Dead or Alive 2

Dead or Alive 2 lives upto the hype and finally proves that Namco isn't the only one who can do killer arcade amps. Team Ninja did an amazing job with this title. The graphics are as good if not better than Soul Calibur's visuals. Featuring an incredibly smooth and well rounded anime-inspired cast. There's lots of attention to detail such as pieces of clothing that move against the wind and fully animated faces. Of course the "bouncing" is back, but this time you can control it with the age feature (the older you are the bouncier "they" get). The backgrounds are simply huge and can be used to your advantage in a fight. You can slam opponents up against walls for major damage and even knock them off towering buildings. Each stage features mulitiple tiers and lots of hidden areas to burst into. There's even little details such as your characters kicking up snow or water. Not to mention that these surfaces can even effect your movement. The gameplay is built for all levels & types of players. From the button mashers to the combo masters. It's easy for beginners and there's an indepth system for the hardcore gamers as well. Though the interface is simple (punch, kick, block/counter) the number of combos and counters you can perform is astounding. Throw in the Tag Team Mode and you got yourself one heck of a ride. You can switch partners with the ease of pressing a single button. And some of the tag combos you can start are amazing to watch. My only complaint about the game is the total lack of hidden extras. If you remember the first Dead or Alive (the Playstation or Saturn version) there were loads of costumes to open up and additonal options with how much time you put in. In DOA2 everything is already open. The only thing you can uncover is the Ayane/Kasmui cinema. I also wish the story made more sense and that a move list was included with the training mode. Oh well, at least the game is still fun to play and watch and in the end that's the only that matters. The game itself. Fighting fans will have their time with Dead or Alive 2.

Overall 8.8