bit-tech Shopping: Tecmo Dead Or Alive Xtreme 2 (XB360)

• 1080i (HDTV)
• 480p (EDTV)
• 720p (HDTV)

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: Graphics and sound

Weaknesses: 30fps, camera angle on the volleyball mini game is hard to see

Summary: Team Ninja releases very few games from time to time. Whenever they do (Dead or Alive Series and Ninja Gaiden series), their games are always highly rated. However, this DOA side story type game isn't on the same level. It still has the Team Ninja trademark for graphics and sound, but the gameplay just isn't on par with their other titles. It's not bad and requires a lot of patience, but it's just not as fun as others. That along with 30fps kind of dulls the game a bit (all Team Ninja games run at 60fps, yes even DOA Volleyball 1 on the original Xbox). All in all, it's a decent game if you can get it cheap and got the patience. Technically, the game both excels and declines from the original Xbox version.

Rating: 6

Time with product:

Strengths: Pretty graphics.

Weaknesses: GameplayLongevity

Summary: If you want to pretty game with lots of eye candy then this is the game for you. Gameplay wise, this game is fairly shallow. You can enjoy some of the mini-games, but it gets tedious and repetitive after a while.

Rating: 4

Time with product:

Strengths: Updated graphics are nice

Weaknesses: Minor update to Xbox Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, poor minigames

Summary: Dead Or Alive Xtreme 2 is a next-generation update to the Xbox dating/volleyball sim Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Like the first game you need to generate income to buy all the items in the game. Unfortunately this will take you a ton of time, which needs to be spent in an uninspired collection of minigames that are not well implemented. While the graphics are pretty you will soon grow tired of even that and wish the game had more depth.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 1 Months

Strengths: graphics ('nuff said)

Weaknesses: gameplay, forced interaction w/partner

Summary: This is just a silly title with not much to do than watching your gal wiggle and pursue/obtain hard to find items. The games/competition are interesting the first couple times, but gets overly easy or simplistic. I would have been happier with just a straight volleyball or multi-sport title. I could do without the partner interactions (Sims-like) which seem to be required if you want to keep your partner around. Certainly a niche product if you just want a Maxim magazine in a video game form.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Nice graphics. Varied gameplay.

Weaknesses: Game title.

Summary: Fun game with really nice graphics and equally good sound. Here are some of the game types included: Volleyball, Marine Race, Butt Battle, Tug-of-War, Pool Hopping, Beach Flags, Water Slide, and Casino. I know this didn't get the warmest reception in reviews on websites and in magazines, but it's fun playing DOAX2, especially when having friends over.