Beyond Titties
The Dead or Alive series has always been known best for the breasts, and this has always made me sad. I mean, I like boobies as much as the next guy, but there's got to be more to a game than mammaries. After all, porn is free on the internet, and I see a lot of nudity on an average day at work anyway.
I was highly disappointed in DoA4 due to its grating counter system and various other factors, but Dimensions not only brings back DoA to something actually playable, but it is without a doubt the best game the series has to offer.
Since it's not running on 360 hardware, the graphics aren't Z0MG amazing, but then again DoA4's weren't either. However, they are pretty spiffy, and for the brief amount of time that I'm able to handle the 3D effect, that's nice too.
The counter system is heaps more forgiving than DoA4's and is more reminiscent of the DoAs of old. The "floaty" combos that frustrated me so much in 4 are also less bothersome here. In short, gameplay is the smoothest it's ever been and very enjoyable.
There are also zero qualms about the roster. Since the game's story mode (which I'll get to in a bit) covers the entire series, it naturally features every single character from DoA1-4 (except Nicole, understandably). Not only is every character present, but every character is playable, including previously CPU-only bosses Genra and Alpha-152. Not only that, but Kasumi's clone from DoA2 has been made into her own character now, and the game has scored a brand new character in Kasumi & Hayate's dad, Shiden.
Unfortunately the arcade mode of the game isn't all that special, and characters don't have their own endings, which is a bit disheartening. However, the story mode more than makes up for it. Using cutscenes and some damn fine voice acting, Story Mode fills in some gaps in the series' narrative, fleshes out some of the lesser characters, and genuinely makes a spectacular effort to actually make DoA feel like a cohesive tale. The focus is still on the Mugen Tenshin ninja clan for the most part, but it massively pays off for everyone in the game. The only complaint I have is that about half of the cutscenes are more or less 3D motion comics, with the renders given limited animation and no mouth movement when they speak. This is a bit of a bugger, but is not enough of a quibble to dwell on. My favorite part of this mode, however, is the sequel hook after the credits.
For those that are more concerned about the fleshy ladies, yes, they still jiggle and most of the outfits of the past are here (including some as free daily DLC). It's just that there is less of a focus on them. Oddly enough, some countries classified this game as kiddie porn, because "OMG you can take photos of (figurines of) scantily clad teenage girls!" Like this wasn't the ENTIRE FOCUS of the DoAX games.... Bah.
I never thought I'd see the day, though, when the very best DoA game was released not only on a Nintendo system, but a Nintendo handheld. Surely, this would not have happened if Itagaki were still in charge, and it seems Team Ninja is better off without him.