Dead or Alive 4

Tecmo's flagship fighting series is back and looking better than ever.

Dead or Alive 4 is ready for the Xbox 360 launch with new characters, new environments, a brand-new online system, and one newcomer who may just surprise you.

A World of Interactivity
If looks could kill, DOA 4 would be called Murderer's Row. This game looks beautiful, and even while you're beating the tar out of your opponent, you'll notice that your surroundings are among the finest you've seen in any fighting game.

The Xbox 360's processing power affords tremendous detail in the arenas, whether it's in the way objects break apart when you fall into them or the way that lights bend and reflect off wet surfaces. The new interactive objects, such as rocks, fences, walls, and even dinosaurs, also add great strategic depth to fights. Since you can inflict extra damage onto an opponent by knocking them into objects, you'll find yourself taking more frequent advantage of the ability to move around freely, which can spice up even the most typical match.

Say "Halo" to My Little Friend
Perhaps the most surprising addition to Dead or Alive 4 is the inclusion of a new fighter that you may recognize from another flagship Xbox franchise. That's right - the world of Halo is now part of the Dead or Alive universe. Say hello to Spartan-458, the newest female fighter. Unfortunately, you'll have a hard time even figuring out that there's a woman encased in armor. In fact, the only indication that there's a woman under all that metal is her voice-over dialogue! So all you gamers out there hoping for some titillating Halo-inspired jiggle physics will come away disappointed.

But while the addition of Spartan-458 is an odd one, as a character she seems to fit into the Dead or Alive experience pretty darn well. A careful mix of both speed and power, she can hold her own against the speedy fighters like Kasumi and Christie, while also stay toe to toe with the bruisers like Bass and Leon. It's this duality that really makes Spartan-458 a pleasure to play, and I imagine that most gamers will quickly welcome her with open arms. If you're a huge Halo fan, you'll also want to be on the lookout for some special trademark moves, including one that involves a plasma grenade. Hey, wipe that drool from your mouth!

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