Dead or Alive 2
Dead or Alive 2 | |
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Sega NAOMI |
Dead or Alive 2 (Japanese: デッドオアアライブ2, Hepburn: Deddo Oa Araibu To~ū, abbreviated as DOA2) is a fighting game developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo. It debuted in Arcades in 1999 and was later ported for the Dreamcast and the PlayStation 2 in 2000. It is the second main entry in the Dead or Alive fighting series. Several enhanced editions of the game were released, including the updates Dead or Alive 2 Millennium[1][5] and Dead or Alive 2 Hardcore.
The game's plot focuses on the evil
Dead or Alive 2 improved upon the graphics engine of its predecessor by using the
Gameplay
In Dead or Alive 2, the basis of the entire fighting system is the circular relationship between three types of moves: blows, throws, and holds; blows beating throws, throws beating holds, and holds beating blows. The other defining feature of the game, aside from blows/throws/holds, is its stun system. Many attacks can inflict a stun on the opponent; those stunned cannot attack or guard, however they can hold. If the attacker lands a non-knockdown, non-launching attack while the opponent is stunned, the opponent will be re-stunned in a new way, depending on what attack was landed.
A major difference between DOA2 and other fighters was in the safety and non-punishability of attacks, both upon hitting and upon being blocked. Most blows in DOA2 can be punished on hit and block by each character's faster throws, making blow-based offense very risky. In addition to the normal rules of juggling, each character also fits into a specific weight category, which affects how the character responds to being launched and being juggled.
In DOA2, fights can occur on either water or ice; when a character is on such a surface, all non-knockdown, non-launching attacks will induce a stun on any successful hit. Walls and falls in the middle of stages are everywhere in the game. Many stages are also multi-tiered: to get to other areas of the stage, one character must be knocked off a ledge and fall into the next area. These falls deal usually fairly high damage, but cannot knock the opponent out.
DOA2 offers a new mode called Tag Battle Mode which implements a Tag team fighting system that allows players to choose two fighters to form a team, and fight against another team controlled by either the computer, or by other players. Tag Battle Mode allows characters to switch back and forth instantaneously for combo attacks and even attack simultaneously when timed correctly. Everyone can be partnered to anyone and the mode allows for the participation of four players, something not common in the fighting game genre. DOA2's Tag Battle Mode offers Tag Throws which are special throws unique to pairs of characters. Tag partners perform throws together on their opponent and these special throws do a great amount of damage to the opponent.
Other notable features included introducing CG cutscenes in line with the plot, replacing the original "Danger Zone" areas in stages with fully interactive ones, allowing players to juggle each other into walls, propelling characters from landmarks for more damage (the first game to implement this feature was SNK's Samurai Shodown 64), and upon completing the game, presenting the player with (sometimes ambiguous) endings for each character using the game's standard engine.
Characters
Dead or Alive 2 features a total of 15 fighters, 14 playable fighters and the unplayable
New
- Ein, a merciless karatekawho was left to die in the esoteric Black forest of Germany. Now with serious amnesia, he cannot remember his past life and aims to find answers to his self-discovery through participation in the second tournament.
- mother, while accompanying her daughter on stage at the Opera House, took a bullet meant for Helena. Helena vowed to seek revenge on the assassin. Discovering that the murder of both her parents is somehow related to DOATEC, she joins the second tournament, determined to find the assassin.
- Kasumi X a, a clone of Kasumi created by the DOATEC Super-human Development Project.
- Rolande, a thief who worked the Silk Road, died in his arms murmuring that he, the man she loves is the strongest man in the world. In order to fulfill the last words of Rolande, Leon enters the tournament, aspired to be the strongest man on earth.
- of the tengu world who murdered his leader, Kuramasan Maouson. He enters the human world to create chaos and make it reign over the world.
