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I am an not a huge fan of 3D fighting games, but
Dead Or Alive surprised me back on the the PlayStation. However, the PS2 release of
DOA: Hardcore didn't really do as much for me as the original game. For some reason, it just didn't even feel like it was good enough (in appearance or gameplay) to be a PS2 game. The funny thing is,
Hardcore was actually an upgraded revision of
Dead Or Alive 2 for Dreamcast. And yet, I find this original version (there were apparently eleven variations of
DOA2 released throughout various regions and systems) to be completely amazing.
Perhaps part of it is that I can't even believe how great this game looks running on 1999 hardware. The jump from blockiness to this is staggering from the first game to the second. I also found the controls far more responsive than in the original -- though of course the DC controller is not meant for fighters. Luckily the Agetec arcade stick exists, as I wouldn't have been able to play this game otherwise. (I should also mention I'm trying to get my hands on one of those Ascii fight pads if anyone has one they want to trade). The music is also incredible. After running through Story Mode with Kasumi, I cranked the end credits music and pondered seeking out the soundtrack.
As you can see, my new Dreamcast collection is slowly growing. I'm just around a dozen games now. But it looks like I have a rather amazing library to disover ahead of me.
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I saw there was a DOA2 article and the first person that came to mind for it was you. Go figure!
Enjoy the Dreamcast library. There's a reason why it still has a large amount of support to this day.
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I've never been able to get into DOA. I can't place why, but it has just never appealed to me.
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The PS2 version is one of a handful of games that looks WORSE than the original. It's not just your memory. The only plus it has over the DC version is the extra costumes. I always liked this game because the combos weren't as strict as a lot of other 2D fighters, and Attack/Grab/Counter turned it into a game of rock/paper/scissors for some serious mind games.
The whole package is what I always expected from a fighting game. Down attacks, rising attacks, and hazardous terrain are the nice touches that add to the experience.
If you really like the DC DoA2, I would recommend downloading a selfboot of the Japanese LE version, or tracking down the "DOA Ultimate" remake for Xbox.
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oh, I just had a memory of the first time I played this game. Back in 2003, I was introduced to the Dreamcast while vacationing with relatives. My bro and I played that white box all night (almost). The annoying thing was, I wanted to play DOA2 and he kept beating me with the same (simple) combos. When he got bored, we switched to his choice, Power Stone 2, and I cleaned up easily. It was ironic, because our preferences didn't match our skills at those two games. I think this proceeded for three nights.
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