Review: Dead Or Alive 4 (360)

However, the game in question maybe deserves more credit, and the same can be said for the entire Dead or Alive series. Always banished to the back of the class, seen as the beat-em-up for adolescent boys who have yet to touch a real female. The truth is really a different matter. If you journey deeper under the skin of DOA4, you can find quite an involving game that requires a lot more skill than some people realise.

Watching somebody play this 360 incarnation and you can be forgiven for thinking that the changes to the game are merely cosmetic. But get behind the controller and the slight - yet significant, improvements- begin to surface. Counters in the previous Dead or Alive were able to change an entire fight by decimating half an energy bar. This has been tweaked: and with the new ground attacks and combo throws, the fighting is now more varied and balanced, adding to the controls which as usual are easy to get to grips with. Unfortunately, these alterations can’t save a lacklustre single player game.

Start the Story mode and for the first few fights you’ll enjoy yourself immensely, but once you near the end of your character’s quest, it all falls apart. The main complaint that can be levelled at the Story mode is the AI, which can be incredibly infuriating. Tecmo seem to believe that having the game as difficult as possible is a good thing, but in truth it completely alienates newcomers to the series. With only normal, hard and very hard difficulties, people who have never picked up a Dead or Alive title have no easy mode to get used to the game. The computer at times seems to predict what you’re going to do. So between your button press and the on-screen action your opponent gets into the correct position to foil your plans with a firm kick in the nuts. All of this culminates in the worst boss to appear in any game. Ever. All the improvements made to DOA 4 have been discarded and instead you're left with a boss who can take half your energy bar away with a throw that you aren't able to block.

Fear not, there is a saving grace: online play. Dead or Alive: Ultimate saw the fighting series’ first foray online and in DOA4 Tecmo has taken everything it learned and created a fighter worthy of Microsoft’s great online service. A new lobby system has been integrated allowing you to customise your own room with various items, all of which can be bought with Zack Points earned with each win. The clever thing is the televisions you can place in your lobby mean you can watch the on screen action (courtesy of your avatar) without putting yourself next in line to fight. The usual game modes return though, with tag battles, tournament and winner stays on all present.

Lag was a predominate complaint with DOA: Ultimate and Gamestyle would like to say it’s been completely eradicated with DOA4, but that would be a lie. Although it’s less of a nuisance than before, playing against players from a distant country or people who have terrible connections can make the game unplayable. However, if you manage to find a room (or organise a get-together on an internet forum) with all European players then much fun can be had. Far from being a brainless fighter, competing against other top class players is the way Dead or Alive is meant to be played. Only then will you truly realise that DOA 4 requires plenty of skill to block, counter and deliver the right combo at the right time.

Dead or Alive 4 may not be the holy grail of fighters, but Tecmo have still crafted an enjoyable title with plenty of reply value. Unfortunately due to the lacklustre single player performance DOA 4 can really only be recommended to Xbox Live owners, something which is becoming all too common with 360 titles. Maybe with the next Dead or Alive improvements can be made and the series can finally get the widespread recognition it deserves.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Adam Gulliver