With the recent release of Dead or Alive 6 I’ve found myself spending a lot of time mastering all of the new mechanics and really having a great time. I’ve been a fan of the series since Dead or Alive 2 released on the Dreamcast. I did play the first game on the PlayStation, but I still think DOA 2 is one of the best games in series, especially if you get the Ultimate Dead or Alive 2 for the OG Xbox.
That being said, Patrick and myself decided we would do a top 10 list of our favorite fighters. This list will be restricted to Dead or Alive 6’s roster and we’ll discuss what we feel their strengths are. Fighters are listed from least to most favorite. Without further ado, let’s get to our list!
Steve’s Picks
5 – Kasumi
Kasumi was the first character I learned to play with when I first got into the Dead or Alive franchise. Her Mugen Tenshin Ninjutsu style makes her simple but effective. Combos are easy to pull off, and her speed makes her agile enough outmaneuver opponents and who doesn’t like a hot ninja? Okay that last one is a bit out of place, but I really think she is great for new players since she is so easy to use. Anyone can pick the game and learn to play with her in just a few minutes, but mastering the runaway ninja’s moves may take you much longer.
4 – NiCO
NiCO is one of the freshly added members of the Dead or Alive roster. She is a lightning Technomancer that uses the Pencak Silat fighting style. This is an Indonesian style that incorporates strikes grapples and throws. She even uses lightning in some of her attacks as weapon. NiCO is a ton of fun to play with using a mix of her strike and kicks is a breeze. It is easier to pop up fighters for juggles or plant them face first on the ground with ease. I think I still have a lot to learn about fighting with her, and that’s fine since I’m have a blast doing it.
3 – Bayman
Bayman has been around in Dead or Alive since the beginning. He may look large and slow but he’s actually pretty agile for his size. His combos are basic sticks and kicks, but these are very effective. This is a very powerful man that hits like a truck. His Break Blow is just awesome, I call it “The get that shit outta here backhand.” I’ve always found it very easy to pull off counters with him, and his huge variety of throws make him a force to be reckoned with. Nothing like snagging up an opponent a giving them a huge DDT as a hello.
2 – Leifang
Leifang is the most technical fighter on this list, and probably the one I still have some issues getting down pat. She uses a T’ai Chi Ch’uan fighting style. This makes her all about holds and parries. You have to use her defensively than I like play. Her kicks are fantastic for air juggling, so she isn’t completely without offense. You might thinking if you’re not good with her, why is she on this list? The answer is since she has a lot of holds it helps me get better with the fighter I main, and she is up next!
1 – Marie Rose
Ever since Marie was added to Dead or Alive 5 I’ve been in love with her as a fighter. She uses a fighting style known as Systema. This is a Russian military style based on fluid movements. This is why Marie not only has a huge amount of attacks that can be strung together for combos, but a large variety of parry strikes as well. Marie isn’t the most powerful fighter here by any means, and lacks it attacks that target the lower area of opponents, but with practice you can counter attacks with ease and make the regret ever facing this rose. Nothing like side stepping an opponent for huge hip attack! She is the one the most balanced characters here, and she is a pure joy to play with. This rose may be beautiful, but as they say, every rose has its thorns!
Now let’s see which fighters were Patrick’s favorites!
Patrick’s Picks
5 – Tina
Being a huge fan or pro wrestling, of course I had to start my list off with Tina. She can use multiple moves ranging from a normal clothesline to dropkicks to a variety of suplexes. She can also pull off some well-known finishing moves in the industry such as CM Punk/KENTA’s G.T.S. maneuver, which is freaking awesome. What’s even better is how she can chain some of these moves and throws together, making her a force to be reckoned with. Honestly, I suck using her, but she’s fun nonetheless.
4 – Ayane
Ayane is Kasumi’s half-sister which means yes, she’s also a kunoichi. I like to describe Ayane as a whirlwind of chaos, and a very fun whirlwind of chaos at that. She can barrage her opponents with a flurry of incredible punches and kicks and jump over her opponent before they know what hits them. She also likes to spin a lot, hence why I like calling her a whirlwind, she tears up opponents at a very quick pace. Her incredible speed and darker attitude are why she made my list instead of Kasumi. Not that I dislike Kasumi or anything, Ayane just edges her out.
3 – Mila
Mila is an MMA fighter and part-time worker introduced in Dead or Alive 5. You’re probably thinking, “what chance does this girl have against people like Ryu Hayabusa?” Normally I’d agree with you, but Mila is incredibly skilled at what she does. Her moveset isn’t too fancy, it’s like something you’d see with a run-of-the-mill fighter in MMA. She uses a mix of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. However, the way she is able to chain her punches, kicks and throws together would even leave the super-ninja in awe. It’s like she only has the basics of MMA, but she’s practiced them till she could execute them perfectly. She can assail opponents with a combination of punches and then suddenly take them down with a double leg and continue the beatdown from there. She can do spinning heel kicks, spinning back kicks, flying knees, a kimura, superman punch, you name it. If you even think about looking down on her, watch out, cause this girl will light you up in a heartbeat.
2 – Hitomi
My first foray into the Dead or Alive series was with a demo of Dead or Alive 2. I remember there being three playable characters: Kasumi, Ayane and Ein. I got really attached to Ein and loved his karate moveset. So, once I played as Hitomi in DOA5, I immediately got hooked as it reminded me of the time I spent playing as Ein when I was younger. She can smash opponents with her loaded punches and kicks and do it with style. She’ll assail opponents with a variety of strong punches and then give a little “osu!” Trust me, you’ll get hooked on her hard-hitting and fast style, I know I did.
1 – Honoka
When Honoka was first announced for Dead or Alive 5, I didn’t know what to expect of her. However, once I started playing as the Super Secret Fighter Chick, I was immediately hooked. She combines many of the styles that I love such as Hitomi’s karate and Tina’s pro wrestling. She can even make use of Jann Lee’s style and Brad’s drunken boxing style. There are more styles she can use, this is just the tip of the iceberg. She literally just took all these moves and called it Honoka Fu. And she isn’t an amateur at using these moves either, she can use them just as well as the other characters who use these styles. What’s cool about Honoka is how she can easily transition from move to move and from style to style. One moment she’ll be using some Jeet Kune Do, the next she’ll be doing some drunken boxing. She’ll assail your legs with breakdancing and then smash you with a heavy karate punch. The variety of styles in her arsenal and the way she can seamlessly transition between them are the reasons she makes the top of my list. Also, she’s an absolute sweetheart. She will beat you down mercilessly one moment, and the next moment she’ll be asking if you’re alright. And she can do all of this, yet she’s still a school student. Imagine what she’ll be able to do when she’s older and more experienced, the sky’s the limit for this young lady. A badass fighter and an incredibly kind soul, what’s not to love about this great girl?
Dead or Alive 6 is a fast paced fighter that anyone can pick and play with ease. That doesn’t mean it lacks depth as it will take you a long time to master all of the moves and combos this game has to offer. The girls are still beautiful and sexy, but don’t let this fool you. Underneath the pretty exterior this is one of the most solid fighters out there, and anyone that loves the genre should give it a shot.
