Team Ninja's Gem

The arrival of a Dead or Alive game has become a landmark event, as Team Ninja's fighting masterpiece has amassed a tremendous fan base. It not only symbolizes a quality fighting game in all aspects, but also a technological showpiece for the console it graces. Dead or Alive® 3 stood as one of the single most beautiful games on the original Xbox®, and to this day it can stand up graphically to any game on the console.

A technological showpiece and a pitch-perfect
demonstration of just what online multiplayer
can bring to a game.

Dead or Alive® 4 is doing much the same with its arrival on Xbox 360™. Visually, it is stunning, with environments so detailed and vibrant they feel alive, and characters so smooth and well animated they seem real.

Just what can you expect from Dead or Alive 4 beyond its trademark beauty? Read on to find out.

He's just a little kid, Jann! Take it easy.

Revamped Combat
Massively overhauled visuals alone do not make for a quality sequel; evolved and refined gameplay must also be present, and Dead or Alive fans can rest easy knowing that Itagaki-san has layered Dead or Alive 4 with extra depth.

• Refined reversals: Dead or Alive 4 evolves the previous reversal system to require more strategy and skill, while still maintaining accessibility. Reversals become less constant, but more tactical, as the game requires you to not only time the reversal but also recognize the type of attack. For example, a mid-level kick can be reversed by pressing forward and X, while a mid-level punch requires you to press back and X.
• In style: The unique styles of each fighter have always been prominent, but now they've been updated to fit their unique personalities (for example, Ryu employs more trickery, as a ninja should). Each fighter now feels more distinctive, and requires more thought and practice to perfect.
• Lengthier bouts: This isn't a question of increasing the time allotted for each match, but merely adjusting the amount of sheer damage caused by each blow. Throws, counters, and even basic moves have all been scaled back a bit. This minor change allows players to regroup after a misstep and still have a legitimate shot at competing in the match.
• Environmental influence: Dead or Alive 3 and Dead or Alive® Ultimate™ upped the ante by increasing the environmental hazards in each map, but Dead or Alive 4 increases the sheer volume of interactive elements considerably. Team Ninja has also added more minor changes, like the ability to hop a fence towards your opponent and trigger context-sensitive attacks in the process.

Gut shot.

Forty-five Goals
The achievements system Xbox 360 employs has rapidly gained support as gamers compare and contrast their own exploits with friends and competitors. Dead or Alive 4 offers 45 distinctive goals for you to aspire to, which help increase your gamerscore as well. These include simply spending five hours playing the game, unlocking all the costumes, winning twenty matches in a row, and many many more.

Halo Inspired
A special treat lies in wait in Dead or Alive 4, and while we can't tell you how to unlock her, you can be sure that hard work will net you the secret Halo-inspired SPARTAN-458 character, decked out in Master Chief-like Mjolnir battle armor.

For those curious as to how she plays, don't worry; she is fearsome. She fights with deliberate power and even sports a combo that finishes with the use of a plasma grenade. She is certainly not mere eye-candy for the Halo fans out there. SPARTAN-458 can hold her own against any opponent, especially in the hands of a hardcore gamer (she's a tough one to master). Once you do, though, watch out.

Online Community
More than any other feature, Dead or Alive 4's online mode has captured the most buzz and speculation. First things first: Its network code is up to snuff, and then some. Lag should be less of an issue in DOA 4 than some of the best-running online multiplayer games now available. This is a huge boon, as even a bit of lag can ruin the timing required in a fighting game.

The new lobby system employed by Team Ninja is set to help create a much more communal experience. Instead of staring at a static lobby, you can now walk about in all manner of odd but highly interactive environments. Pass the time by chatting with upcoming competitors, or watch the current fight in progress from a screen in the lobby. You can even earn Zack Dollars to buy little cosmetic upgrades to your lobby avatar.

Now that would be handy.

Of course, you can also look forward to a highly customizable set of options for either finding matches or creating one of your own. These include game modes (e.g. winner stays, survival, tag team), language, how long the rounds are, and even dedicated slots for your friends, among many other choices. Whatever you're in the mood for, you can find or create the match you want in DOA 4.

Standards
Naturally, you can look forward to all the old standbys you've come to expect in the Dead or Alive series. Story mode is in full effect (with CG ending movies for each character), as is Survival, tag team battles, and a much improved sparring mode for training up your skills. If you've enjoyed a game mode or option in prior games, chances are you'll find it here, and much improved at that.

If you're looking for a great fighter, look no further than Dead or Alive 4, and if you're looking for a technological showpiece and a pitch-perfect demonstration of just what online multiplayer can bring to a game, Dead or Alive 4 is prime example of both as well.

Article by Alex McLain