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Dead or Alive 2 is a fantastic fighting game, that manages to offer gamers a deeper level of game play than you might have thought at first. In my view it isn’t as good as Soul Calibur, but then nothing is – Dead or Alive 2 claims the honourable place as the second best Dreamcast fighting game, and that is something to be proud of! The creators Tecmo, released this game on Dreamcast before the Playstation 2, so you’d think that Sony’s machine version would have improved graphics over the Dreamcast one, but it doesn’t. Although there is very little in it, the Dreamcast game actually is crisper, more vibrant in colour and has no glitches or ‘jaggedness’, but if you have a PS2 then it’s still worth getting as nothing comes close to it on that format (not even Tekken Tag Tournament in my belief). So why is DoA2 so good? I’m about to tell you…
I don’t know why but I was looking forward to this game more than most other Dreamcast games, it only cost me £29.99 so I saved 25% on the SRP, so it didn’t break the bank balance. Well, I remember the original Dead or Alive, which appeared on the Sega Saturn and Playstation, but I never managed to play it, and after reading some reviews claiming it was the best Saturn fighter so far, and naturally I would have wanted it in my gaming collection, but unfortunately, with the Saturn’s demise, I was unable to do so. But at least the second game arrived and it’s been fairly impressive to say the least!
The fighting game engine is very different from Soul Calibur, and I don’t feel it’s as well executed as Namco’s game, but nonetheless, Dead or Alive 2 plays very well indeed. The controls are simple to learn, so it’s easy to get straight into a game without learning any special moves, but there is a wealth of moves to be performed, so it will prove to be a challenge for die-hard fans of the genre. There are many power moves, various kicks, punches and throws, as you would expect, but the most impressive idea in the game are the ‘counter’ moves. So basically, whenever your opponent attacks you, you’re able to counter it by pressing certain buttons, and so the damage is inflicted on them instead. You cannot counter every single move, but when you do it’s quite impressive! Tecmo has made the game incredibly smooth and stylish – every move looks perfectly performed. You may notice that there are no weapons in Dead or Alive 2 – it’s an all out combat free fighting game, the characters don’t have swords or sticks like those in Soul Calibur, so you may want to consider this if you have to choose between the two games.
One major advantage that Dead or Alive 2 has over SC is the Tag Battle mode – enabling up to four players to fight it out until the death! You’ll be able to Tag whenever you need to, if you need your health to be replenished then tag, or if you’re tag team member wants to take over, they can do so too! Having played the Tekken Tag Tournament Tag battle, I have to say Dead or Alive 2’s is far better, but TTT ‘s is still impressive. So, where Soul Calibur excels in the single player mission mode, and 2 player bouts, Dead or Alive 2 gives you the opportunity to make use of the Dreamcast four controller ports.
The single player experience of DoA2 is not particularly impressive, and there aren’t as many ‘features’ to unlock, whereas the mission mode in Soul Calibur will last a long time and reward you with pieces of artwork, and there are new characters to be unlocked also (via the arcade mode). If you play through the story mode here you’ll be treated to a few video sequences, telling a rather brief and pointless story in between the 6fight tournament. If you get past all the regular characters then you’ll be up against the game boss – ‘Evil Tengu’ (a huge boar like monster: he flies & is incredibly powerful!). Although there isn’t much to get through in this mode, you can increase the difficulty level to suite your fighting ability. You’ll learn a bit more about the different characters, things like Bass being Tina’s father and that Ayane killed Helena’s mum. Very nice! You’ll only be awarded extra costumes by completing the story mode, there are no new characters to unlock, but at least you have something to work for – it’s not much of an incentive, but you may as well reveal all of the player’s attire.
The characters are all great with their special moves and all, but I can recommend using Helena and Ein as they seem to be the most effective – both fast and powerful. All the people have different costumes to be unlocked, but the most graphically impressive is Zack’s silver shiny one.
Great game for all who love fighting games – the alternative to Soul Calibur and a worthy purchase for anyone.
I don’t know why but I was looking forward to this game more than most other Dreamcast games, it only cost me £29.99 so I saved 25% on the SRP, so it didn’t break the bank balance. Well, I remember the original Dead or Alive, which appeared on the Sega Saturn and Playstation, but I never managed to play it, and after reading some reviews claiming it was the best Saturn fighter so far, and naturally I would have wanted it in my gaming collection, but unfortunately, with the Saturn’s demise, I was unable to do so. But at least the second game arrived and it’s been fairly impressive to say the least!
