Dead or Alive 4 (Xbox 360)

In a nutshell:
The girls from Dead or Alive are back in the Xbox 360’s first ever beat ‘em-up. The usual mix of stunning graphics, accessible gameplay and bouncing chests combine with an all new online mode for one of the most feature packed fighters ever.

The lowdown:
In hardcore beat ‘em-up circles Dead or Alive is often sneered at for being too shallow, but although it may not have the depth of some of its rivals this is the perfect game for first time fighters. The combat has been tightened up since the first game, so that it’s much harder to perform counters and there are less overly powerful super moves. One thing that hasn’t changed is the amazing graphics, particularly the various backdrops with a fight in a market where every apple on every stall can be sent flying. The game is still relentlessly sexist in its portrayal of women but treat it as Carry On Virtua Fighter and you won’t be disappointed.

Most exciting moment:
Countering everything your opponent can throw at you and then knocking them all the way down the stairs of the Temple on the Mountain stage.

Since you ask:
One of the best unlockable secrets in the game is the chance to play as Spartan-458 – a female version of Master Chief from Halo. She even gets her own level based on Nassau Station.

The bottom line:
A showcase for the power of the Xbox 360 and a fun, accessible beat ‘em-up to boot.
HARRISON DENT

Dead or Alive 4 will be the leader in fighting games as it once again raises the bar in both online and offline fighting. By utilising the advanced technology of the new Xbox 360 hardware, Dead or Alive 4 will redefine 3-D high definition graphics as the attention to detail is astounding from each strand of the character's hair to each cherry blossom falling from the sky, creating the most visually beautiful and realistic looking video game to date.

Dead or Alive 4's unsurpassed online capabilities via Xbox Live will set the stage for all online 3-D fighting games to follow as more players will be able to play Dead or Alive 4 simultaneously online to compete in larger more impressive Xbox Live tournaments around the globe. Dead or Alive 4's online world will also include innovative and interactive online lobbies featuring voice and text chat, detailed online scoreboards, and an exciting feature that will allow DOA fans to form clans while playing Dead or Alive 4 on Xbox Live.

Dead or Alive 4 also boasts incredible new interactive stages, an all star line-up of old and new favorite characters, and the most complex DOA countering system yet, all adding up to the must-have video game to own along with Xbox 360 this holiday season.

Dead or Alive 4 will be the leader in fighting games as it once again raises the bar in both online and offline fighting. By utilising the advanced technology of the new Xbox 360 hardware, Dead or Alive 4 will redefine 3-D high definition graphics as the attention to detail is astounding from each strand of the character`s hair to each cherry blossom falling from the sky, creating the most visually beautiful and realistic looking video game to date.

Dead or Alive 4`s unsurpassed online capabilities via Xbox Live will set the stage for all online 3-D fighting games to follow as more players will be able to play Dead or Alive 4 simultaneously online to compete in larger more impressive Xbox Live tournaments around the globe. Dead or Alive 4`s online world will also include innovative and interactive online lobbies featuring voice and text chat, detailed online scoreboards, and an exciting feature that will allow DOA fans to form clans while playing Dead or Alive 4 on Xbox Live.

Dead or Alive 4 also boasts incredible new interactive stages, an all star line-up of old and new favorite characters, and the most complex DOA countering system yet, all adding up to the must-have video game to own along with Xbox 360 this holiday season.

PAL TV capable of displaying a 60HZ signal required for this game