Is this the ultimate fighter? At least this year. At least for the Xbox. Dead or Alive is part of a long standing debate over which franchise really owns the 3D fighting crown. And on most lists, it often falls below Virtua Fighter, Soul Caliber, and even Tekken. DoA has always been criticized for its apparent lack of depth, and while it may pale in comparison to some of the intricate technical maneuvers featured in the previoulsy mentioned list of titles, DoA is by no means a button smasher. Yes, a novice has a better chance at beating an expert, but in reality, skill is still the utmost necessity. Ultimate may be written off as beauty disguising weakness, but this is certainly an unfair assessment. True, you'll be hard pressed to find a better looking game (including the backgrounds!) this generation, but Ultimate features a fairly robust fighting engine with unique, balanced characters and is also the first truly successful online fighter (2D or 3D). Fans will swear by it, haters will despise it, but whichever side of the fence you're on, there's no denying that Dead or Alive Ultimate is the truth.
