Dead or Alive Ultimate
European cover art
Developer(s)Team Ninja
Publisher(s)Tecmo
Director(s)Tomonobu Itagaki
Producer(s)
  • Tomonobu Itagaki
  • Yasushi Maeda
  • Mitsuo Osada
Designer(s)
  • Katsunori Ehara
  • Motohiro Shiga
  • Yōhei Shinbori
Programmer(s)Takeshi Sawatari
Composer(s)Ryo Koike
SeriesDead or Alive
Platform(s)Xbox
Release
  • NA: October 26, 2004
  • JP: November 3, 2004
  • EU: February 18, 2005
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Dead or Alive Ultimate (Japanese: デッドオアアライブアルティメット, Hepburn: Deddo Oa Araibu Arutimetto, abbreviated as DOAU) is a compilation of fighting games developed by Team Ninja and released by Tecmo for the Xbox in 2004. It is a collection of the two previous games in the series, 1996's Dead or Alive and 1999's Dead or Alive 2. It marks the first game in the series to be a compilation. DOA Ultimate contains a high-resolution edition of the Sega Saturn version of Dead or Alive, and an enhanced remake of DOA2 which utilizes a new graphics engine and offers Dead or Alive 3 game mechanics, new game content, and the inclusion of Hitomi as a playable character. The game offered online multiplayer capabilities, making the compilation among the first fighting games to offer online play.

Ultimate received generally favorable reviews from critics who praised the games' online functionalities. On December 16, 2006, both games became backwards compatible with the Xbox 360.[1] On November 10, 2021, both games were made available to download on Xbox Live worldwide. On November 15, 2021, both games were added to the list of backward compatible games for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.[2]

Gameplay

Dead or Alive Ultimate is a compilation game that includes an enhanced version of Dead or Alive 1 and a remade version of Dead or Alive 2 with re-developed graphics and new stages for the Xbox gaming system. It includes the original Sega Saturn version of Dead or Alive 1, with smoothed graphics, but lacks the additional content received in the later-released North American PlayStation version (no Bass or Ayane characters or extra costumes). Both editions include online play.

Dead or Alive 1 Ultimate is essentially identical to its original Sega Saturn version, and is generally considered more of a collector's disc than for its content. Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate, being a remake created after the debut of Dead or Alive 3, takes elements and mechanics from both its original iteration and successor. The action of 3D-axis movement is as free-formatted as DOA3, and Hitomi is now a playable character albeit outside story mode. Other elements have been kept intact from DOA2. These include higher damaging counters than in DOA3, environmental hazards not warranting a knockout on a character, and a counter mechanism that is much harder to execute. Despite being able to freely move on a 3D axis in the Ultimate version of DOA2 however, most moves cannot be sidestepped as in DOA3 and other 3D fighters. Another major change is in the revamped holding system in DOA2 Ultimate. The final major set of changes instituted in 2 Ultimate is the inclusion of slopes, which are a type of environmental hazard where those knocked down them roll down the slope, taking damage as they fall.

The game required Xbox Live in order to play online. The service's support makes it the second online console fighting game to be released in America and Europe (Mortal Kombat: Deception having been the first) and the first online console fighting game in Japan. The system set forth by Tecmo for online play in Dead or Alive Ultimate was intended to recreate the feel of playing at an arcade. Players would log onto a shared "lobby" and then observe other matches until it was their turn to participate. Each lobby has a set of gameplay parameters that is determined by its creator, allowing for tournament-style play.

While this game brings back the old mechanics of the Dreamcast version of Dead or Alive 2, some changes to the music and remixes were added. Each character except Hitomi (who was introduced in DOA3) has their own remix. The remixes only appear in the Dance Floor stage, The Ray House.

Characters

Ultimate features a total of 16 playable characters. Dead or Alive 1 Ultimate features a roster of 9 playable characters while Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate features a roster of 15 playable characters.

^a Only playable in 2 Ultimate
^b Unlockable character
^c Only playable in 1 Ultimate

Plot

The story mode of Dead or Alive Ultimate plays out as it did in the original games. However, a new CG opening sequence is added, further explaining the relationship and history of Mugen Tenshin ninjas, Kasumi, Ayane and Hayate, revealing the village they all hail from, Kasumi's and Hayate's father, Shiden, who was mentioned in the first Dead or Alive, Ayane's foster-father, Genra, before his monstrous transformation in Dead or Alive 3, and introduces Ayame, mother of Kasumi, Hayate and Ayane. The sequence reveals the rape of Ayame by Kasumi's and Hayate's uncle, Raidou, leading to the birth of Ayane, her being raised by Genra, and Raidou's crippling of Hayate, leading to Hayate's comatose state and Kasumi's quest for vengeance on Raidou. The CG sequence acts as a prologue leading into the first three Dead or Alive games.

