Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Size: 1 GD Rom
VMU: 26 Blocks
No. of players: 4(two simultaneously)
Got it for: $35! Actually managed to get this one off a "WTB" in RGVMarketplace.
Apparently gorgeous women get bored too...why they are fighting each other, I don't know. I really have tried to look into the storyline...it just make less than no sense to me. At any rate, they all seem hell-bent on taking out each other so they can attempt to fight the ultra-cheap birdman! If I were them, I would probably just stay in and watch some lesbian porn...maybe invite Kasumi over...have a few drinks...see where the night went...oh yeah...you dirty bitch...oh yes...Um, ok, back to the review.

What's it all about?
It's a really impressive looking 3D fighter with a shitload of panty shots and some of the hottest women ever. Fighting takes place in massive 3D areas where opponents can be smashed into, and even through the landscape; being knocked off a ledge simply brings the fight down to the next part of the landscape. Along with insanely long ground combos and juggles, the game also incorporates the "reversal" maneuver. Basically, by initiating this attack RIGHT before you are hit you can reverse the opponents attack back at them or deflect the attack and send a quick hit their way. Sounds cool at first...but ultimately, this is what ruins the game after a while. The Limited Edition of DOA2 now includes the following, above and beyond what is normally included in the import DOA2 package: A new graphic on the manual, a digital gallery of DOA renders and a new graphic on the CD(check "Bel's Sega Museum" for more on this in my Weekend Projects section...or just click here to just see the DOA2LE package). For more on the differences between the DC and PS2 versions, try out Alex in Wonderland's DOA2 Comparison page.
Graphics - Un-fucking-believable. By far, one of the most graphically impressive games to ever come out on the Dreamcast. Everything about the game is just drop dead gorgeous, from the women to the backgrounds.
Sound - The music is a really eclectic mix of heavy metal, rap and other stuff. Some of it's alright, but mostly it's really, really bad. The sound effects are pretty standard, nothing that will knock you out of your seat or stay in your head after you get done playing.
Control - Smooth. If nothing else, the game controls very well; all of your attacks and movements come off immediately and easily.
AI - Cheap as fuck. It gets to a point where the AI is whipping your ass so much, using the cheap-ass reversals and non-stop juggles you'll want to break the disc(but don't, it's worth too much on ebay!).
Replay value - Pretty high until you get used to the reversals...after that it just turns into a contest of who is going to attack first so the other can counter it. Gets real old, real fast.
Tips for better gaming experiences:
The key to beating the computer and human opponents is learning the reversal moves. It's not hard, just takes some quick reflexes. Only problem is, once you learn how to do them pretty consistently, that's all you'll end up doing...and it's at that point, precisely, where the fun just gets sucked clear out of the game.

A quick, final tip: Make sure your age is set to 21 years or older, play survival mode and get onto the scoreboard(anywhere on it is fine). Enter your name as "REALDEMO". Now, when watching the game's opening movie, the clip with Kasumi, moving around naked in some sort of gel(I am assuming this is her clone, or how she was cloned. Who knows) is now un-cut.

Cool stuff on the disc: Upon popping the disc into your Mac/PC and exploring a bit, you will find a folder called "Bonus" that contains 5 ultra-high quality(and large) bitmap pictures of the DOA women.

Cool Stuff on the VMU: Nothing much, just the Dead or Alive logo on top of "Dead or Alive 2" text.

My rating: 72(out of 100) - A fun, and gorgeous fighter with amazing levels, a lot of combos and reversals. Ultimately, it's the extreme length of some of the combos as well as the all-too-easy-reversals that kill the fun entirely too early.
EGM gave it: 8.5, 9, 9, 8.5(out of 10) Note: This review was for the regular, US edition of the game.

Cat's review: Button mashing fun for about 5 minutes. Once you get past the graphics, you'll begin to see just how shallow this game really is. This kitty will pass. Reow!
This review was completed before I acquired a video capture card. With that said, I have borrowed pics from various sources.

I ought to comment on this one...but...I'm going to pass.
Looks more like Lei is kicking a field goal than tripping Ayane.
Ah, the time honored tradition of the Tecmo (blatant)panty shot.
You didn't think you'd get away without the mandatory shot of gorgeous Kasumi, did you!?
Another damn version of DOA2!?:
Yes, as hard as it is to believe. After three versions on the Dreamcast(domestic, import, import LE) and three versions on the PS2(import, Hardcore import, Hardcore domestic) Tecmo is now releasing DOA Online which will consist of Dead or Alive 2 Enhanced as well as the Saturn version of Dead or Alive 1.