Returning
^a Unplayable
^b Boss character
^c Unlockable and playable only in the Hardcore version and Japanese Dreamcast version
^d Unplayable in Story Mode
Plot
The purpose and significance of the tournament changed after Douglas' death. The promoter of the second Dead or Alive Championship, who is fond of conflicts and jealous of the strong, is responsible for Douglas's death. The new promoter,
Set less than a year later after the
Development and release
The gameplay and
Dead or Alive 2 used the song "Exciter" by Bomb Factory in its opening sequence. Also used as a background track was "Deadly Silence Beach" and "Clumsy Bird". Both "Exciter" and "Deadly Silence Beach" can be found on the self-titled mini-album Bomb Factory and on the Dead or Alive 2 Soundtrack, and "Clumsy Bird" can be found on the album Break Up.
Two soundtrack CDs were released in 2000 by Wake Up in Japan: Dead or Alive 2 Original Sound Trax (KWCD-1001) and Dead or Alive 2 Original Sound Trax ~PlayStation 2 Version~ (KWCD-1004). Two guide books for the game were published in North America by
Home versions
Nine different versions (excluding DOA2 Ultimate on Xbox and the two PSN releases) of Dead or Alive 2 were released: two for the arcade market, and the others were home versions. Tomonobu Itagaki and Team Ninja were constantly enhancing the game for both the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 as they worked towards their vision of the "ultimate fighting game".
The Dreamcast port was first released in North America on February 29, 2000.[3] It was identical to the arcade Millennium update release, but added the usual Versus and Sparring modes, as well as Team Battle Mode. This version also featured a simplified hold system compared to the one in the arcade versions. Unlike home ports of the first Dead or Alive game, there were no unlockables in this release. Team Ninja immediately started working on the console version as Tecmo planned to be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2000. Since the development environment for the Dreamcast was very convenient and the NAOMI hardware being the same as the Dreamcast, the team manage to complete the Dreamcast port in February 2000 as planned. Dead or Alive 2 was the only game that Tecmo published on the Dreamcast.[6]
Dead or Alive 2 was released as a
The European Dreamcast version was released on April 28, 2000.[10] This version included the costumes from the Japanese PlayStation 2 version, but not the new stages. It also added new costumes for Zack and Tina, which pay homage to The Shadow Man and his love interest from the Shadow Man series. Acclaim developed the Shadow Man video game and published Dead or Alive 2 in Europe.
The Japanese Dreamcast version (known as the Limited Edition) was released on September 28, 2000. Cover art featured Kasumi and Ayane, along with a standard cover art version with Kasumi, Ayane and Leifang. The most notable addition was that Bankotsubo and Bayman were now unlockable, playable in all but Story Mode. The new stages from the PlayStation 2 version were not included, in favor of new versions of Burai Zenin and L's Castle stages from the first game. This version also added Sparring mode for Tag Battle, Watch Mode, the User Profile System, online play, more costumes to unlock, and a Gallery Mode with character renders.
On October 25, 2000, Tecmo released DOA2: Hardcore (DOA2: Dead or Alive 2 in Europe) as a launch title for the PlayStation 2 in America and Europe, which was based on the Japanese second update of Dead or Alive 2 for Dreamcast.[11] This version was featuring new playable characters, new stages, extra costumes and introduced the "Gallery" option. The Hardcore release was finally the complete game Itagaki had envisioned at the time, featuring many changes compared to its predecessor: Characters, pictures and moves were altered to appear more realistic, lessening the anime-look. Some fighting animations were elaborated upon, while others were cut. New stages were added (8 more than the Dreamcast update). More character outfits were added. Survival Mode now only took place in the "Danger Zone" arena. Overall gameplay speed was increased, and the entire game (including cutscenes) now ran at a full 60 frames-per-second (in the Dreamcast version, the game ran at 60fps, while cutscenes ran at 30).
A special "Items Collection" feature and menu section was added to appeal to video game collectors. New artworks were added, and a CG Gallery section featuring renders of the female characters was added. The player history files were enhanced, and now included statistics on how often the player used each character, and tag battle pairing. Several special moves were added, but left undocumented. English voice-overs (provided by Brian Vouglas, Donna Mae Wong, Gina Rose, Jeremy Hou, John Parsons, Lucy Kee, Roger Jackson, Sally Dana, Terry McGovern, Timothy Enos, and Zoe Galvez) were added in addition to the original Japanese voice-overs, making it the first game in the series to have English voice-overs.[12] Kasumi can be unlocked as a trainable 'monster' in Monster Rancher 4 by going to the Shrine, and inserting the DOA2: Hardcore disk in the PS2.