The fighting game engine is very different from Soul Calibur, and I don’t feel it’s as well executed as Namco’s game, but nonetheless, Dead or Alive 2 plays very well indeed. The controls are simple to learn, so it’s easy to get straight into a game without learning any special moves, but there is a wealth of moves to be performed, so it will prove to be a challenge for die-hard fans of the genre. There are many power moves, various kicks, punches and throws, as you would expect, but the most impressive idea in the game are the ‘counter’ moves. So basically, whenever your opponent attacks you, you’re able to counter it by pressing certain buttons, and so the damage is inflicted on them instead. You cannot counter every single move, but when you do it’s quite impressive! Tecmo has made the game incredibly smooth and stylish – every move looks perfectly performed. You may notice that there are no weapons in Dead or Alive 2 – it’s an all out combat free fighting game, the characters don’t have swords or sticks like those in Soul Calibur, so you may want to consider this if you have to choose between the two games.
One major advantage that Dead or Alive 2 has over SC is the Tag Battle mode – enabling up to four players to fight it out until the death! You’ll be able to Tag whenever you need to, if you need your health to be replenished then tag, or if you’re tag team member wants to take over, they can do so too! Having played the Tekken Tag Tournament Tag battle, I have to say Dead or Alive 2’s is far better, but TTT ‘s is still impressive. So, where Soul Calibur excels in the single player mission mode, and 2 player bouts, Dead or Alive 2 gives you the opportunity to make use of the Dreamcast four controller ports.
The single player experience of DoA2 is not particularly impressive, and there aren’t as many ‘features’ to unlock, whereas the mission mode in Soul Calibur will last a long time and reward you with pieces of artwork, and there are new characters to be unlocked also (via the arcade mode). If you play through the story mode here you’ll be treated to a few video sequences, telling a rather brief and pointless story in between the 6fight tournament. If you get past all the regular characters then you’ll be up against the game boss – ‘Evil Tengu’ (a huge boar like monster: he flies & is incredibly powerful!). Although there isn’t much to get through in this mode, you can increase the difficulty level to suite your fighting ability. You’ll learn a bit more about the different characters, things like Bass being Tina’s father and that Ayane killed Helena’s mum. Very nice! You’ll only be awarded extra costumes by completing the story mode, there are no new characters to unlock, but at least you have something to work for – it’s not much of an incentive, but you may as well reveal all of the player’s attire.
The characters are all great with their special moves and all, but I can recommend using Helena and Ein as they seem to be the most effective – both fast and powerful. All the people have different costumes to be unlocked, but the most graphically impressive is Zack’s silver shiny one.
Great game for all who love fighting games – the alternative to Soul Calibur and a worthy purchase for anyone.
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Wow, that was a quick response.
I suppose I'm in the middle, like I said I enjoy humour, and I'm all for a bit of mickey-taking (*gets his magnifying glass out and holds it under the sunlight*), but I'm a nice guy really! (*uses it to light a fire and toast marshmellows for everyone*) -scared ya there eh Ant.
I suppose I'm in the middle, like I said I enjoy humour, and I'm all for a bit of mickey-taking (*gets his magnifying glass out and holds it under the sunlight*), but I'm a nice guy really! (*uses it to light a fire and toast marshmellows for everyone*) -scared ya there eh Ant.
Joe@SpecialReserve wrote:
> Hello! I think this might be a good opportunity to introduce myself.
> I'm one of the elves you see - and I can tell you it's mighty
> cramped in this broom cupboard!
Anyway, I help with Gameaday and
> Filmaday now. And stop posting reviews in the discussion boards if
> you want to win for them - if the reviews page isn't working then
> report it in the site bugs forum!
By the way if you want some
> hints on what I look out for in winners - it basically has to be
> well written, with a good point to make, original or with a fresh
> outlook on something, and a touch of humour or satire is always a
> nice extra. Also with reviews try not to spend so long listing every
> last aspect of the game, some details are very useful, but I prefer
> to hear opinions on things or vivid descriptions rather than a long
> list of features. Although don't all start creating master-pieces
> everyday, or I'll go mad trying to pick the best! My head might
> explode all over this nice clean broom cupboard...
Hello Joe, how are you??
Are you like, Ali? Who hardly ever posts, but is a nice guy when he does??
Are you like Tony? Who posts a lot, and likes taking the mickey out of me being an Ant??
Or are you in the middle??
Just curious. {:)
> Hello! I think this might be a good opportunity to introduce myself.
