes four-player tag team mode.
Dead or Alive 3, the third installment in the popular fighting series from Tecmo, is available exclusively for Xbox. Sixteen of the toughest cookies from around the world have gathered to determine who's the greatest fighter alive. They've come for a wide variety of reasons: prize money, pride, or to uncover dark family secrets. Each competitor brings his or her own distinct fighting style, as well as a series of colorful costumes. Each fighter has a detailed backstory and strong character motivation, but DOA3 is all about beating the pants off your opponents while looking good while you do it. A single player can progress up the tournament ladder in the one-on-one Story Mode. Up to four can join in for a 2-on-2 tag match, or assemble up to 5 fighters for gigantic team battles. DOA3 for the Xbox has dramatically improved the graphics than earlier editions of the game: lighting, muscle definition, clothing, even the interactive elements and physics of the environment have all been upgraded to take advantage of the Xbox's power. DOA3 also made console history with the first add-on pack. Ever. With the demo disk included in the Official Xbox Magazine #36, dozens of new wild, wonderful, and downright weird costumes become available, as does the Japanese intro to the game (previously unreleased in the U.S.). Dead or Alive 3 has everything a fighting game needs for maximum replay value: engaging characters, detailed environments, spectacular martial arts moves, a satisfying storyline with multiple conclusions, and even a handful of unlockable treats. <
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball is about laid-back fun with sun, sand, bikinis, and babes. The ladies of DOA are taking to the beach in search of some Xtreme Beach Volleyball action. The DOA series and its developer, Team Ninja, never hesitate to push the graphics envelope. Xtreme Beach Volleyball leaps ahead of the already-impressive standard set by DOA3, depicting gorgeous characters that defy selected laws of physics, camera manipulation that lets you take in all the angles, and deep, detailed backgrounds that look even better than the real thing. Cut scene movies, some of which help earn this title its M rating, offer even more impressive cinematic eye candy, like those seen in DOA3. Some are downright hilarious, including Zack's Titanic-sized introduction, which shows how he won enough dough to buy his own private island resort. With the game's innovative shopping and gift-giving system, you can customize the appearance, dress, and even tan lines of characters and their partners, using cash won from volleyball or casino gaming. The ladies of DOA are more beautiful than ever before, and the environments are equally stunning. Add Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball to the growing list of games that allow you to customize your own soundtrack in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.
One of gaming's most treasured franchises will be given new life for the 2003 holiday season as Tecmo's esteemed internal development group, Team Ninja, and the powers of Xbox join forces to bring you 100 percent action in one of the most anticipated games of the new millennium. Ninja Gaiden is on the cutting-edge of action. Take on the role of powerful ninja Ryu Hayabusa, who seeks revenge after his clan is massacred by the Vigor Empire. Taking full advantage of three-dimensional space, advance through the story with only your wits, your ninja skills, and your deadly sword-cutting down opponents in the Vigor Empire as you attempt to beat the Holy Emperor and reclaim the magic sword "Ryuken." Tecmo's Team Ninja development group has created a revolutionary new Xbox Live-compatible feature within Ninja Gaiden. This radical new feature is being developed specifically for Ninja Gaiden and is like nothing any gamer has experienced in action games before. As you progress through the game, your skills increase, and you'll be rewarded with new weapons to help fight opponents. The more competent you become in fighting enemies, the stronger you'll become, which unlocks new combinations and skills. Wit and skill are also rewarded. The decisions you make in the game affect the weapons and skills yu can acquire. Witness an amazing level of detail, as you take on opponents in a variety of environments. Hear swords slicing through the air. Jump out of the way as gouts of blood pulse out from vanquished enemies. Beautifully rendered graphics, amazing visual effects, and realistic combat take Ninja Gaiden to a whole new level. Your ninja skills will be put to the ultimate test as you battle through various levels in your mission to avenge your clan. Once you embark on your role as a ninja hero, you never have to stop the journey. The Xbox allows you to quit the game at any time and re-start at the very same point.
