Dead Or Alive 2

While you may not be familiar with the original Dead or Alive--a run-of-the-mill fighting game most famous for the bouncing breasts of its female combatants--the sequel Dead or Alive 2 is a major-league contender that ranks up there with genre giants (including Soul Calibur and the Tekken series).

Dead or Alive 2 features drop-dead gorgeous visuals, with gracefully animated 3-D characters rendered in great (and in some cases, downright naughty) detail. Not merely scenic backdrops, the lavish 3-D arenas are also highly interactive: fighters get slammed and thrown against walls, and in some cases they can be thrown through windows and off ledges, with the camera viewpoint following the aggressor as he or she jumps down to the lower level of the arena to continue the punishment.

A game that plays as good as it looks, Dead or Alive 2 sports a rich combat system that is heavy on the counterattacks. Gameplay moves along at a blazingly fast pace, and the simple controls are easy to pick up on and make executing combo moves a breeze; this is a brawler that both button-mashers and hardcore gamers will enjoy.

Unlike other fighting games which contain hidden features that must be unlocked, Dead or Alive 2 pretty much lays all its cards out on the table from the start. There are 12 fighters to choose from (each with at least one alternate costume) and seven modes of play available (including tag battle mode and a two-on-two battle royal that up to four players can join). --Joe Hon

Dead or Alive 2's character-against-character action takes place in gorgeously rendered locations ranging from a cathedral to a moving elevator cage. In a special twist, characters can battle in multiple locations in many of the areas and interact with the environment. This means that the cathedral window is more than just a pretty background--it's just waiting for an opponent to be hurled through it and onto the fighting platform below. Perhaps the coolest feature of all is the Tag Battle mode that enables fighters to summon a teammate into the action. A total of 12 male and female fighters are available, each boasting a slew of basic and special attacks, tag-team combos, reversals and throws.

Can you get out of a reverse arm lock? Can you defend a kick to the head? But can you prevent a spine-breaking, double somersault, combo dragon-lightning, knuckle uppercut...? Don't take your punishment lying down--enter the Dead or Alive 2 Championship and fight back. Throw your rival through a window, then fling yourself down ten storeys to finish them off! Your surroundings are for real--detonate explosive charges, shatter glass, wade through water, demolish walls and much more. With 10 different modes, Dead or Alive 2 delivers a knock-out punch time and again.