> I'm one of the elves you see - and I can tell you it's mighty
> cramped in this broom cupboard!
Anyway, I help with Gameaday and
> Filmaday now. And stop posting reviews in the discussion boards if
> you want to win for them - if the reviews page isn't working then
> report it in the site bugs forum!
By the way if you want some
> hints on what I look out for in winners - it basically has to be
> well written, with a good point to make, original or with a fresh
> outlook on something, and a touch of humour or satire is always a
> nice extra. Also with reviews try not to spend so long listing every
> last aspect of the game, some details are very useful, but I prefer
> to hear opinions on things or vivid descriptions rather than a long
> list of features. Although don't all start creating master-pieces
> everyday, or I'll go mad trying to pick the best! My head might
> explode all over this nice clean broom cupboard...
Hello Joe, how are you??
Are you like, Ali? Who hardly ever posts, but is a nice guy when he does??
Are you like Tony? Who posts a lot, and likes taking the mickey out of me being an Ant??
Or are you in the middle??
Just curious. {:)
Hello Joe,
What do you know?
What do you know?
Hello! I think this might be a good opportunity to introduce myself. I'm one of the elves you see - and I can tell you it's mighty cramped in this broom cupboard!
Anyway, I help with Gameaday and Filmaday now. And stop posting reviews in the discussion boards if you want to win for them - if the reviews page isn't working then report it in the site bugs forum!
By the way if you want some hints on what I look out for in winners - it basically has to be well written, with a good point to make, original or with a fresh outlook on something, and a touch of humour or satire is always a nice extra. Also with reviews try not to spend so long listing every last aspect of the game, some details are very useful, but I prefer to hear opinions on things or vivid descriptions rather than a long list of features. Although don't all start creating master-pieces everyday, or I'll go mad trying to pick the best! My head might explode all over this nice clean broom cupboard...
Anyway, I help with Gameaday and Filmaday now. And stop posting reviews in the discussion boards if you want to win for them - if the reviews page isn't working then report it in the site bugs forum!
By the way if you want some hints on what I look out for in winners - it basically has to be well written, with a good point to make, original or with a fresh outlook on something, and a touch of humour or satire is always a nice extra. Also with reviews try not to spend so long listing every last aspect of the game, some details are very useful, but I prefer to hear opinions on things or vivid descriptions rather than a long list of features. Although don't all start creating master-pieces everyday, or I'll go mad trying to pick the best! My head might explode all over this nice clean broom cupboard...
Yep, well maybe we should all go up to one of the stores - wherever Ali hides out.
I've just been looking in the SR mag - it's got a great layout, but those pictures! I mean that bloke fixing the computer on nearly every page has got to be about 60 by now, and the RAM prices and pictures are just, well perverse, or highly irrelevant.
Anyway, on a more related note = this game is wicked, so get it!
I've just been looking in the SR mag - it's got a great layout, but those pictures! I mean that bloke fixing the computer on nearly every page has got to be about 60 by now, and the RAM prices and pictures are just, well perverse, or highly irrelevant.
Anyway, on a more related note = this game is wicked, so get it!
That's the problem Dan, you have to go with the flow.
The elves pick the winners now, Ali has them all highly trained and they work for next to nothing. They all live in a little broom closet in Ali's office.
It doesn't seem like anyone's been down to the Special Reserve warehouse either, otherwise they would have heard Tony's cries for help from under those games boxes. Lets hope someone finds him before he starves to death or gets FOG withdrawl syndrome.
The elves pick the winners now, Ali has them all highly trained and they work for next to nothing. They all live in a little broom closet in Ali's office.
It doesn't seem like anyone's been down to the Special Reserve warehouse either, otherwise they would have heard Tony's cries for help from under those games boxes. Lets hope someone finds him before he starves to death or gets FOG withdrawl syndrome.
good review dan, slightly oversized for a discussion page but still good. if it was up to me then i would give u the prize now. but i dont so better luck next time. It might actually give you a better chance just to write a paragraph like everyone else. also quit your whining about winning a game, youve won plenty of times so let other people have a chance greedy. be happy with wat u got!!
Thanks for your support...
But who actually chooses gameaday now? I know it was Ali before... but Tony spoke of some new bloke coming to help him...
Still no sign of Tony either...
Ali, or anyone else, if you read this, where's Tony?
But who actually chooses gameaday now? I know it was Ali before... but Tony spoke of some new bloke coming to help him...
Still no sign of Tony either...
Ali, or anyone else, if you read this, where's Tony?
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