Environmental Advantage

In Team Ninja's Dead or Alive® 4, the two opposing warriors standing opposite one another as each match begins pose enough threat as is, but the environment they spar in also represents a threat.

Some are passive (such as an electrical wall), while some are active (like the cars in Gambler's Paradise), but all must be considered.

Shades of The Undertaker.

The key, obviously, is to thrust your opponent into harm's way while avoiding it yourself. Many a match is swung by the use (or lack of use) of environmental hazards. Often players don't even recognize a potential threat or opportunity. Thus, I've put finger to keyboard and created this guide to understanding your environment.

Beyond causing damage and mayhem, the interactive elements also offer you the opportunity to open up and fight in whole different areas of the map. For example, fighting on the bridge in Waterfall Valley is fine and good, but knock an opponent off of it and you find a whole new world underneath.

Note: At no time can an environmental hazard knock you out. No matter how low your health is, you always have at least a sliver of life left after falling victim to an environmental pitfall.

The Slope
Slopes represent the most easily recognizable hazard in DOA 4. Anytime you find yourself backed up against a stairway or hillside, you know you're in trouble. If you can avoid the heavy blows, though, you should be able to keep your balance.

Tip: If you and your opponent are near a slope, you can trigger a context-sensitive throw to toss them down the incline. Practice this in sparring mode to get it down pat.

Classic DOA action.

The Barrier
This is the most common obstacle and it comes in many forms. From the street signs in Gambler's Paradise to the hippo in Savannah Safari, there are barriers all over. If it's low to the ground and in your way, chances are you can knock your opponent over it.

Tip: The amount of damage caused by knocking an enemy over a barrier isn't substantial, but it does set you up for a context sensitive attack while your opponent is vulnerable. Tap forward twice when near the obstacle and hit Y or B in midair to complete the attack.

The Walls
You find these hazards in the more enclosed levels: Bioware Core, The Crash Club, and D.W.A Coliseum, to be specific. The walls themselves are charged with energy and ready to lash out against the unfortunate foe knocked into them.

Tip: As you would expect, the common and effective tactic here are wall combos (drive the enemy back and lay down the thunder) and juggling (hit opponent in the air and begin a combo) that drive them back into the charged wall. Context-sensitive throws near these walls can also cause devastating damage.

Moving Obstacles
Not all the environmental hazards are passive in nature. The speeding cars in Gambler's Paradise and the ready-to-pounce cheetah in Savannah Safari are very real threats, and can swipe a healthy dose of health from you at any time.

Tip: Recognize the location of the threat and time your attack to thrust your enemy near or in front of it. The cars in Gambler's Paradise move to try and avoid a collision, but if you knock your opponent into the next lane of traffic just as a car approaches, a crash is inevitable. The cheetah in Savannah Safari is less about timing and more about maneuvering. If you press your enemy too close to the cat's location, it jumps from its rocky perch and pounces.

Kata time.

Sheer Drop
These obstacles may not be wholly obvious at first, but you'll quickly remember where they are. Typically all sheer drops are preceded by a railing of some sort. The railing on the bridge in Waterfall Valley and Kyoto in Bloom, the barrier after the first two sets of stairs in Temple on the Mountain, and the glass window in DOATEC Great Hall are prime examples. All of them spell substantial damage for whoever is unlucky enough to go over the edge.

Tip: Defensively, strafing isn't often used, but don't forget it's available as it can save you often when you find your back pressed up against a sheer drop. Also, attacks that can send you flying are most often high and sometimes mid-level attacks. Online, opponents often go with a "money" move here to send you over the edge, which can make timing for a counter much easier.

Article by Alex McLain