Review
Release Date: 01.22.2003
Platform:
XboxDeveloper:
Team NinjaPublisher:
Tecmo, Inc.Reviewed by
Luke Campbell on 4.28.2003
| Review Rating: 7/10 | User Rating: 5.55/10 |
Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball. You've seen the screenshots. You've watched the movies. Curious as to whether or not this game is actually a cheap excuse for some T&A? Wondered how volleyball has anything, if anything, to do with the fighting games in the DoA series? More importantly, is this game any good, and is it worth your hard-earned dollars? Yes and no.
To get it out of the way, let's first look at the graphics. The DoA games have always featured pretty graphics, and XBV is no exception. The environments are absolutely gorgeous. The poolside and court areas are highly detailed, with slick light-sourcing representing different times in the day. Also, the sand on the beach is amazing. During a volleyball game, the sand starts out fairly smooth. As the game progresses, the sand takes on a "walked-in" look, just like actual sand. The character models look fabulous, just as they did in DoA3. The "breast physics" have returned, and in a game featuring jumping women, there is almost always something jiggling. During cutscenes, the camera can be manipulated to change angles, and a zoom feature allows you to take a closer look at things. A bit cheesy (or sleazy, depending on your view), but Tecmo has made a camera for replays that rivals in-game cameras of some 3D adventure games. Other static locations such as the casino and shops look nice as well, and the level of detail in shop items is impressive. This game is definitely one that can be used as an example to show how nice Xbox games can look.
The sounds and music in this game fit nicely. All of the songs are upbeat, and the soundtrack features artists such as Christina Aguilera and the Spice Girls. The sounds of menu selection are pleasing, as are the sounds of the ball, the water, and the net. The voices in the intro and ending are in english, but during the game, all spoken voices are in japanese, with subtitles during the cutscenes. None of the sound is anything exceptional, but none of it detracts from the overal package, either.
Now, how about the actual game itself? The storyline, which is based on DoA fighter Zack buying an island and then tricking the DoA girls into traveling there, is a bit flimsy, but since when do games about fighting or sports rely on the story to move things along? Upon starting the game, you pick a character, and then you're introduced to Lisa, a newcomer to the DoA series. She offers to show you around Zack Island, acquainting you with the shops. You're then given the option to shop, go to the poolside, or play volleyball.
Going to the shops allows you to buy new swimsuits, suntan lotion, hair clips, shoes, and other accessories. Upon buying these items, they can be gift wrapped and then presented to the other girls as gifts. Of course, you can also decorate your chosen character however you see fit, so long as you can afford the items you want. Going to the poolside allows you to save your game, take a rest, or play the hopping game. Taking a rest will show a scene of your character lounging at the pool, and is a chance to work out that manueverable camera. The hopping game is not only a way to earn money, but also allows you to calibrate your controller. A slide bar pops up, and you can adjust the softness of your button presses. By tapping hard for long hops and light for short hops, your character hops across cushions that are floating in the pool, and crossing the length of the pool earns a small amount of money. A rather simple exercise, but it is a fun and addicting one; since speed is rewarded, you'll find yourself going back to beat your fastest time.
By selecting a team to play against, you and your partner can play a game of volleyball. How is the actual volleyball in this title? Pretty fun, but with a couple of flaws. The play is not terribly complex, but a brief tutorial is not present and makes the first few games much tougher than they need to be. However, once you've got the hang of it, the gameplay is great. There are different kinds of serves, different ways to return the ball, and you can choose where a spike will land on the opponent's side of the court. XBV also has a "Nice Point" system, in which extra money is earned by pulling off well-timed plays, and winning via shutout also gives a large bonus. The only other problem with the volleyball is that the swinging camera can occasionally work against you. The camera will swing one way, obscuring your character for a brief second. This is not really a big deal unless your character goes for a spike. If your character goes for a spike and you do not direct the hit, it will almost always go into the net and earn a point for the other team. Aside from this minor flaw and the lack of a tutorial, the volleyball is solid and fun. Plus, it's nice to get revenge on a partner who has left you to team up with someone else.
"A partner who has left you?" That's right. If you don't work well together, your partner will suddenly disappear after a match, leaving you alone, and she will later be teamed with someone else. This means that you need to hunt for a new partner, and this is where XBV falters. The game is played in a length of fourteen days. Once the last day is over, you "finish" the game and leave the island. Since time is short, and it can sometimes take between one to several days to get a partner, the hunt for a new one can be frustrating. The instructions have a list of the characters and their likes and dislikes. By buying the items a particular girl likes and presenting them to her as gifts, you can convince her to join you... sometimes. Other times you'll spend a large sum of money on gifts, only to have them thrown away. Either that, or they will accept the gifts, wear them (which they will randomly wear in the future when you see them), but still not join up with you. While this makes it important to keep a teammate, it also makes hunting down a new one an tedious exercise. So remember to read your instructions before you present a gift, as even the color of an item is important.
When night falls on Zack Island, the casino opens. The casino is a good way to earn some quick cash, but it's also a good way to lose your shirt. Poker, blackjack, slots, and roulette are all available to play. But unless you already know the rules of each game, you'll be out of luck, as no tutorial exists for these games either. While blackjack seems to be the easiest way to earn money quickly, poker is particularly interesting. If you get a winning hand in poker, the option to "double up." Doubling up takes you to a game where you try to draw a card higher than the one showing. If done correctly, you can continue to double up repeatedly. Also, if a joker shows up, a similar game appears, where you win money for selecting the joker from a row of face-down cards. Multiple slot machines are available, each with a different theme. If the casino had a tutorial, it would be good enough to be released by itself as a standalone title.
The question still remains: is there any nudity in this game? While the majority of the costumes are revealing, and some are sheer, there is no birthday suit. There is a very brief clip of silhouetted nudity during the opening, but that appears to be it. The lack of nudity doesn't hurt or help this title. As it stands, each aspect of DoA:XBV has a minor flaw, but the sum is greater than its parts. The game is intentionally short, but a player who wants to see each character in each costume will have to invest a great deal of time into purchasing costumes through multiple replays. It's definitely a rent-first title, even you happen to be a hardcore DoA fan, a beach volleyball fan, or you have the hots for the DoA girls. An interesting experiment to say the least, and a beautiful one at that. Just not the must-buy killer app for the Xbox.
