Dead or Alive 2  
Last Updated: 5/9/2010
Developer(s): Team Ninja
Publisher(s): Tecmo
Designer(s): Tomonobu Itagaki
Platform(s): Arcade, Dreamcast, Playstation 2 (As DOA2 - Hardcore)
Release Date(s): October 16th, 1999 (Arcade)
February 27th, 2000 ( Dreamcast)
September 28th, 2000 ( Dreamcast)
Characters Ein, Leon, Lei Fang, Kasumi, Ayane, Tina, Bass, Zack, Hayabusa, Helena, Gen Fu, Jann Lee, Tengu

Featured Video:

Related Games: Dead or Alive, Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore, Dead or Alive 3, Dead or Alive 4, Dead or Alive 5, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, Tekken Tag Tournament

Gameplay Engine
 8 / 10
Story / Theme
 6 / 10
Overall Graphics
 9.5 / 10
Animation
 9.5 / 10
Music / Sound Effects
 7 / 10
Innovation
 8 / 10
Art Direction
 7 / 10
Customization
 7 / 10
Options / Extras
 6.5 / 10
Intro / Presentation
 8 / 10
Replayability / Fun
 8 / 10
"Ouch" Factor
 9 / 10
Characters
 7 / 10
BOTTOM LINE

8.3 / 10

 Review based on Dreamcast version
Final Words:

DOA2 was an interesting and definitely "next gen looking" 3D fighter at the time. The high points in this game would once again be the graphics and multi-tiered stages.

Overlooking some awkward moments, the animation is top stuff, especially hit effects, giving DOA2 some very impressive "ouch factor." The tag team special throws are also quite satisfying and don't fail to make you cringe.

Still, the theme of this game is entirely too "one tracked" for my tastes. Though the game contains some decent martial arts moves, the designers seemed to have put more emphasis on "the boob bounce" than actual martial arts & fighting, or gameplay for that matter ... if only the counter system was as detailed as Tina's boobs. Overall though, it's a fun 3D fighter that no one should miss. ~TFG Webmaster

 
                 
 

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STORYA great leader was killed at the end of the 20th century. His name was Fame Douglas, and he was renowned as the sponsor of the legendary Dead or Alive World Combat Championship. Since his death, and in the absence of his charisma and leadership, the world has become chaotic. Yet something appears to be transpiring. Amid this chaos, it is announced that the "Dead or Alive Championship 2" will be held. However, Douglas's passing has taken with it the purpose and significance of the tournament. Even worse, the promoter of "Dead or Alive Championship 2", who is fond of conflicts and jealous of the string, is responsible for Douglas's death. The new promoter is more than a corrupt mastermind, but a man of pure evil. His involvement in the tournament has brought a sense of terror to the world, resulting in the infamous Tengu disaster that occurred at the end of the 20th century. The climax of the disaster is about to begin with a roaring battle.
 

Behind you Ayane! Kasumi's a creeper...

REVIEWTecmo's second installment to their fighting series brought forward an innovative step in 3D fighting games... "multi-tiered" fighting. Arguably the main draw of DOA2 is the fact that characters are able to knock each other off of high areas/platforms, through a guard rail/wall; and continue fighting a lower level. Although completely unrealistic to get knocked off a building and keep fighting, the various multi-tiered stages offer some uniquely flashy gameplay; and along with the games sharp graphics, DOA2 offered some great eye-candy for the time... and yes the bouncy boobs are still quite entertaining at times.
 

Off the invisible top rope! 

Tecmo somewhat fleshed out the character designs by adding in a story mode, but character personalities leave a lot to be desired. The girls of DOA seem to be more interested in showing off their boobs than fighting (obviously designed by men with one-tracked minds), and don't have much of a purpose for fighting at all. All the male characters in DOA decent fighting styles, but their overall designs, movelists, and fighting styles pale in comparison to Tekken Tag's characters, for example. The featured fighting styles of DOA2 aren't represented as well as they could be, and animation can be quite awkward at times... but overall, the animation and action looks great.
 

Tina's got some interesting wrestling techniques.

The gameplay in general is solid, but counters are overly easy to perform. There's a high counter and a low counter, and 9 times out of 10 that you try a counter you'll probably succeed if you have any sort of timing... easy stuff really, which really hurts the game in high level play. Counters do look pretty however, especially since each character has his/her own unique throws. There are some cool combo possibilities in DOA2, but when counters can be used at any time and so frequently, the actual gameplay becomes a bit monotonous. In the Dreamcast, you can fight 1- on- 1 playing the story mode, and entertaining Tag Battle Mode which allows for 2-on-2 tag team fighting (featuring some cool tag team throws to boot), and also an addicting Survival mode.
 

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