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 Dead
or Alive 3
Team Ninja
Tecmo
FIghting
XBox
Filled with hype, Microsoft's XBox needs desperately to prove
itself to the nit-picky audience of console gaming. While the box
has support from many PC manufacturers, could it do something well
that all other consoles thrive upon? Fighting games are one of
those genres that are practically non-existent on PC platforms and
the task is up to Microsoft to say that they're in the console
battle.
Leave it to one of the consistently best fighters of all time to
make an XBox exclusive release. Tecmo & Team Ninja's Dead or
Alive series began from humble beginnings on the PlayStation and
reprised on the PlayStation2 and DreamCast systems. But would a
third installment be able to live up to its predecessors? Simply
put, Dead or Alive 3 is amazing.
 The
game-play remains relatively the same, very simple and easy for
novices to pick up and play, but with an entire library of
strikes, grabs, combos and counters an XBox controller in the hand
of an expert is a thrill to watch. There is the typical story
mode, which picks off where Dead or Alive 2 left off. There is
also tag competition, survival, time-attack, versus and team
battle modes that have been kept from DoA2. Noticeably different
is the addition of tag mode to survival, time-attack and versus
modes. Also, a sparring mode has been added where a combatant can
practice and enter a tutorial on a character's moves. Just for
kicks, a watch mode has been added where the camera moves freely
around combatants that the computer controls.
Thus far, Dead or Alive 3 is the most beautiful game out for XBox.
That's not saying that other games for the box are downright ugly,
the graphics are amazing. Lighting, textures, movement,
environments right on down to the curves of each fighter. (^_^) If
there is ever a game to showcase what the XBox can do, Dead or
Alive 3 is it.
 This
time around, the story is far more clear-cut than in Dead or Alive
2. While one still needs to read up and catch up on where the
characters have been and why they are in the Dead or Alive
tournament, the plot is much deeper and explains much more than
previous installments.
But what's a sequel to a fighting game without new competition?
Four characters have been added including the return of Hayate (Ein
from Dead or Alive 2). Each character has a distinct style, with
the possible exception of Bayman who shares many moves with Leon.
Also, each of the other characters not only gets a graphical
renovation, but more moves have been added. Plus, with the
versatility of the XBox controller and its pressure sensitivity,
moves that were previously next to impossible to pull off on the
DreamCast and PlayStation2 are much easier to do.
 While
many say that DoA3's simplicity may be it's dying breath, I say it
makes the game that much better. While it may be true that a
person with no experience can simply jam buttons in order to get
powerful strikes off, a controller in a veteran shows how much
skill is needed. The use of counters in Dead or Alive has always
been prominent and anybody who masters this system is a serious
competitor.
So why should you get this game? Well, if you had an XBox, it'd be
a crime not to. Sure there's Halo which is a great game too. But
it isn't nearly as pretty as Dead or Alive 3. The hours of endless
fun I've had playing solo or against friends merits the purchase
of this game. Besides...she kicks high!
Final Verdict: 10/10
Dead
or Alive 3
Tecmo
Planet
XBox |
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