Development and release

Dead or Alive Ultimate promo booth at the Tokyo Game Show 2004

In 2004, after the release of Dead or Alive 3, Team Ninja once again remade Dead or Alive 2, this time for the Xbox system. In the planning stages, this new game was originally named Dead or Alive Online for its addition of online support. On January 14, it was renamed to Dead or Alive Ultimate and promised fresh content, additional characters, re-recorded voiceovers, and an upgraded version of the original Dead or Alive for the Sega Saturn. According to Tecmo, the name change was due to the opinion that "Ultimate would more accurately describe the feeling players feel upon experiences with the game".[3]

In Japan, Dead or Alive Ultimate was released with a crystal-clear blue version of the Xbox system that included a controller of the same color, a copy of Dead or Alive Ultimate, and some bonus Kasumi-themed extras.[4] In the United States, two trading cards with character pictures on them were randomly included in each game as part of a collector's edition. The game disc of the North American release also contains the Booster Pack for Dead or Alive 3, which adds numerous character costumes. This disc also included a G4-produced segment from their Icons series detailing the history of the Dead or Alive series, along with interviews featuring various people from the video game industry, including series creator Tomonobu Itagaki. A guide book titled Dead or Alive Ultimate: Prima Official Game Guide by Prima Games was released on November 4, 2004. With the December 14, 2006, backwards compatibility update for the Xbox 360, the Xbox release of Dead or Alive Ultimate can now be played on the Xbox 360.[1] On November 10, 2021, Dead or Alive 1 Ultimate and Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate became available to download separately on Xbox Live worldwide, hinting at the addition of the games to backward compatibility program. On November 15, 2021, both games were added to the line up and became playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.[2]

Reception

Dead or Alive Ultimate received generally favorable reviews from critics with a score of 84.14% and 83/100 from review aggregators GameRankings and Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40.[9]

The game was awarded "Fighting Game of the Year" at the 2004 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[22] It also received a runner-up position in GameSpot's 2004 "Best Fighting Game" category across all platforms, losing to Mortal Kombat: Deception.[23]

In 2005, Dead or Alive Ultimate became the first fighting game to be included in the World Cyber Games.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 "Original Xbox Games Playable on Xbox 360". Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "Microsoft's Xbox backward compatibility program returns with 76 new games". The Verge. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  3. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (2004). "Dead or Alive Online now Dead or Alive Ultimate". Gamespot. Archived from the original on 2011-05-25.
  4. ↑ "Toned-down DOA Ultimate Xbox bundle hitting Japan". Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate for Xbox". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  6. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  7. ↑ "DOA Ultimate Review for XBOX". 1UP.com. 2004-10-26. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  8. ↑ Fahey, Rob (2005-02-16). "Dead or Alive Ultimate Review • Reviews • Xbox •". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  9. 1 2 "Xbox - DEAD OR ALIVE ULTIMATE" (in Japanese). Famitsu. November 3, 2004. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ Game Informer, December 2004, page 182
  11. ↑ "Review: Dead or Alive Ultimate for Xbox on GamePro.com". 2007-06-08. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  12. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate Review". GameSpot. 2004-10-26. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  13. ↑ "GameSpy: Dead or Alive Ultimate - Page 1". Xbox.gamespy.com. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  14. ↑ "Games Radar - XBOX reviews - Dead or Alive Ultimate - Girls with giant breasts battle other girls with giant breasts. Brilliant!". Archived from the original on December 11, 2006. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  15. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate Review on Xbox". 2004-11-11. Archived from the original on November 11, 2004. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  16. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  17. ↑ Official Xbox Magazine, Holiday 2004, page 66
  18. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate Review - Xbox Video Game Review". PALGN. 2005-03-07. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  19. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate Review (Xbox)". Reviews.teamxbox.com. 2004-10-26. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  20. ↑ "RECENT VIDEO GAME RELEASES: Dead or Alive: Ultimate; Lord of the Rings: The Third Age; WWE SmackDown vs. Raw". Archived from the original on December 4, 2004. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  21. ↑ "Dead or Alive Ultimate - Xbox - Video Game Review - Yahoo! Video Games". Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  22. 1 2 "2004 Awards". National Academy of Video Game Testers and Reviewers. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. January 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005.
  24. ↑ "WCG Official Website - WCG History - WCG 2005". World Cyber Games. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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