With the recent run of
over-the-top games, one wonders where the madness will end. It
started with Grand Theft Auto 3. Causing disaster, crossing the
lines of morality and with tongue in cheek revenge; GTA3 set the
standard in which all other "extreme" games will be judged. GTA3 did
it right, and BMXXX did it wrong.
After hearing about Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, I was hesitant at best when given the
opportunity to give this a workout. I've seen the screen shots for a
year, and yet it failed to get my attention. Sure setting the
"bounce meter" in DOA2 was high-school level fun, but it was still
done in good humor. Now seeing the media foam at the bit for a
chance to chip away at the integrity of gaming and gamers; I was all
but thrilled. With half closed eyes, I powered up my XBOX with fear
that the next Oprah Winfrey's feature would read: "Pubescent boys,
sex, video games and the destruction of the free world... next time
on Oprah".
I'm goin' to Disneyworld!
Never played any of the
DOA games? If not, than much of the intentional sarcasm and irony
will fly over your head like a wayward spike.
The classic DOA Rebel,
Zack, has just won a kazillion dollars in a casino and uh... buys a
tropical Island. Buying your own Island also gives you rights to
name the island. What better name than naming it after yourself?
So, the lush tropical island is aptly named: Zack Island. Shush, you
know you'd do the same thing...
Zack does what any
testosterone-spitting male would do, and create an exotic adult
playground for him and his buddies. All of this good stuff shouldn't
go wasted, so Zack declares the next DOA competition (DOA4)
will be held on the island. Surprise, surprise, only the female
fighters were invited.
Keep your eyes on the ball, tough-guy
Let's take a moment and think about ourselves my compadre male
gamers. We are all truly like monkeys. We like pretty colors and
voluptuous women jumping. With that said and out of the way, let's
take a peep at the gameplay aspects of the game.
Probably my biggest
surprise was the overall fluidity of the controls. Gameplay is
the games strongest asset no matter what way you look at it. You'll
read a dozen other reviews spending ungodly amounts of time talking
about boobs, but I would challenge everyone to dress the
babes and look at the solid mechanics of the game. Tecmo has truly
surprised me with the overall depth of gameplay and the tight
controls. I'm not a glutton for over gratuitous games, but I also
heavily enjoyed Beach Spikers on the Cube. Sure it wasn't as risky
as DOAXBV, but it sure was a blast to play.
Bikinis aside, DOAXBV
has all of the ingredients in becoming one of the hottest sellers of
the quarter. All of your basic controls are all here, and those
familiar with Beach Spikers will find the gameplay familiar and
refreshing. Controls are laid out as simple as can be, yet mastering
the game takes time and practice. Over time you'll learn a variety
of "extreme" combos which add a new level to volleyball, breaking
the mundane boredom of regular type play.
The real hook of the game
is really all about cash. Earning cash by winning matches allows you
to do seemingly endless activities on the island. Talk about replay,
in only a short week of playing I only seemed to uncover the tip of
the unlockable iceberg. Use your cash to buy a wide variety of
outfits and accessories (over 200), or frivolously spend
your winnings on more unconventional things... like gambling. Not
only does the casino offer a nice variety of games, it also plays a
critical role in the success of your team. Buying your teammate
gifts boosts their morale and overall productivity. It's an odd
concept, but nevertheless is addictively fun.
The longer you play the
game, the sooner you realize that the game isn't simply about
volleyball but almost a hybrid RPG. Ok, well I used that term
loosely but the relationship between your character and your
teammate are critical. It's almost like the addictive
Animal
Crossing game for the Gamecube. You can either buy items for
yourself, or wrap them up all pretty and give it to your teammate.
Choosing the wrong gifts can prove disastrous in competition, so get
to know your teammate.
As the game progresses,
you'll unlock new features, minigames and items. This keeps the game
fresh and alive with dynamic changes.
My only real
disappointment within the game has to be the limited amounts of
playable courts. There are only four available at any time. I
realize the setting in on an island, but it would have been nice to
see a "travel" team heading to another country for even harsher
competition. In that aspect, the game can become a bit dry; simply
because of the "been there done that" factor. Still, the enjoyment
comes from spending the dough you earn and not just scoring points
and seeing new levels.
DOA keeps
the tradition alive
Hate it or love it, the DOA series has
always been one of the most gorgeous titles on any current platform
at the time. DOA2 on the Dreamcast was an amazing feat that made me
drool just thinking about it for weeks. The flagship release on the
XBOX was no different. When I fired up DOAXBV, the same feelings
rushed through my super nerd body. Crisp colorful graphics, with
beautiful backdrops complimented the amazing detail of the
characters.
DOA renders its characters better than anyone, and the
amount of detail within the game is simply amazing. Small things
like real-time sun and lighting effects pump up this game like a
ToasterFish on crack. You'll also notice subtle changes in your
character as time goes on, most noticeably a suntan. Yup, the longer
you stay on the court the darker your character becomes. Buy some
sunscreen, and it will dramatically decrease the retention of the
suns rays. Nice touch, Tecmo.
Not only is the game serious eye candy
(on more than one level, nudge nudge) it also plays just as good as
it looks. The player animation seems to be nearly identically to the
fighting version of DOA and is fantastic to watch.
Why do I love my
XBOX as much as I do? I won't get into every aspect, but what I will
tell you is that the audio portions of DOAXBV are absolutely
phenomenal. The soundtrack is upbeat and perky and reeks of arcade
goodness. If you don't like the soundtrack, import your own tunes
and jam away. To put the cherry on the audio sundae, the voice-overs
are excellent. You can switch between English and Japanese during
replays with a toggle of your shoulder buttons... but what's this I
hear? I won't give too much away but let me say one thing: Dennis
Rodman.
Sound effects fit accordingly into the game, and the ball
has a nice "ch-thump" sound to it and the aural effects give the
game a nice ambiance.
66 Says:
What can I say, other than I
was shocked. I honestly loved the game, and it's been fused to Big
Green with no signs of removal for at least another week or two.
What makes the game so enjoyable is all of the different aspects of
the game, coming together in unison making one nicely wrapped
surprise. While it's difficult for any developer to produce a
successful "sports" game that isn't football, baseball or hockey;
Tecmo might surprise the industry with its latest development.
I'll
also admit that this game isn't for everyone. Much of the game is a
bit over the top, but if you take it within stride it's all good
fun. Fans of Dead or Alive will get a kick out of using your
favorite DOA girl to execute a game winning spike just as much as
pulling off a final special move in DOA2.
As much as I enjoyed the
gameplay aspects, some of the variety is lost with only four courts
to play on. This brings me to the conclusion that many will benefit
more from a rental rather than a purchase. However, to fully
experience the game as it should, a purchase would be much more
fitting.
In the end, looking back, Dead or Alive Xtreme Volleyball
is simply a blast to play and most of all... fun. Don't let the hype
of top-heavy warriors scantly dressed jumping around deter you
purists out there from experiencing one of the most enjoyable games
on the current market. Have fun, enjoy the game and realize it's
just that... a game.
