Dead or Alive

Staying Alive

HIGH Landing a well timed Power Blow that destroys the opponent—not to mention everyone and everything around them.

LOW Inconsistent netcode often leads to irritating online matches.

WTF Virtua Fighter characters made it into the series before Rachel and Momiji did? Seriously?

Wanted: Dead, not Alive

HIGH The responsive combat controls.

LOW The haphazard and awful excuse for a story mode.

WTF The sheer number of women getting backhanded.

Is Dead or Alive: Dimensions kiddy porn? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.

The Dead or Alive series has never pretended to be anything but what it was. It featured nubile, scantily-clad women with entertaining breast physics that kicked and punched opponents across a fighting ring or stage. It was a game aimed squarely at young men and over the years it catered to that demographic to much success.

Paradise? That's a Pretty Wild Exaggeration...

HIGH The volleyball's not horrible.

LOW Everything else.

WTF All this emphasis on skin, and you can't zoom in any further?

Game Description: Featuring the sexy female characters from the Dead or Alive series, your two-week Vacation Mode starts at the getaway resort, New Zack Island. Select a favorite from nine playable characters and you are free to mingle, flirt, play, take snapshots and challenge them in mini-games found throughout the island. Store the snaps in your one-of-a-kind private album along with teasing "venus clips" for viewing and editing or share an intimate experience with your girls by buying gifts and having them model your favorite bathing suits. You are in full control to create your own private paradise, in the palm of your hand. It's all on-the-go. Take your girls anywhere, and play with them anytime.

Game Description: Join the DOA girls once again on Zack's Island in DOA Xtreme 2; the sequel to the most thrilling beach game every created: DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Play & explore at your own pace as you compete in all new island activities. Play as one of the nine beautiful DOA girls and experience first-hand the way resort life was meant to be enjoyed. The gorgeous women of DOA come to life in a fun, beautiful island environment complete with the most stunning graphics on any system and all new cinematics.

In the hierarchy of videogame fighting titles, Team Ninja's Dead or Alive series (DoA) has always languished somewhere near the middle of the pack. Known more for its jaw-dropping visuals, scantily-clad female combatants, and the phenomena of "breast physics" than its fighting engine, the games have always been looked down upon by fans of loftier fighting series like Virtua Fighter, Soul Calibur, and even Tekken. However, that hasn't stopped the franchise from developing a loyal following.

Game Description: Dead or Alive 4 takes advantage of the superior technology of Xbox 360, to redefine 3D fighter games. Go wild with a new fighting system, larger tournament groups, detailed scoreboards and more. Form clans, or just enter the lobby areas to talk with other DOA fans. Best of all, the fighting system allows even more mastery and strategy of your favorite character—including the most complex DOA countering system yet!