Dead or Alive : Ultimate product reviews

I play about as many games as most people would have overseas trips... that is to say, not a lot really. So for a game to really get to me, especially a 1-on-1 beat-em-up, is an impressive feat. DOA:U is just such an impressive title.

Having become totally immune to the lure of kick-the-fnord-outta-your-opponent style games back when Street Fighter was a cutting edge arcade console that ate up a large hunk of space in every parlour in town, I wasn't really expecting to get a lot out of DOA, yet after only minutes playing it I was bouncing up and down on the edge of the bed, yelling and scream, twisting the controller, and myself, around trying to avoid getting kicked in all the tender bits... in front of a CONSOLE GAME?! Wierdness!

With a stunning array of moves, some powercombos that stunned even jaded ol' me, and the most stunning 3d fighting graphics I have seen in recent years, this would have to be a winner. And then... the SECOND disc has even more! Not only do you get a revamped version of the classic that started the whole ball rolling, but you get the modern remake that has even more stunning content... and they are XBox-LIVE enabled, giving you the ability to go head-to-head (and fist-to-foot) against people you will probably never meet, half-way around the globe!

Overall, I was blown away... but not overly so to be totally honest. I found it really difficult trying to keep my character's bits all in their respective homes as the difficulty level rose, and I know that if I were to 'go Live' I would be dead in no time flat... but if these style games are your bag baby, you'll love every nanosecond you are hammering your poor abused controller playing this. Suggest that when you buy this, you also buy a replacement controller... you're going to need it... as well as RSI surgery afterwards. Keep plenty of caffeinated drinks stacked up next to you, and if you can get some, a hefty handful of No-Doze. :)