Dead or Alive 5

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
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  1. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Nov 12, 2012
    73
    Dead or Alive's biggest fault is its lack of innovation. If you turn off the Danger Zones (because a stupid (un)lucky hit can cause a hell of a lot of damage) you realize not much has changed since Dead or Alive 2. [November 2012, p.62]
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  2. Thunderbolt
    Nov 15, 2012
    70
    Dead or Alive 5 is just as unique as it is awkward. On the surface it still wants to be the kooky, over-the-top brawler that is known more for its breasts than it is its fists. However, underneath that façade is a high-quality fighter still struggling for acceptance within the fighting game community.
  3. Hyper Magazine
    Nov 14, 2012
    70
    DOA5 plays it too safe, coming across as more of a revision or remake of DOA4 than a full sequel in its own right. [Dec 2012]
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  5. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Oct 10, 2012
    70
    DOA 5 is a slick, beautiful mash of fighting polish and icky sleaze. There's a mountain of fun to be had with its characters, combos, and counter system, but it often degenerates into a confusing high-speed mess. [November 2012, p71]
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  6. Game Revolution
    Oct 3, 2012
    70
    Dead or Alive 5 isn't out of the fight, but it is a little scuffed up.
  7. VideoGamer
    Sep 25, 2012
    70
    Despite originally pitching itself as a more serious fighter, Dead or Alive 5 stays very true to its roots by offering a gentler introduction to the genre. Tits, thongs and throws, it still offers everything you'd expect from Team Ninja's famous fighter, though maturing fans might find themselves put off by all the titillation.
  8. Gamer.nl
    Oct 16, 2012
    65
    The heart of Dead or Alive 5, an accessible and fantastic fighting system, is still great after a few improvements were administered. Combined with its graphical prowess, that's really all its got going for it. There's not much content, no innovations and our online experience was disastrous. Who doesn't want to play against his friends is golden, but there isn't much else to get excited about.
  9. Machinima
    Oct 2, 2012
    65
    Don't get me wrong, I love the amount of jiggle, it's been a ridiculous and hilarious theme for several sequels now. But what I was really hoping for was more focus on how to play the game and tools to improve. I didn't see that in this installment.
  10. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Oct 23, 2012
    60
    More than Tekken and Virtua Fighter, DOA is light, flashy entertainment. [Dec 2012, p.80]
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  11. Push Square
    Oct 23, 2012
    60
    For all its style and silliness, Dead or Alive 5 is a fairly conventional game. The ridiculous story mode is an enjoyable distraction for an afternoon – but it's not enough to keep you hooked. Unless, you're a fan of the fighting mechanics in general – which, aside from a few minor tweaks, are largely unchanged – there's not a lot to get excited about here. Well, certainly not from a pure gameplay perspective anyway.
  12. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Oct 9, 2012
    60
    If it stops condescending to gamers, Harada and Ono might have some pressure at the top. [Nov 2012, p.117]
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  13. Edge Magazine
    Oct 8, 2012
    60
    For all Team Ninja's talk of keeping it more real, DOA5 is mostly business as usual. There are tweaks to the formula and aesthetic, but nothing too sacrilegious or enticing. It's disappointing, then, that this has little to offer over its forebear.
  14. PlayStation LifeStyle
    Sep 25, 2012
    60
    If you've got a hankering for scantily dressed girl fighting muscle-loaded men, you'll probably be ready to pick up your preorder, but the rest of us have better things to do with our time.
  15. Game Informer
    Sep 25, 2012
    60
    Dead or Alive 5 can be a decent fighter when you're settling into a good match, but the overall package just doesn't deliver what a sequel should. New characters Mila and Rig are fun to control, and some cameos from Virtua Fighter are a nice bonus, but this series simply hasn't progressed in the same way that its peers in the genre have. This may have sufficed as a sequel in 2007, but Dead or Alive is getting lapped by its competitors in 2012.

Awards & Rankings

82
#82 Best PS3 Game of 2012
63
#63 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
78
#78 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 121
  3. Negative: 17 out of 121
  1. Andre00x
    Sep 25, 2012
    8
    What is wrong with people? I didn't by this game for **** and ass. I bought it because it has one the best fighting mechanics out there. ItWhat is wrong with people? I didn't by this game for **** and ass. I bought it because it has one the best fighting mechanics out there. It even has in my opinion the best tag gameplay so far. I think people are giving this a low score because of a recent fighting game that came out. This game easily deserves an 8.… Full Review »
  2. Crext
    Oct 3, 2012
    10
    Pros.
    Best Fighting Mechanism out there. Brutal and hard hitting, like a Beat em up should be.
    Good looking characters. Long lived through    Pros.
    Best Fighting Mechanism out there. Brutal and hard hitting, like a Beat em up should be.
    Good looking characters. Long lived through online play and difficult challenges. Waste diversity in combat styles and customized looks.
    A lot of fanservice

    Cons.
    Require some time to understand the mechanism. The patch that fixes online lagg has not yet reached the western marked. Lipsynch to voiceacting in storymode could be a lot better. Conclusion.
    This game should be graded 8,5-9,5 out of 10 depending on your preferances. Criterias open for subjectivity:
    Fighting mechanism - This game allows for comebacks and turnarounds, and leave very few pauses for both players. Other mechanisms may rely on X hit combos and airlifting, ultimatly making it a 1-player games at 10 sec periods at the time. If you like fast paste and constant thrill, then this is something you'll like.

    Good looking characters - Both the men and women looks above average, however from eider practical, realistic or ideological view this may be viewed as a con. The fighters rarly look battle scared, even though they may turn sweaty or dirty if you put on this function, their faces will never become pummeled, bloody or utherly destroyed. There also is the aspect at practicality as some costumes would be really hard to fight in, (like a clown uniform.) and some may view strong female fighters as unrealistic. Lastly arch-conservatives may view some of the costumes to be too revealing or unethical.    … Full Review »
  3. Skycrimson
    Sep 25, 2012
    0
    Beware of the online pass. You need to buy a new game to play it on another console. Don't support this evil practice. The game is okay thoughBeware of the online pass. You need to buy a new game to play it on another console. Don't support this evil practice. The game is okay though but nowhere as good as DOA4.… Full Review »
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