Dead Or Alive Ultimate

THE BAD:
CPU AI can be quite cheap at times. If you don't have DOA 3 or Xtreme Beach Volleyball you can't unlock everything in 2 Ultimate.

SUMMARY:
Billing itself as "The Ultimate DOA", this newest version brings a lot to the table to back up it's argument. First up, you actually get 2 games-while DOA 2 Ultimate's the main selling point here, they also throw in DOA 1 Ultimate free-it's an updated version of the original DOA, dating back to arcades in the 1990s with new costumes to unlock and compatibility with Xbox Live. 1 Ultimate pales in comparision to 2, looking more like Virtua Fighter (that was the time when this game came out) but is still fun to play and a nice little freebie for both DOA and classic arcade game fans.
The game's main selling point is DOA 2 Ultimate, which is the original DOA 2 (not released on Xbox previously) but is updated with new features and optimized for Xbox Live. DOA 2 Ultimate's graphics are quite possibly better than the already-awesome visuals featured in DOA 3, with characters and backgrounds featuring more detail, if that's even possible! The sounds have been improved as well and most people probably won't have complaints about the all-Japanese voice tracks-anime fans might even recognize the voice talents of Houko Kuwashima and Hikaru Midorikawa from various popular anime series. You can also choose the announcer's voice from the old DOA 3 voice, a new American-sounding female voice, or a male DJ's voice, the latter two of which are rather annoying.
Gameplay is the big improvement here-as good as DOA 3 was, Ultimate improves on it further, especially with regards to environments. This time around they're even more interactive: For example you can now knock your opponents off a building and watch them roll down a flight of stairs, through floors and platforms, and on one stage even into an electrical sign where they get electrocuted! Ouch! This helps add an extra dimension to the already deep fighting strategy featured in the game. It also features at least 15 DOA characters, but of course you want to know about the girls...as hot as they were before, Ultimate 2 blows them away! They're more gorgeous and..."gravity-defying" than ever before, plus each has many different costumes to unlock-if you're good enough, you might get to play as them in their XBV bikinis! But be sure you have an XBV or 3 save file because you'll need it to unlock everything.
There are still some issues with the AI in terms of balance-sometimes you'll beat it in about 15 seconds flat, other times it hands you your butt on a plate with fries on the side, never giving you a chance. For the most part it's manageable, though.
So the big question here, especially if you already have DOA 3 is "Do I put down another $50 for this collection?" It sounds like a tough question at first, but even if you have 3, the answer is a resounding yes because this game is faster, deeper, better looking, and with Xbox Live support you can play against fighters around the world and even get into World Rankings! And having 3, as mentioned above, will help you unlock all of Ultimate's secrets. So whether you're a DOA newbie or die-hard, go out and put down the $50 for Ultimate. Just be sure to play 1 Ultimate at least once so you can say that you played the original, which is also Live-enabled...and it is free with Ultimate 2, after all!