Tecmo followed up on the release of Hardcore in the US and Europe with the release of DOA2: Hard*Core in Japan. This last version saw some minor updates, including new cutscenes, a few new costumes, a new turbo speed option, and a second opening sequence which features an English version of the Bomb Factory song "How Do You Feel". This was the last Dead or Alive game to be released for a Sony system, as the series became exclusive to the Xbox until the release of Dead or Alive Paradise, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, and Dead or Alive 5 respectively.
Re-release
On August 22, 2012, a software emulated version of DOA2: Hard*Core was made available as a downloadable game on the Japanese PlayStation Network. The North American version was released to the US PlayStation Network on March 24, 2015.
Reception
Aggregator | Score | |
---|---|---|
Computer and Video Games | [18] | [19] |
Edge | 8 / 10[20] | |
Famitsu | 32 / 40[21] | 34 / 40[22] |
Game Informer | 9 / 10[27] | |
GamePro | 5 / 5[23] | 5 / 5[24] |
GameRevolution | B+[25] | B+[26] |
GameSpot | 9.7 / 10[28] | 8.9 / 10[29] |
IGN | 9.4 / 10[31] | 8.7 / 10[32] |
Next Generation | [33] | [34] |
PlayStation: The Official Magazine | 81%[35] | |
Arcade | [36] | |
DC-UK | 9 / 10[37] | |
Dreamcast Magazine | 28 / 30[38] | |
Electric Playground | 9.4 / 10[39] |
Publication | Award |
---|---|
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (2001) | Console Fighting Game of the Year[40] |
IGN | PS2: Best Fighting Game of 2000[41] |
Dead or Alive 2 was "universally acclaimed", scoring 91% and 91/100 on GameRankings and Metacritic.[13][15] In Japan, Famitsu scored the game a 34 out of 40.[22]
Dead or Alive 2 brought more than $2 million profit in sales.
Greg Orlando reviewed the Dreamcast version of the game for Next Generation, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "You'd have to be Dead and Buried not be enjoy Dead or Alive 2. Gorgeous graphics, excellent gameplay, and some beautiful characters put this square in the running against Namco's Soul Calibur as the best Dreamcast fighting game."[33]
Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "This is a tremendous game and a must-have, but if you can choose between the two versions, PS2 enjoys an edge thanks to all the extras – just get used to squinting at the too-bright lights and nasty jaggies.":[34] Jeff Lundrigan also reviewed the PS2 re-release, DOA2: Hardcore, for Next Generation, rating it five stars out of five, and stated that "This is the best-looking, most full-featured, most packed-with-extras version of one of the best fighting games ever made. Buy it, period."[45]
Awards
During the AIAS' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Dead or Alive 2 was honored with the "Console Fighting Game of the Year" award, and also received a nomination in the "Animation" category.[40] IGN awarded it "Best PS2 Fighting Game of 2000" during their Best of 2000 Awards.[41] The game was nominated for "Best Fighting Game" at E3's Game Critics Awards. Hardcore was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Graphics, Technical" and "Best Fighting Game" awards among console games, but lost respectively to Shenmue and Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000.[46]
Legacy
Dead or Alive 2 was notable for improving and popularizing the concept of multi-tiered environments. Dead or Alive 2's interactive multi-tiered environments offered all kinds of features that made the game feel so alive. The way the intensity of the action triples when knocking opponents off of edges such as cliffs or out of windows, then leaping down after them and continue fighting down below made the experience feel very rewarding.
Dead or Alive 2 appears in the 2002 film
Remake
Dead or Alive Ultimate is a
References
- Content in this article was copied from Dead or Alive 2 at the Dead or Alive wiki, which is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA 3.0) license.
