Dead or Alive 6 review – a sublime evolution of the fighting legend

The popularity of fighting games as esports continues to skyrocket. Heavyweights such as Street Fighter and Tekken are advancing the effort with ever more complex mechanics, emphasising technical skill and memorisation. Dead or Alive, on the other hand, has maintained a decidedly more accessible approach. Combos are fast and free-flowing, to the point that mashing buttons still results in an impressive display of fists and feet. That simple yet satisfying combat system has always been a strength of the series, and Dead or Alive 6 augments it in subtle ways, doing just enough to bring out its full potential. Light and heavy strikes form the foundation of your moveset, while blocks, holds, and throws allow you to intercept and counter your opponent’s assault. Team Ninja calls its take on rock-paper-scissors the Triangle system: strikes beat throws, throws beat holds, and holds beat strikes. Predict your enemies’ actions to get the upper hand if you can, but the priority is using a variety of moves to keep your own attacks unpredictable.