Summary

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball diverges from its fighting game roots to offer a unique sports experience, combining advanced graphics and physics with controversial yet captivating content.

• Release Year: 2003
• Genres: Simulator, Sport
• Platforms: Xbox
• Developers: Team NINJA
• Publishers: Tecmo

Introduction

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball takes the iconic characters of the Dead or Alive franchise to the sunny shores for a game of beach volleyball. This title marked a significant genre shift for the series and introduced a Mature rating due to its adult content.

Synopsis

“Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball” (DOAX), released in 2003, is a unique spin-off from the “Dead or Alive” series, which is primarily known for its fighting games. Developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo, DOAX was exclusively released for the Xbox. The game marked a departure from the series’ traditional fighting genre, instead offering a simulation-style gameplay focused on beach volleyball and other mini-games.

The game’s plot is set immediately after the tournament in “Dead or Alive 3” ended. The narrative revolves around the women of the DOA series who find themselves on Zack Island, a private resort owned by Zack. Zack, the only male character from the series to appear in the game, tricks the women into coming to the island under the pretense of another DOA tournament. Upon discovering the truth, the women decide to make the best of the situation by spending two weeks vacationing on the island.

The gameplay in DOAX encourages the player to establish relationships with the AI of characters and form a two-person team to compete in volleyball competitions. Each day, players can select one activity in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. These time periods can be used to court new partners or challenge existing partnerships to a game of volleyball. Winning a match provides money which can be used to buy swimsuits and accessories, either for oneself, or as gifts to bestow upon the other women. Players can also earn money through gambling at a casino located on the island.

Playing volleyball is done primarily through the use of two buttons, one designated for spiking and blocking, and the other for receiving or setting. As many of the actions happen automatically (e.g., jumping up to spike the ball), the game forces the player to focus on timing; a poorly timed press of a button results in a weak hit or a smash into the net.

DOAX was the first game in the series to have a Mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board due to its depictions of busty women in skimpy swimsuits. The game puts a big focus on collecting, socializing, and gift giving. It also allows the player to purchase hundreds of different swimsuits to wear in the game.

The game was followed by sequels “Dead or Alive Xtreme 2”, released in 2006 exclusively for the Xbox 360, and “Dead or Alive Xtreme 3”, released in 2016 in Asian countries.

“Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball” is a unique departure from the traditional fighting genre of the “Dead or Alive” series. It offers a simulation-style gameplay that focuses on beach volleyball, relationship-building, and a variety of mini-games, all set on the beautiful Zack Island. Despite the controversy surrounding its mature content, the game has left a significant mark on the gaming industry and has spawned several sequels.

Characters

The game features several female characters from the Dead or Alive series, each with their unique abilities and styles. Characters include Kasumi, Hitomi, Helena, and others, all presented in detailed, lifelike animations.

Gameplay

Gameplay revolves around beach volleyball matches with a focus on teamwork and strategy. The game also features a variety of mini-games and the option to gift clothing items to characters, affecting their performance and relationships.

Conclusion

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball remains a controversial yet memorable part of the Dead or Alive series. It showcases the series’ versatility, despite the debate surrounding its content.

Review Score

7/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern