Prima Game of the Week | Dead or Alive 6

Why You Should Play

• Lots of single player content, from a Story mode to a personal closet for each fighter.
• Easy to get into, but with enough depth for DOA veterans.
• Online play is vastly improved over previous entries in the series.
• A plethora of DLC to keep the player base active!

Most fighting game fans have played Dead or Alive at some point in time. The series debuted in arcades back in 1996 and has been going strong ever since. The latest entry in the series, Dead or Alive 6, takes the competitive aspects of the game to the next level, while still catering heavily to its faithful casual audience. With that said, there isn’t a lot here that would make anyone try out the series who isn’t already a DOA fan. There’s plenty to love if you’re already into DOA, but if it hasn’t been your cup of tea, DOA6 is unlikely to change your mind.

Gameplay

Dead or Alive is one of the easiest fighting games to simply pick up and play. While each character has a massive command list of unique attacks, there’s an ease to the gameplay that makes the series very welcoming to newcomers. Dead or Alive 6 adds a meter system which governs Break Blows, which are DOA’s version of super moves, as well as Break Holds, which are like super versions of the trademark hold (counter) system DOA is known for.

The new Fatal Rush attack string allows novice and expert players to create flashy combos that will automatically lead into the new Break Blow, if you have enough meter. A more evasive sidestep has also been added to the game, but it’s added in a way that allows players of all skill levels to use the enhanced mechanic in a similar fashion. Unlike some other 3D fighting games, the sidestep in DOA6 only has one follow up option. This allows veteran players to have an extra layer of defense, while more casual players don’t have to worry about dozens of options after a successful sidestep.

Visuals and Performance

In the past, Dead or Alive was known as one of the best looking games on any platform. With Dead or Alive 6, Team Ninja opted to use the Dynasty Warriors engine. This caused a bit of a learning curve that has had some impact on the visuals. While the game still looks good, and better than some other recent fighting game releases, it’s not quite up to the high bar Team Ninja has set in the past. Still, playing on the PC version you’ll find 4K graphics running at 60 fps that look pretty good.

On the PS4 and Xbox One, you can choose to prioritize resolution or frame rate. These options are available on the base consoles, as well as the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. Most players will likely want to prioritize the frame rate to get a smooth 60 fps, but if you’re just looking to capture beautiful shots in the new photo mode, go with the resolution over frame rate.

Game of the Week

Dead or Alive 6 won’t set the world on fire, but it has a lot to offer. While some fighting games don’t ship with all modes playable, DOA has all of the staple single player modes you’d expect from a modern fighting game. Unlocking all of the costumes can be a bit tedious, but it does add replay value to the game. Hopefully the long grind to unlock gear will be shortened with a patch at some point in the future, but for now at least it offers single player fiends a lengthy amount of time to unlock everything. Online lobby matches are also coming later in a patch, but at least they’re coming!

If you’re trying to find the fastest way to unlock items, be sure to check out our Dead or Alive 6 game hub!