Dead or Alive 4

Reviewed by Andrew Clark
May 24, 2006

Developer: Team Ninja Publisher: Tecmo Website: Click Here Platform(s): XBOX 360 Players: 1 - 4 (offline), 2 - 16 (online) ESRB Rating: M for Mature

Screenshot. Click image to enlarge

Dead or Alive is the only true fighting game for the Xbox 360 at the moment. This Tecmo release is graphically one of the most gorgeous games on the 360 at the moment. Team Ninja's head man, Tomunobu Itagaki strives for perfection. Though the games may take long to release they are well worth the wait.

The game includes 22 unlockable characters with many costume combinations to choose from. Team Ninja has stated that they will be using the Xbox marketplace to release more things for the game, which will give it more replay value. Multiplayer features include the usual versus and tag modes. The game also has online capabilities where gamers can take their skill online via Xbox Live and play against the world's best. However there are some problems when online. If you aren't careful with which rooms you enter you could experience lag. This can affect gameplay in competitive rooms and allow things like delayed actions to determine the win or loss of a match. Some gamers if frustrated may also cancel the match at anytime.

The overall controls of the game are easy to learn but with over hundreds of combinations and special moves it takes a while to master. It is quite easy for someone not into games to get into this one with button mashing fury but those who are into the fighting genre will be quite satisfied with the advanced features and combos. Online play controls are the same but if you are not careful when playing on line, the game will freeze by accidentally pressing the guide button.

I gave this game a high evolution factor due to all the unlockable content and the feature downloads that will be available to increase the replay value and the hefty $60 price tag. The game is easy for anyone to get into and allows for multiplayer online and offline. This is one of the games to have in your 360 collection!

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