For most fans, getting the first and second Dead or Alive games spruced up and playable on an Xbox would be enough to make them happy. After all, you’ll eventually be able to play DOA 1, 2 and 3, Xtreme Beach Volleyball, Ninja Gaiden, the mysterious DOA Code Cronus, and DOA 4 all on one system! The really good news is that developer Team Ninja is going the extra mile and totally revamping DOA2 with new character models, upgraded stages, revamped gameplay, and more costumes. The groundbreaking part is that it will be playable via Xbox Live, making it the first 3D fighter to accomplish the feat. The only real damper on things is that the original Dead or Alive is a replication of the Saturn version of the game. To its credit, it is considered by many to be far superior to the PlayStation version, and was never released outside of Japan. But like the Saturn version of Virtua Fighter 2, it is a far cry from the splendor that was the arcade version running on Sega’s amazing Model 2 board. A nitpicky detail, yes, but DOA fans out there know what the deal is. That said, DOA Online is still going to be an impressive endeavor. The story of the characters is getting fleshed out and will reveal some key background info like why was Ayane born and the meaning of the flower in Kasumi’s ending. "One of our goals in developing Dead or Alive 2 Online is to make it so that Dead or Alive 3 is only the second best looking game on the planet," said Tomonobu Itagaki, head of Team Ninja. "We are also adding a wide variety of bonus features. There will be new costumes, as well as fighting that will take full advantage of the environments in the many revamped stages.Additionally, there will be new scenes portraying the familial relationships between certain characters in their pasts that have previously been mysteries to players." Tecmo's Team Ninja is developing and releasing Dead or Alive Online to complement the already released Dead or Alive 3 and Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and the soon-to-come Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive: Code Cronus, to create an unstoppable Xbox lineup that will blow away gamers everywhere.
Impact Pictures adds Tecmo's Dead or Alive series to its list of video game-inspired movies currently in production. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed in April 2003 that Impact Pictures is currently working on a movie based on Tecmo's Dead or Alive series of fighting games. The movie, which The Hollywood Reporter article describes as "Charlie's Angels meets Enter the Dragon," is scheduled for a fall 2004 release alongside the next Dead or Alive game. The script for the $30 million movie is currently being written by J.F. Lawton, whose credits include Pretty Woman and Under Siege. Plot details are obviously scarce at present, but since the movie license includes Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball as well as the traditional fighting games in the series, the movie will unsurprisingly involve a fighting tournament on an exotic island with ample volleyball facilities.
Dead or Alive Code Cronus remains a mystery since it was announced at the 2002 Toyko Game Show.
So far, I can find only one fact: Tecmo points out that DOA Code Cronus is not the same as DOA Online. Meanwhile, we can have fun speculating and spreading rumors. At least, I'll stick to facts, rumor, and speculation which I can find an online or video game magazine reference. For example, from reading forums at Xbox.com, but especially Neotaku.com, I can, with a clear conscious, specualte that (1) DOA Code Cronus is Kasumi-Ayane-centric (a story of their childhood); (2) the game might be XBox Live compatible; (3) the game is a fan-service title, like DOAXBV; (4) the game will be a fast-paced fighter; and (5) it will be released in 2004. Hopefully, at the September 2003 Tokyo Game Show, Tecmo will announce facts and some specifics about this game (and specify Ninja Gaiden's Xbox Live activity ).
Speaking to Japanese press in mid-July2003, Team Ninja's Tomonobu Itagaki made some of the first concrete statements regarding Tecmo’s future plans in the gaming arena. In a surprise announcement Itagaki said, “Code Chronos will not be a fighting game. We have been expanding the Dead or Alive franchise as you know and this will be another expansion. I hope that you will like it.” As you can imagine, this caused a great stir, with Famitsu for one speculating that the game may become an online RPG. All very interesting.
When asked about the future of the sports title Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, he said, “I can confirm that preliminary planning for Beach Volleyball 2 is underway. We have to consider what we want to do with the series.” Whether this means in terms of platform, gameplay or content was not disclosed, though it’s a pretty safe bet that a follow-up will be released, given that it pretty much spawned a new genre. Then speaking of Ninja Gaiden 2, the famously outspoken Team Ninja boss said, “We are already planning Ninja Gaiden 2 and certain preliminary works have been completed. That’s all I can say at this time.” It’s all good news. We’re also sure that you’ll join us in congratulating Tecmo on its resurgent fortunes of late. As many veteran Japanese companies struggle to place their IP in the modern age, it’s good to see Tecmo succeeding.
source: www.spong.com