- ^ a b "Date Set for Dead or Alive 2: Millennium Edition". ign.com. 2000-01-12. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 Millennium arcade video game by Tecmo, Ltd. (2000)". Arcade-history.com. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ a b "Dead or Alive 2". GameSpot. 2000-02-29. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "デッド オア アライブ 2 まとめ [ドリームキャスト] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 Millennium arcade video game by Tecmo, Ltd. (2000)". Arcade-history.com. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ a b c "From "Dead or Alive" to "Ninja Gaiden", the adversity and peak of Itagaki Tomonobu's career". game.udn.com (in Chinese). 2021-03-16.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2". Arcade Gear. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
- ^ Fletcher, JC (February 9, 2011). "Itagaki's depression-fueled Armageddon/Aerosmith bender". Joystiq. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ Kohlerl, Chris (February 9, 2011). "Itigaki: Tecmo Tricked Me Into Releasing Dead or Alive 2". Wired. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ I. G. N. Staff (2000-03-21). "New Date for European Dead or Alive 2". IGN. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ "GameInformer - Your Source for Gaming News". Game Informer. 2000-12-06. Archived from the original on 2000-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srXliaIORes Retrieved 2023-07-06
- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
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- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ Williams, Derek (2014-12-11). "Dead or Alive 2 - Review - allgame". Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ Thompson, Jon (2014-12-12). "DOA2: Hardcore - Review - allgame". Archived from the original on December 12, 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ CVG, issue 223, page 83
- ^ CVG, issue 223, pages 79-82
- ^ Edge, issue 84, pages 80-81.
- ^ ドリームキャスト - DEAD OR ALIVE 2. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.43. 30 June 2006.
- ^ a b プレイステーション2 - DEAD OR ALIVE 2. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.56. 30 June 2006.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 Review for Dreamcast at GamePro.com". 2004-02-04. Archived from the original on February 4, 2004. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 Hardcore Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". 2004-05-01. Archived from the original on May 1, 2004. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 Review". Gamerevolution.com. 2000-03-01. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore Review". Gamerevolution.com. 2000-12-16. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Game Informer Online". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 13, 2006. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "video.gamespot.co.uk: Dead Or Alive 2 (DC)". Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (2013-10-10). "DOA2: Hardcore Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "PlanetPS2 - A Member of The GameSpy Network". Archived from the original on February 15, 2001. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 (Japanese Version)". IGN. 2000-10-10. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ Smith, David (2000-10-24). "DOA2: Hardcore". IGN. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ a b Orlando, Greg (April 2000). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 3, no. 4. Imagine Media. pp. 80–81.
- ^ a b Lundrigan, Jeff (June 2000). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 3, no. 6. Imagine Media. p. 94.
- ^ PSM2, issue 1 (October 2000), pages 82-85 (published 1 September 2000)
- ^ Arcade, issue 22 (August 2000), pages 62-64 (published 17 July 2000)
- ^ DC-UK, issue 13.
- ^ "DCM JP 20001006 2000-31". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 - electric playground: Coming at you with news, reviews, previews, and interviews from the world of video gaming. Broadcasting from behind the scenes of the videogame industry". Archived from the original on April 20, 2001. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- ^ a b "4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners". interactive.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2006.
- ^ a b "Best of 2000 Awards". IGN. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- G4. Archived from the originalon 2016-12-31.
- ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 601. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 December 1999. p. 21.
- ^ a b Game Data Library - 2000 Weekly
- ^ Lundrigan, Jeff (January 2001). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 4, no. 1. Imagine Media. p. 82.
- ^ GameSpot Staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002.
- ^ "Dead or Alive 2 - Hardcore Gaming 101". hardcoregaming101.net. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ GamesRadar Staff (June 20, 2017). "The 25 best Dreamcast games of all time". GamesRadar+.
- ^ Top 25 Fighting Games of All Time Archived 2013-02-26 at the Wayback Machine, UGO, July 11, 2010.
External links
- Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 6 June 2015)
- Tecmo websites: DOA2 for the PlayStation 2, DOA2 for the Dreamcast, DOA2 Hardcore
- Dead or Alive 2 at MobyGames