Kudos to Tecmo for finally beginning to show creativity and
quality-control in their latest batch of PSX games. After
the dismal "Tecmo Superbowl" and the underrated
"Deception", Tecmo is back in form with "Stackers" (fun and
harmless little puzzle game), "Monster Rancher" (the
sleeper hit of the Christmas '98 PSX line-up) and this
beautiful gem of a fighting game, the Model-2 based arcade
brawler "Dead or Alive". As close to Sega's "Virtua
Fighter 2" as the PSX will ever get (ditto for Hudson's
"Bloody Roar" and Sega's "Fighting Vipers"), "DOA" has
enough good points to make it stand above the crowded field
of PSX fighting games, but enough derivative and cliche
elements to keep it next to the likes of "Tobal #1" and
"Dynasty Warriors", and bellow the standard-setting "Tekken
3" and "Street Fighter EX+Alpha". Oh well, at least it
isn't "Criticom", "VS." or "Mortal Kombat Trilogy".
GAMEPLAY / FUN FACTOR: A-
Three-button set-up, and a "VF" deja-vu feeling permeates
the entire playing experience of "DOA", which isn't a bad
thing if you (like me) enjoy the best Sega brawlers AM2 and
AM3 developed for the now-defunct Saturn ("Fighters
Megamix", "Last Bronx", etc.). By incorporating (a) danger
zones instead of ring-outs that send fallen foes flying
into the stratosphere, (b) a turn-about button (somewhat
similar to the grapple technique of SquareSoft's "Tobal
#1") and a hold-the-pad-back-to-block that allows for
faster and meaner fist-a-cuffs, and (c) lots of moves and
techniques that are confined to a 2D plane (again, just
like the "VF" series), "DOA" has the right elements for
both button-mashers and fighting-fanatics to give this one
a look. And yes, the bouncing-breasts are good for (a) a
laugh or two, and (b) for teenage boys with raging hormones
to post tons of useless but amusing notes on usenet groups
that might generate an additional sale or two.
GRAPHICS / VISUALS: A-
If the backgrounds were as detailed/animated/better-faked
as the awesome Saturn version of "Dead or Alive", and if
more visual extras were added to the standard "VF" look
(something akin to the "Tekken 3" or "Tobal #1"
side-scroller/dungeon bonus modes), this game would have
gotten a much deserved A+. But what we have here ain't bad
by any measure: high-resolution graphics, 60
frames-per-second with a level of detail on the texture of
the characters and their gazillion hidden outfits that
(dare I say it?) rivals the awesome "Soul Edge/Blade" of
Namco (which ran at half the speed of PSX "DOA"), and not a
hint of slowdown ANYWHERE, EVER! The cast of characters
look good and move even better (smooth as Aunt Jemima's
syrup...???!!!), but sadly lack any distinctive
personalities. "Ninja Gaiden" star Ryu Hayabusa is nothing
but a lackey for Sega's Kage, Zach is like the "VF2"
character Leon pretending/acting/moving like a white
Dennis Rodman, and so on and so forth. The female
characters, which are pretty much carrying the game in both
its print advertisements and hype, are faster and lethal
than most of the guys; you can tell more attention and
detail was spent on them than the other characters, but
that's Japan's wacky and sexist culture for you. But on
the whole, the ten selectable characters (including two
hidden one's) balance each other out just like any good
brawler should. Shame that the backgrounds of PSX "DOA"
are so plain and dull, and rival the original "Tekken" in
boredom. The price of a being a looker, I guess.
MUSIC / SOUND EFFECTS: B
The music is unremarkable, and lacks the hard-edge of
"Tekken 3" or the heroic feeling of "Soul Edge/Blade". At
some points "DOA" sounds down-right pornographic, as do
some of the female character's taunts and Japanese lines
when they pose for their winning stand. Tina, for example,
has a winning pose and quote that, combined with the music,
gives me a flashback to the "me love you long time, me love
you so much" scene with a Vietnamese hooker from Stanley
Kubrick's 1987 flick "Full Metal Jacket". Other sounds in
the game are either really cool (like Bayman's neck-crack)
or just-plain lame and juvenile (don't get me started with
Lu Kang...I mean, Jann Lee's screams :-P). The punches and
kicks come across with gusto, and the resonance of those
explosions when a character hits the ground in a danger
zone is satisfying. Thank God Tecmo didn't even think of
translating the dialogue; wacky unintelligible Japanese is
always good for a laugh or two (and when combined with them
bouncing breasts, lots of Jolt Cola and a late-night gaming
binge...ohh my!).
OVERALL: B+
Tecmo was smart to release "Dead or Alive" before the
"Tekken 3" hype machine kicked into overdrive this past May
1st. (Sony was also smart by also releasing their 1st
Quarter brawler, "Bloody Roar", months before Namco's baby
wiped their sales potential off the charts). Shame that
now the game will likely be overlooked by the masses, and
not be given it's due recognition as a top-notch brawler in
a system overflooded with mediocre stuff. High-res, 60
fps, lots of moves, and depth galore! Cliches aside, "DOA"
gets thumbs up from this jaded "Virtua Fighter 2" junkie
that needs to have those thumbs hurting with the sucky PSX
control pad. When will Sony wise-up and realize we need a
better control to enjoy our fighting games? But that rant
belongs to another review... a "Street Fighter" review!
