One of the more worthy Xbox games. If you haven't seen the best of Dead Or Alive yet, go check this game out.
Essentially the best version of Mortal Kombat the team had ever developed. It is hard to argue a reason against buying Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 over it's predecessor for so many reasons. It re-introduced Scorpian, it added more stages, more characters, more fatalities and far better gameplay balancing than on the original game.
So when the term "ultimate" is used on Dead Or Alive (or more specifically DOA 2) the expectations are pretty high. DOA is a big franchise and it broke out well on to the Xbox with DOA 3. So with DOA 2 on the Xbox, DOA 2 being the most popular title in the series, even now, Team Ninja did the smart thing by using the Xbox's best two capabilities: online play, and technical advantages.
To say DOA 2 Ultimate is one of the best looking Xbox games is merely just digging at the surface at what potential is to be discovered throughout the experience. They're exceptional. Team Ninja have literally rebuilt every stage and aspect of DOA 2's visual design from the ground up.
The layouts have changed, there are new environments to play around with, more realistic effects – particularly in the water and reflections, the whole cosmetic appeal looks light years ahead of both the original DOA 2 and perhaps any other fighting game that was available at the time.
Of course, going in to more detail, the cut-scenes have been altered to look more organic, the animation is swift and smooth like the original – although oddly not taking advantage of any DOA 3 animations, and general camera control and pacing of the game are executed fashionably.
It is wondrous that even the close ups on the characters exploit the very details in the fabric of each character's clothing and hair. Sadly though, there is still a plastic and doll like look to the game, which, even in this remake, hasn't been fixed after all these years.
Moving on though to the contents of DOA Ultimate, you have various options to choose from. Many of the options once familiar in the old DOA 2 are there as are a host of new ones. For example, the story mode still functions in the same way with the same story line, but there are a wider variety of costumes your characters can wear compared to original (from 15-20 instead of 5 per character).
Another little inclusion that makes the package feel more the better is the addition of the original DOA . Unlike DOA 2 Ultimate, this game has remained almost completely unchanged and is actually a port of the Sega Saturn version of Dead Or Alive rather than the Sega Model 2 version familiar in arcades. This is an odd choice considering the greater detail and difference in gameplay the Model 2 edition had in comparison to the Saturn version.
It is also odd because Team Ninja also had the DOA ++ version that could've been used but that also was unfortunately left out. DOA ++ was an improved version of the original and had more characters and costumes compared to the arcade version.
Yet there are still two good points about DOA 1 Ultimate as a pack-in: online play, more costumes, which is fine mostly. Of course it is there for nostalgia purposes too, but otherwise, most people won't touch this part of the game. It was nice to include, but unnecessary and out of place compared to DOA 2 Ultimate since it doesn't have the same amount of care or attention as we would expect.
Returning to the game itself though, the online play will be the only real incentive for most gamers to get DOA 2 Ultimate even with the new features like costumes and upgraded looks. There are other extras that makes this distinct from earlier Dead Or Alive 2 versions such as Hitomi being an playable character (in all modes except story) and a short video describing DOA's brief history but this isn't a sequel to the previous games in the series if you're expecting that. It is a remake. And just to add, it is a very true remake that stays to the formula of the games earlier revisions and not DOA 3.
For normal fighting fans, if you already own Dead Or Alive 2, there is little point in getting the game other than the online play. A lot of the game is remixed but yet will still remain familiar with the changes. However hardcore DOA fans and Xbox owners might find DOA 2 Ultimate a great addition to the Xbox's very impressive arsenal of video games. They'll finally get the chance to play one of the best fighting games on both PS2 and Dreamcast, but with improvements in all departments.
It is lengthy game, much longer and more addictive than your standard fighting title. The single button punch, kick grab and reversal buttons still work like a charm today. It is a benchmark game for the Xbox's seemingly limitless potential with gorgeous effects and lots of eye candy in the stages and characters.
And finally, it is one of the more worthy online purchases in any gamers collection with thousands of hardcore fighting fans and new Xbox gamers itching for a fight to prove their impressive skills at the game. If you haven't seen the best of Dead Or Alive yet, go check this game out. I highly recommend it.