What is Dead or Alive Series?
Dead or Alive is a 3D fighting developed by Team Ninja and released in November 26, 1996. The series was created by Tomonobu Itagaki who later left Koei Tecmo and started his own company Itagaki Games. The plot is about a martial arts tournament called Dead or Alive World Combat Championship, which fighters all over the world participate to win the title along with crash prize. DOATEC is the oganization that operates the tournament . Thoughout the course of the game, each character have different motive and goals of winning DOA tournament. For example, Kasumi a runaway ninja from Mugen Tenshin Clan who revenge aganist Raidou (main antagonist of the first game). Helena McDouglas wants to find out the truth about DOATEC unethical practices and experiments.
Many more characters storylines that player can explore. Koei Tecmo turned to Tomonobu Itagaki to create a game that garner a fan base. In 1990s, Tecmo had financial trouble and needed to base game sales. Itagaki was not too happy about modern fighting games during 90s. He stated that he missed the old arcade style of play and had another vision for the fighting game genre. Before Itagaki came up Dead or Alive name, it was called “Dead Fighter” and “Poligon Fighter”. He took inspiration from games such as Virtua Fighter, Fatal Fury (which Mai was a third Party character in DOA 6) and Mortal Kombat. Itagaki wanted to have sex appeal and fanservice unlike any other fighting games in the market.
Conpetitive to Fanservice
DOA also features characters getting knock off stages and having a tag team mechanics. Ninja Gaiden’s Ryu Hayabusa makes a apperance in the series and canon as well. Further developement of DOA franchise, they added sweat and bruises to make it more realistic (DOA 5). In gameplay, you have four button imput unlike VF games that have three. There is punch, kick, throw and counter which can be utilze in combat. Each character have a fighting style like wrestling, martial arts ans street fighting with unique moveset. DOA tries to set the ground rules on being a competitive fighter than other 3D fighting games. While homing your skills in training mode and we which character suits your playstyle. They can enjoy story mode and uncover each character lore.
Afterward go into a online match to play casual or ranked to pummel your opponents. While knocking them throw electic walls and executing combos to win. DOA was a mid-tier competitive fighting games at the time. Later on, turn into a live action movie featuring Eric Roberts, Kevin Nash and more. It was deem to be a very bad fighting game movie adaptation. You can look at Double Toasted’s Dead or Alive Bad Movie Roast video, if you don’t want to watch it for yourself. Anywho, the game does have side tournaments if you want to watch them online. In my opinion, DOA is not a bad game and I see players doesn’t like the counter system (which can be spam at anytime).
Continue
The game is very easy to pick up, if you are a veteren of 3D fighting games. It feels like Virtua Fighter but more advanced in terms of mechanics. Afterwards, there is a spin-off called “Dead or Alive Xtreme” which is about female characters going into a island for some rest and relaxation. This was the fanservice part of the game, female characters like Kasumi, Tina Armstrong, Ayame and Helena McDouglas in peculiar outfits. These girls can play volleyball, casino and many more activates in the game. Gravure movie are in the game that featuring female chararcters modeling. The sequel Venus Vacation turn into a free to play gacha game which you can spend time with girls and get outfits for them. More characters have been announces as it continue to update but a new IP was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2024.
Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation Prism which is dating sim with 6 characters from the last game. Alot of people might be upset about it because its a downgrade in terms of characters. Characters that will be available is Misaki, Fiona, Elise, Tamaki, Nanami and Honoka at lanuch. Koei Tecmo also use a in-house engine called “Katana Engine” which gives female heroines life-like featuring. I am not sure if they add anymore characters in the game. The sadly part is not going to USA and other countries due to core values and woke standards. Feel free to import the game but don’t expect it to stateside anytime soon.
Thoughts
My thoughts is that Dead or Alive video game series not bad game. The series does still have a fanbase and collaborations with other IPs. This is one of the first fighting games with fanservice for male audience alike. Females can be apart of it as well, aside from jiggle physis present in the games. I remember being exposed to Japenese subs while playing Dead or Alive 2. Later on, which got me watching anime subbed thoughout my life. DOA 2 didn’t have no english dub and it was on Sega Dreamcast back in 1999. I remember playing the demo and got hooked to it. Also there is alot of waifus in the game as well to choose from.
There is a free to play DOA 5 and 6 core fighter for those who want to try it out. Buy Dead or Alive games series on PC, PlayStation and Xbox whatever platform your choose to play it on. I would sat that DOA is more fanservice than competitve. If you want to play a compeitive fighter, choose Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive. Thank you for reading this article and tell me in the comment. What is your thoughts on Dead or Alive series in general?
