Dead or Alive 2 first turned heads as an arcade title that was later ported to the Dreamcast earlier this year. Now, the definitive version of the game, DOA 2 Hardcore has emerged to go up against the likes of Tekken Tag Tournament and Street Fighter EX3 as the PS2 launches. It's an easy call to say DOA 2 is the most visually captivating of them all. Game play wise, the fighting engine is solid, although the attack reversals work a bit too well and the disproportionate damage they cause keeps the combat system from truly achieving its potential. The game's audio is simply awesome with great stage music and well-done Japanese voices. The awkward English voices make the already nonsensical story even more so. If it's any consolation, fighting game plots rarely make much sense anyway. While DOA 2 Hardcore doesn't sport as many hidden characters as its competition, it does feature the beloved hidden-costume unlocking feature that is a trademark of the series. This is one of those debates that will certainly rage on and even in the GamePro offices not all are in total agreement. Suffice it to say that the fighting game the majority of the Gamepro.com staff will buy is DOA 2 Hardcore. For fighting enthusiasts, DOA2 Hardcore is the first must have game for the PlayStation 2. End of story.
