Dead or Alive 5: Last Round

Just like Capcom, Temco Koei releases new incarnations of its fighting title at irregular intervals. Dead or Alive 5: The Last Round is the fourth Dead or Alive 5 game to be released, and as is customary with upgrades such as these, there are a number of additions and minor adjustments.

For those who completely missed it, it is the PS4 and Xbox One versions that'll be of particular interest due to the graphical boost to a game already that barely needed it in the first place. Clothes, hair and bodies now move even more realistically, and you'll notice fighter garments getting dirty and sweaty over the course of a match. Team Ninja should also be commended for having the game running in silky smooth 60fps at a crispy 1080p resolution.

What doesn't react realistically is the character clothing, emphasised further by the all-too-obvious clipping. It's as if the clothes were holographic, and while it's understandable the problems (and amount of time) Team Ninja would have in trying make the ensemble's wardrobes interact authentically, we'd prefer they slimmed down the selection and stuck with outfits that worked (though you feel some of the most elaborate - and lacking - costumes are built especially for the photo modes the game also offers).

The only other major issue is that the game still has issues translating weight and impact, with combatants feeling as light as a feather when they're flung away after a successful strike. DoA lacks the heft of Tekken, which is still the genre leader in translating the power behind its attacks.

I was never overly fond of the first Dead or Alive 5, but the updates have improved the gameplay to point that Last Round feels a much more balanced game than the original, though alterations are so minimal that if you're not a fighting expert you'll likely have difficulty noticing these changes.

It also means that if you've exhausted yourself on one of the game's predecessors, you'll not be revived by what Last Round offers. If you play a lot of DoA5 and want the latest, better-balanced version with improved visuals? Then the buy-in is worth it.

It's worth highlighting the online code. DoA has always set the bar high within the genre, and Dead or Alive 5: The Last Round is fortunately no exception. It'll still likely never be the choice of the true hardcore player, but you'll not find a better online fighter than this.

The game features the 32 character count of Ultimate, and added old boss Raidou and schoolgirl Honoka. The latter is but a mix of other characters, and while she may prove to be well-balanced in time, right now she's not fun to try out, given you've seen her moves before. I suspect, however, that the very nature of being an amalgamation of other fighter styles will make her popular with high-level players. For me though, I'd have preferred a brand new addition to the cast.

Along with the new character and a half, you're looking at 300 costumes to unlock, plenty of stages and droves of game modes to dig into. If you are hungry for a new fighting game and don't want to wait for Tekken 7 or Street Fighter V, or you want the best version of Dead or Alive, then this is for you.