Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball is a take it/leave it game if there ever was one. On one hand, you could argue the "game" is nothing more than a marketing ploy to get gamers to shell out fifty bucks for a sexual tech demo, while on the other, you could say that XBV is just making the most out of the license it possesses, and not relying solely on T&A to sell. Where does the truth lie? Somewhere in between.
Love or hate the concept, it should be obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes that XBV is a feast for the eyes, even if you were to take the jiggle factor out of the equation. From the lush jungle to the bright, sandy beaches of Zack Island, every area in the game was polished down to the last detail, shadow, and light reflection. And the girls, well, they look even better than they did in DOA 3, with even more of a "bounce" in their step. The different swimsuits are far from just a palette swap, as it's easy to tell the difference between a standard bikini, and a one piece that shimmers in the sun, due to reflective materials. If there's one area nobody can fault XBV in, it's the graphics.
The musical selection fits the "beach vacation" theme, though you won't be rushing out and buying the soundtrack. I don't mind listening to Christina Agularia, Baha Men, or B-Witched in the context of a lighthearted, playful volleyball game, but I wouldn't want this junk in my car. It fits the theme of the game perfectly though, which supercedes any personal taste in music I may have. The giggles and voices of the girls are, once again, all in Japanese, and you hear them more often than you did in DOA 3. They can grate on your nerves every so often, but overall, I'm happy with the decision to stick with the Japanese voiceovers, rather than have some horrible English voice talent muck things up.
"So the girls look cute, they sound cute, how does it play?" Quite well, actually. It's a bit simplistic, but the overall feel of the volleyball brings back memories of Virtua Tennis. The chosen camera angle angers me though, because it was obviously done to put the emphasis on the girls, even during a match. I like ogling over CG created females as much as the next guy, but when I'm playing an actual match, the emphasis should be on the ball, not Hitomi's thighs. The addition of shopping, gambling, and pool hopping minigames add more depth than you would think a game of this type has any business having. Some of the more exotic swimsuits have high pricetags, and you may find yourself spending a bit of time in some high stakes gambling. There's never been a game like DOAXBV, so it's hard to explain just what gives it its monstrous appeal. I suppose the best way to put it is that the game as a whole turns out to be much more than the sum of its parts. Given the swarms of "omg it's all about boobies" press that the title received prior to launch, that's saying quite a lot.
-George
Company Line
TECMO EXPOSES DEAD OR ALIVE XTREME BEACH VOLLEYBALL FOR XBOX AT E3
Beach Volleyball Game Stars Popular Female Characters from the Dead or Alive Universe
LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 22, 2002- At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Tecmo® announced that Dead or Alive® Xtreme Beach Volleyball will be coming to the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft towards the end of summer. This first-of-its-kind "fantasy sports simulation" stars the renowned female characters from the Dead or Alive fighting games.
Tecmo is expecting Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball to turn heads at E3. Tomonobu Itagaki, the game's Creator, explained, "Fans of the Dead or Alive fighting games have always appreciated the beauty of the female form. With this game, we are giving fans what they have been asking for all along - the ability to admire gorgeous ladies at play… more specifically, as they jump and dive after a volleyball. The appeal of this game is universal, and with the tremendous power of Xbox, the ladies of Dead or Alive will look and move more realistically than ever before."
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball takes place on Zack Island, a tropical island which he purchased and named after himself, after winning big at a casino. Zack declares the island the official location of the fourth Dead or Alive tournament. When the invites are sent and people start arriving, everyone realizes that only women were invited to the island. What is the meaning of this and how will the ladies amuse themselves in their free time on the tropical island?
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball stars all the ladies from the Dead or Alive fighting games and a new character named Lisa. In the game, the women amuse themselves with volleyball and the many diversions offered by the tropical island paradise. The new character, Lisa, hails from the United States, is a former Olympic volleyball player, and works as a stockbroker in Manhattan. She will be a regular character in future Dead or Alive games.
In addition to the standard beach volleyball tournament, players will have a wealth of other recreational activities to choose from on the island. Gamers can spend time in the arcade, where they can play a mini game of Dead or Alive 3; a movie theater, where they can view a trailer of Ninja Gaiden or other Dead or Alive games; or a casino, where they can try their hand at special Dead or Alive versions of slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and more. Other mini-games include a lifeguard drill, a dance competition, and a beauty contest.
Players can also cultivate relationships with other potential volleyball team partners by buying them gifts. If a character likes the gift you bought her, she may wear it during a match and reciprocate by buying you something in return. Strong relationships off the volleyball court will lead to better tag play on the court.
Nearly everything in the game can be customized to the player's liking. The volleyball environment can be customized with different times of day, volleyball used, and net types. Characters' appearance can be completely personalized, with over 100 different swimsuits to choose from and over 50 accessories to equip as well. Swimsuit patterns can be chosen or custom-made depending on your artistic skills. The local radio station broadcasts licensed music throughout the game (over 20 songs in the game soundtrack) or players can opt to listen to their own custom soundtrack. Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball™ supports user ripped soundtracks allowing you to copy your favorite music tracks from your CDs and play them back in the game. Photo and video replays of matches can also be saved to the hard drive.
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