I’ve ever loved my country more.

Stars and stripes forever! It’s Dead or Alive 5.

This game was released in September for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which is kind

of a big deal. Dead or Alive 5 is the first entry in the main series since Dead or Alive

2 to be released for a PlayStation platform. They’ve been Xbox-exclusive since 2001,

so for Sony fans, this is your first opportunity in more than a decade to throw down with the

girls of DOA......and to watch them simultaneously pant and jiggle.

See, if you’re new to Dead or Alive...I’d be lying if I told you it’s all about the

clever fighting mechanics or rewarding gameplay. No, it’s a lot about observing the physics

fireworks display that occurs when unthinkably large-breasted and under-dressed women fight

each other.

Or in some cases, walk. For these reasons and plenty more, the character

models really do steal the show in Dead or Alive 5. They’re insanely detailed. In fact,

you even get sweaty and dirty as the fights progress, just one example of the ridiculous

detail that went into them. Of course, the drawback is that...this seems to come at the

cost of your environments. It ends up being a game with impressive fighters in comparatively

unimpressive worlds.

Of course, this series is also known for its actual fighting. Its core mechanics are essentially

in tact, as you’ll spend much of the fight trying to land the right counter. Timing is

important, bluffing plays a big role...Dead or Alive is a really dynamic, intelligent

fighter. And the new additions only make it more so.

So you can finally sidestep, which is obviously a big deal. The game also adds this Critical

Burst, which leaves your opponent completely stunned and open to whatever attacks you can

string together. And speaking of crazy attacks, you can actually use your surroundings to

trigger moves like this. Hey, RPG stands for “respect pretty girls,”

*sshole.

Throw in all the different modes—and the new stuff like Facebook integration and a

surprisingly deep training system—and this is really a nice package. The game does feel

a bit too familiar on the surface, but once you get beneath that outer layer—no laughing,

kids—you find it’s actually a much improved experience. Plenty of little things...and

big things...make Dead or Alive 5 a clear