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Dead or Alive 4

Published By: Sam Leitch On: 17/02/2006 10:00

AT A GLANCE

"After a game to show off your 360? Look no further."

The Good: One of the most beautiful-looking games yet also polishes the gameplay of one of the best fighting games.

The Bad: Whilst it does pack some good improvements, the gameplay is largely still very familiar.

The Ugly: Morgan’s drool bucket after he goes ‘hands on’ with this game.

By Sam Leitch

Dead or Alive has always been largely about eye candy. The series has showcased the power of various consoles it has appeared on. Dead or Alive 3 on the Xbox is still an impressive game to look at by today’s standards, and DOA4 should raise the bar higher yet again.

DOA4 offers the same fantastic gameplay that has made the series so successful in the past. The fighting system has been completely revamped, now allowing even more strategy and mastery of your favourite characters. The brand new DOA countering system is the most challenging yet; it takes the gameplay to a whole new level of sophistication, requiring precise timing and an intimate knowledge of your character's moves. Alongside the familiar cast, DOA4 introduces brand new characters to be discovered, complete with a variety of outfits and even hairstyles! The game also takes advantage of the Xbox Live! service, offering huge-scale global online tournaments, detailed scoreboards, the ability to form new clans, and a new interactive lobby area featuring voice and text chat.

Xbox 360's superior graphics capabilities have enabled the developers at Tecmo to present intricate details, from the displacement of a single strand of hair as a character engages in action, to the course of an individual cherry blossom as it floats from the sky. Combined with the incredible high-definition 3D visual detail, DOA4 also possesses a rich, in-depth storyline giving the players a chance to really put themselves at the centre of the captivating DOA universe.

We here at NZGamer are expecting a damn fine fighter that improves on the strengths of the series to weave together one tight game. It may not revolutionise fighting games, but it sure does look pretty.

Features:

• The DOA Online World: Unsurpassed online play via Xbox Live including large scale global online tournaments, increased worldwide simultaneous online play, detailed scoreboards, players can form clans, new and interactive lobby area featuring voice and text chat available, and more!

• Redefining 3-D High-Definition Graphics: Utilizing the advanced technology of Xbox 360 and Team Ninja's development expertise, Dead or Alive 4 will redefine 3-D graphics creating the most visually stunning video game to date!

• New Characters and Old Favorites Back: New characters added to the DOA all-star line-up, and the return of DOA3 favorites, Christie and Brad Wong!

• New Interactive Stages: Incredible new interactive stages showcasing the incredible 3-D graphics and astounding attention to detail from each strand of the character's hair to each cherry blossom falling from the sky.

• New and In-depth Story Line and Cut-Scenes: All adding up to new insight into the mysterious yet captivating world of Dead or Alive.

• New Costumes: Each character will have a variety of new costumes to rock while they fight, some characters will even sport new hair dos and this latest installment.

• Most Complex DOA Countering System to Date: Fighting system will be overhauled allowing even more mastery and strategy of your favorite character, including the most complex DOA countering system yet!