Dead or Alive Ultimate
By Hardcore
Hardcore: You should not have come to this place. You will never understand the true power of bushido!
Hardcorner Reader: You! You killed my uncle's favorite nephew's pet pot-bellied pig! I will have my revenge!
Hardcore: The reed bends in the flow of the raging river like the silent squirrel. So be it.
Announcer: Ready? Fight!
Yes, you've entered the arena of no return that we call the Hardcorner, where after a few weeks of raging online Dead or Alive® Ultimate™ play, your ol' pal Hardcore really needs to find a doctor that can remove a boot from his booty …
This guy's obviously never met Lei Fang.
The second or third rule of the Hardcorner (I forget which after taking so many high kicks to the head lately) is that the challenge is everything. Here, we like nothing better than a game that's not only robust and well-designed, but that also takes practice and skill to play truly successfully. For online 3-D fighting, that ultimate challenge has arrived in the form of another gift to Xbox® gamers from Team Ninja leader Tomonobu Itagaki.
Dead or Alive Ultimate (DOAU) is a two-disc package that includes both the original Sega Saturn version ofDead or Alive® as well as a completely revamped Dead or Alive® 2 that presents that original sequel's story mode with graphics and gameplay that are even—dare I type it—better thanDead or Alive® 3.
But, which fighters provide the most challenging experience in this already hard-hitting fight-fest? Glad you asked …
Lei Fang (right), mistress of the counter move.
Hardcore Honeys and, er, Homeboys?
Lei Fang
What? Not superstar forward Kasumi? Nope. To be honest, Kasumi—bless 'er—is one of the easier fighters to handle inDOAU, and we're all about the challenge here. Lei Feng, who for Hardcore's money is cuter anyway, is driven by her desire to flatten fellow Kung Fu user Jann Lee, while being as deliberate in her moves as Lee is lightning-fast. Not that Lei Fang is a lumbering lummox, but her most powerful kick combos require set up and a little distance to pull of right. Lie Fang's best (and trickiest) ability is her strength in reversals and counters. You should learn these crucial moves anyway, and Lei Fang is the perfect fighter with which to perfect them.
Gen Fu only looks old and frail.
Gen Fu
The old fighting master has an iron jaw, a surprisingly healthy physique, and a set of unique and surprising moves that are great for keeping your foes off-balance. Punch combos are brutally fast, while Gen Fu's strong kick attacks drive home punishment that is very difficult to block. Watch out for Lei Fang, whose counter abilities can knock Gen Fu for a loop. Gen can dish out counters as well as she can, however, and they have similar counter moves, which makes them great for a tag battle.
Even big purple ogre-demons kneel before Ein!
Ein
The man without a past enters the tournament looking for answers, and he's got the robust set of punch combos to drive his questions home. Ein is a well-rounded karate master with a nice set of counters. He has a very strong collection of holds and punch combos that will tie up foes who expect you to hit hard with the feet. Along with Ryu Hayabusa, Ein is an excellent choice for pure Hardcore combat.
Ayane
The purple-haired girl ninja has changed a lot since the game's opening cut scene, and now she's looking for payback against Kasumi. And, Ayane has the speed and the specials to make it happen. She's speedy enough to go toe to toe with the dizzying, high-velocity Jann Lee, and she's one of the only fighters with several Uniwue combos that don't even require a button—just deft use of the D-pad.
This type of screenshot makes Bass very angry.
Bass Armstong
Quick to anger, slower than an ox on Percoset, and way too attached to his daughter Tina (Mrs. Armstrong is missing and presumed lucky), pro wrestler Bass can be an easy target for speedy foes. First-timers that want a big, bruiser-y "sure thing" often pick Bass, thinking he'll just be able to smash smaller fighters with unsubtle grace, but that's Leon. For Bass, victory will come with mastery of well-timed blocks and counters, following through with his staggering array of bone-crushing throws. Tina has many similar moves, but her speed makes her easier. Bass is the wrestler for the Hardcore gamer, even if he's not nearly as much fun to look at.
The Hardcore Gratuitous Screenshot Spectacular
Far be it from Hardcore to discussDOAU without adding on a pile of gratuitous, exclusive screens. We'll be back next week with Ma Hardcore's nacho dip recipes for your Holiday LAN Party, but until then, enjoy these fresh shots, chosen purely on the basis of artistic merit.
"My agent wanted me to read forFinding Nemo."
When Helena wins, we all win.
Dude, isn't Kasumi's mom kinda hot?
The best (non-female) costume in the game.
Who killed Helena's mother? This week on DOAU!
The Kasumi backhand in action.
