Dead or Alive Ultimate isn't the deepest fighter out there, hell, it isn't even the best. But it's good, and really fun.
DOA 2 has an entire reworked graphics engine from DOA 3, utitlizing the same engine they used for Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball. The game is pretty... It's one of the best looking games I've ever seen, I highly doubt it'll be topped by another fighter anytime soon. There's alot of added details, especially to the enviornments. As I said, the game is absolutely beautiful (And so are the ladies in the game).
DOA 2's fighting system isn't as deep as say Soul Calibur 2, or Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, but it does require timing, and precision for certain attacks. Each character uses their own unique style of combat, from plain Karate to Jeet-Kune-Do. All nicely done. There's roughly 60-90 moves per character on average. While there are alot of moves, you won't find yourself using alot of them. The counter-attack system I love to death, you can take your opponents attack, grab his arm, and hurl him into the air and unleash on his helpless self. The counter-attack system uses a direction and the 'X' button for counters, and after you complete the counter you can continue attacking using the regular attack buttons. Certain character are more ground fighters, grab fighters, and high fighters. Each has their own style, and you've got to learn who's right for you. (Go Ryu Hayabusa) The simplistic fighting in this game may not appeal to those "hardcore" fighters, but someone just looking to pick up and play can get into it, or someone just wanting to have fun with a game that can be deep if you're just willing to put time into it.
The online in the game is wonderful, the arcade system works to perfect. What I mean by that 8 people can join a room, 2 players are fighting, the other 6 players watch and wait their turn the Winner of each round (or sometimes the loser depending on the settings) continue fighting until beaten. There are other game modes such as tournaments, and team battle in which 4 gamers team up and use one character against the opposing 4 players, also works very well. The game is almost a social gather as gaming used to be in arcades, its great. It goes without saying the framerate is so beautiful, that when the game lags, you notice. Big Time. And the game lags alot unfortuently. I have to have a direct connection to my Xbox to go without lag, its a bit dissapointing.
The game is great, DOA 1 is a great bonus, but you'll probably never play it more than once for old times sake. It's worth buying, especially if you have Xbox Live, and the game has lots of replay value thanks to tons of unlockables, and Xbox Live.