The ultimate beat'em up for Xbox
First of all characters: women are the sexiest virtual girls ever created by a computer, and the power of Microsoft console emphasizes imagination viewing all that feminine curves (try to make a comparison with Doa 2 for the PS2…).
In the game we can find all the old features who made this game a milestone in the videogames history, such as Kasumi, Ayane, Jann Lee, Leon etc, with characters from Doa 3 like Hitomi.
The game is similar to Doa 2 for PS2, but graphics, sounds and gameplay are really got improved, with new locations never seen before.
In the package there’s DoA the first one, in the version not for PS but for Sega Saturn, and that’s a good chance to see the difference and improvements made possible with the power of Xbox.
Gameplay is based, as usual, on 4 basic buttons (punch, kick, hold, counterattack), plus triggers, black and white buttons, but only for secondary combination of buttons, like P+H.
Combos are, as usual, many and different.
You can start with disc one (the first chapter of the saga) to remember Kasumi’s & co. origins, but, after you try disc two, trust me, you’ll forget it!!!
This one contains a new version of that appeared on Dreamcast and on Ps later, with all classic modes (story, versus, time attack, survival, tag battle) totally improved and with a lot of costumes to unlock, plus secrets like Doa Booster, a G4 special and CG gallery containing photos of the wonderful feminine protagonists.
But surprises are not finished yet, because your fun will get at top once you’ll try Live option!
You’ll spend hours playing online or simply watching other players to learn new moves and combos.
Anyway, the best new that made me crazy are the enhanced graphics: your eyes will go out their sockets seeing details of the girls’ bodies, their numerous suits, their elegant and fluent moves.
In addiction you can find spectacular visual effects, like during the fight against final boss, Tengu, who’s able to create an immediate change of season with a special move!
Locations and environments are very detailed too, and, like in the previous chapters, you can destroy some parts and elements of them, with some dangerous effects for your opponent’s body, or for you.
By the way, a little note: it’s only a myth the rumour that you can see the girls’ boobs more bouncing if you set your age at 99 years!
There a lot of loud and little sounds during the game that will make your game experience even more realistic; music are not memorable but anyway good.
Another point that could have been be better is characters’ endings: these are really short and don’t explain enough previous events.
But they are only little details that don’t remove greatness to the game.
According to me, this is one of the best ever created beat’em up.