Dead or Alive 2 (Game)

Dead or Alive 2

GAME » on October 16, 1999

Arcade (Platform)Dreamcast (Platform)PlayStation 2 (Platform)PlayStation Network (PS3) (Platform)

The first sequel to Tecmo's signature 3D fighting game series, Dead or Alive 2 features an improved visual style and new multi-tiered environments (filled with their own unique hazards and sizes).

Game Images Reviews Dead or Alive 2 ReleasesRelated Pages

EditHistoryPage info

Overview

Dead or Alive 2 is a 3D fighting game developed by Team Ninja (Company) and released by Tecmo for arcades (using Dreamcast (Platform)-based Sega NAOMI (Concept) hardware) on October 16, 1999.

The second installment of the Dead or Alive (Franchise) series, and the sequel to the original Dead or Alive (Game), Dead or Alive 2 updates the character roster while revamping the way stages work (with stages having a variety of shapes, sizes, and environmental hazards). New to the series include the amnesiac karateka Ein, the French opera singer (and illegitimate daughter of the founder of DOATEC) Helena, and the Italian mercenary Leon (Character).

Arcade versions of the game features the ability for players to choose from multiple game modes prior to choosing their fighter. Along with the standard arcade mode (called "Time Attack"), the game features a dedicated Story mode (which shortens fights for additional cutscenes), and bonus Survival and Tag Battle modes (both of which must be unlocked by the service operator). It is the last arcade game in the series prior to Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Arcade later in 2013.

Ports & Updates

The game first received an arcade update (titled Dead or Alive 2 Millenium) exclusively in Japan on January 18, 2000. Along with minor gameplay fixes, this update unlocks Survival and Tag Battle modes from the start and adds additional costumes for Kasumi (Character) and Ayane (Character).

The Millenium version was used as the base for the game's ports, all of which add additional game modes and simpler Hold commands. There are six separate versions of these ports:

The first is the North American release for the Dreamcast (Platform), released on February 29, 2000.
The second is the Japanese release for the PlayStation 2 (Platform), released on March 30, 2000. This version adds three new stages and new unlockable costumes.
The third is the European release for the Dreamcast, released by Acclaim on July 14, 2000. Along with the unlockable costumes from the Japanese PS2 version, this version adds new costumes based on the Shadow Man (Game) video game.
The fourth is the Japanese release for the Dreamcast, released on September 28, 2000. This version adds two new stages, new unlockable costumes, a new unlockable character (Bayman (Character) from the original game), the final boss as a playable character, and new game modes (including online multiplayer). A bonus Limited Edition release of the game added a CG Gallery mode (featuring rendered photos of the game's female characters).
The fifth is the enhanced PlayStation 2 port, re-titled DOA2: Hardcore. Released in North America (on October 25, 2000), Europe (by SCEE on December 13, 2000 as DOA2: Dead or Alive 2), and Japan (on December 14, 2000), this version builds on the Japanese Dreamcast release and further improves the graphics engine while adding new stages, new character outfits, and optional English voiceovers (for the North American version only). This version was later digitally re-released for the PlayStation 3 (Platform) in Japan (on August 22, 2012) and North America (on March 24, 2015).
The last is the enhanced Xbox (Platform) port, re-titled Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate and bundled with an enhanced port of the original Dead or Alive (Game) as Dead or Alive Ultimate (Game) in late 2004. This version features elements and gameplay mechanics from Dead or Alive 3 (Game) (including unrestricted side-stepping), improved visuals, a new unlockable character (Hitomi (Character) from Dead or Alive 3), and online multiplayer via Xbox Live (Concept).

Gameplay

Much of the gameplay remains the same as the original Dead or Alive (Game), with two attack buttons (Punch and Kick) and a third "Free" button for timed counter-attacks (or "Offensive Holds").

Like the original, the game makes use of a "Triangle System" where basic attacks are countered by Offensive Holds, which are itself countered by throws, which are itself countered by basic attacks.

Rather than standard rings with exploding "damage zones" at the edges, Dead or Alive 2 features a variety of stages in several shapes and sizes, most of which have either stage hazards (damaging enemies who are knocked into them) and multiple levels (in which characters can be knocked into different parts of the stage).

Also new to the series are multiple game modes that can be chosen in the arcade version, including the traditional Time Attack mode, a dedicated Story Mode (which shortens the fights and adds new cutscenes), a Survival mode, and a Tag Battle mode (a two-on-two mode where players can switch between their fighters instantaneously for combination attacks and combo chains).

Characters

The base game includes 12 playable characters and 1 unplayable boss. Characters who did not return were Bayman (Character) and Raidou (Character). Later versions of the game added Bayman as an unlockable character while making the final boss playable (as an unlock). The last Xbox port of the game added a character from Dead or Alive 3 (Game), Hitomi (Character), as a unlockable.

New Additions

Ein
Leon (Character)
Helena Douglas (Character)
Tengu (Character) (final boss, unlockable in the Japanese DC, PS2 Hardcore, and Xbox Ultimate versions and cannot be used in Story Mode)
Hitomi (Character) (added in the Xbox Ultimate version as an unlockable, requires a save file from either Dead or Alive 3 (Game) or Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (Game))

Returning Characters

Kasumi (Character)
Zack (Character)
Hayabusa
Bayman (Character) (added in the Japanese DC, PS2 Hardcore, and Xbox Ultimate versions as an unlockable, cannot be used in Story Mode)
Lei-Fang
Gen-Fu
Tina Armstrong (Character)
Jann Lee (Character)
Bass Armstrong (Character)
Ayane (Character)

Similar Games

No games found