Dead or Alive 3
Description official descriptions
Dead Or Alive 3 is a fighting game exclusive to the Microsoft Xbox. It features 16 characters (3 of them new), hidden extras, specular lighting effects, volumetric fog and grass, clothing and muscle movement that accurately responds and interactive environments.
Up to four players can fight in DoA3's Tag Battle mode.
Spellings
- 生或死3 - Chinese spelling (simplified)
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Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Xbox version)
261 People (244 developers, 17 thanks) · View all
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[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 86% (based on 36 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 58 ratings with 5 reviews)
The most beautiful fighting game ever conceived
The Good
The first thing that you notice when you insert the game into your XBox is the absolutely stunning graphics. This title really shows off the power of the XBox, and puts other titles to shame. Another cool thing is that the arenas are interactive, and many have multiple levels, for example, when fighting in the DOATEC building, if you are hit hard enough in the proximity of a window, you will go flying through the window, sometimes shorting out the neon sign as you fall down, the fight then continues in the street. The characters themselves are very detailed, clothes and hair move in the wind, the animation is very realistic, and there is a good range of moves for the characters. There are a few different modes of play, survival, versus, tag-team, and story mode. There is also a sparring mode that has a very helpful onscreen display of your button presses. The computer AI is fairly tricky and is quite the challenge on the higher difficulties.
The Bad
The soundtrack is generic and repetitive, as are most of the sounds. The split-second countering that is often necessary can be frustrating to learn, a tutorial mode would have been very helpful. This title could also be much better if they included more modes, and extra costumes and characters, they can certainly fit it all onto a DVD. These are small quibbles, though, and shouldn't keep you from playing this stunningly beautiful fighter.
The Bottom Line
A great looking, fun, fighting game that shouldn't be missed.
Xbox · by Ryu (50) · 2002
Serious contender for best fighter of all time
The Good
Being a fan of Dead or Alive 2, I knew what to expect from Dead or Alive 3. And in some ways I was right. The same type of fighting styles are here, a good thing, as too much change isn't the best. And although the best control system in my mind for a game like this came from the PS2, the X-Box controls are decent enough for a fighter, so I don't have any problems here.
Graphically, DoA3 is a stunner. Not from the overall presentation of the game, which is great of course. But from the amount of detail that has been placed onto the characters and backgrounds. My favorite level (and I'm sure many will agree) is the one filled with trees. Everytime you hit a tree, leaves fall down. And the wind blows the trees here and there while you fight. Now that's what I call detail. Characters too are just as detailed. Clothes move in the breeze and flap around the character has he/she moves, and the textures on characters faces seem to have more detail then DoA2 (especially hair effects).
The graphics take center stage, there is no doubt about that. I'm glad as well, since many of the other X-Box titles didn't even come close to using the consoles true power.
The Bad
Two key elements upset me. 1) I was always distracted from fighting while watching the leaves fall to the ground. 2) My eyes hurt from sitting too close to the TV while watching the leaves fall too the ground!).
Seriously, the only thing that I feel should be improved upon in the DoA series is extra features. It's fine to have the single player game and a few multiplayer options, but there really isn't that much to keep going with for a long period of time. Tekken, for example, always has hidden extras for you to work for (Tekken Bowl and plenty of characters). I think a few more things like that would help the series go even further.
The Bottom Line
The big test for Dead or Alive 3 will come from the opposition, namely Tekken 4 and Virtua Fighter 4. Both won't appear on the X-Box for the time being, so DoA3 stands as the best on the X-Box. As for the best fighter of all time, ask me again when the above are released.
A valuable purchase and an important step in the right direction for the series to compete with long time challengers.
Xbox · by Kartanym (12418) · 2002
The Good
The graphics are gorgeous, the animations and fighting styles are so fluent. Back when I got Mortal Kombat for my Super Nintendo, I never thought I'd live to see the day when graphics would be this good.
The gameplay is pretty standard, and addicting. The music and sound effects are excellent as well. There's a lot to keep you entertained for a long time, tons of different modes, a good selection of characters, a few secrets, and hundreds of moves.
The Bad
The game is real easy to wear out. After all the secrets are found, and you've unlocked every last thing, you don't really have a reason to play anymore. You've seen every move, and very little will surprise you after that point.
One thing I disliked was how the female costumes were designed. Almost every costume is slutty, and exposes a little too much for fighting.
Not directly related to the game, but I also found their advertising misleading when the game first came around. It showed only female characters fighting, and would ocassionaly cut to a couple of nerds making comments. I refused to buy the game, because I was under the impression it only had half-naked ninja women fighting each other.
The Bottom Line
Despite the sexually referenced advertising, and half-naked female character costumes, Dead or Alive 3 is a great fighting game. The graphics are beautifully done, and the game is highly addictive. The game does get boring down the line, so you may want to rent it before you buy. It's definately going to set a new standard for fighting games.
Xbox · by ZombieDepot (40) · 2003
Trivia
Box
Despite being an Xbox exclusive game, Dead or Alive 3 features no "Only on Xbox" stamp.
Awards
- 4Players
- 2002 – #7 Best Xbox Game of the Year (Readers' Vote)
- GameSpy
- 2001 – Xbox Fighting Game of the Year
- 2001 – Best Graphics of the Year
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Related Sites +
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DOA3
Official website
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by JPaterson.
Xbox One, Xbox Series added by Eufemiano Bullanga.
Additional contributors: j. jones, Unicorn Lynx, Entorphane, Patrick Bregger.
Game added November 23, 2001. Last modified January 21, 2024.