What makes a good computer game? Is it shiny graphics, responsive controls or good, old-fashioned well-constructed story telling? Ultimately the answer to that question is up to you- the game-endorsing public. These days, as production values soar so do expectations. Sure, in the indie market things are judged more on originality and creativity but, if you’re part of a team charged with the creation of the latest summer blockbuster only the best will do. Let’s take the fighting genre for instance; once the mainstay of every home set up fighting games have somewhat faded from the limelight, shoved to one side by the ever growing sales-muscle of the FPS and the ‘casual’ game (you can thank the Wii for that one). Nowadays a fighting game has to be something truly worthwhile (or sporting a ‘Street Fighter’ or ‘Tekken’ logo-or even a ‘Street Fighter X Tekken’ logo!) to grab ‘Joe Public’s’ attention. You need great marketing, publicity and pedigree to find your way to the top of the sales chart. For me, there’s only one group of titles that ticks all these boxes: Sega’s much lauded Virtua Fighter series. However…there’s another that comes a close second; a game that exudes tight controls, lightning-fast gameplay and some interesting/jiggling physics to admire. I’m talking of course about Dead or Alive 4.

Historically I’ve found it difficult to justify the purchase of a beat ‘em-up; you just don’t get the same value-for-money that you do with other genres. When you purchase an RPG the developer has already instilled a confidence in you that their title will bare a number of crucial elements; 20+ hours of a single-player campaign (hopefully), countless weeks spent in multiplayer sessions and any bonus material in between. It’s an understanding between creator and consumer that’s built up over years of quality gaming. Conversely, when you buy a standard fighter, following said acquisition, you pick your character, duel with an opponent for 2-3 minutes…and that’s it. Whether you’re offline or online the format never changes. Of course, it’s not for me to dictate how much enjoyment you derive from this, but if we’re talking about the lifespan of the modern title fighting games have a very brief half-life (I’m proud of myself for that pun there). Choosing a fighting game is essentially a labour of love; it’ll never be your prized possession and you’ll constantly be earning that there should be more to it, but ironically, once you’ve made that choice your love of it will stick with you for life. And just like Virtua Fighter, DOA meets these same criteria.

Dead or Alive has a tendency to be misunderstood. As soon as they lay eyes on the character select screen most people will assume ‘this is a grotesque, superficial foray into fisticuffs that’s only job is to appeal to the most sexually-frustrated 18-25 year old males’. And from the character select screen they’d be right. Seeing DOA’s roster is like recalling your favourite weekend in Amsterdam; buxom women followed by big-breasted women followed by a bear-of-a-man with blonde hair followed by even more large-chested women. It’s hardly designed to be a title approved by your local feminist movement, but to those people who would write a game off before picking up the control pad I implore…dig a little deeper.

Dead or Alive is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There’s flashiness and loud music, but there’s also depth and reward for countless hours of training. Matches have a certain flow to them; a back-and-forth where watching two veterans go head to head is both a joy and an education. The counter system is pitch-perfect – just when you think one player has the other cornered in a never-ending juggle of moves , in an instant the tide can turn all from correct judgment and swift application of the ‘D-pad’ and ‘X’ button. You could get lost in the game of chess that regularly occurs when two people try to outwit each other when it comes to attack and defense.

There’s a reason I’ve chosen Dead or Alive 4 for this article; it’s hard…rock hard (like Street Fighter IV on the hardest setting…and then a little bit harder). The first time you encounter the final boss on ‘Normal’ can almost be disparaging it’s so difficult. But like everything in life you get out what you put in, and DOA showers those who are patient with expertise and the ability to slaughter their mates at will. Its single-player is unforgiving…but sometimes tough love is the most appropriate kind.

At its best Dead or Alive has always been an ‘easy to pick up, hard to master’ affair. The series isn’t perfect – DOA 3 was a misstep and the omission of being able to tag with your friends online in number five is criminal – but when you’ve got three friends, a bucket-load of cola/alcohol and more pizza than an Italian plumber could wish for, there are few fighting games that will bring as much elation and competition than good old Dead or Alive.