Someone casually browsing the 3DS selection of their local GameStop might think nothing of the title “Dead or Alive: Dimensions” — no different from, say, “Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions” for the same platform — but anyone who knows anything about the “Dead or Alive” series knows it’s the perfect name. A game that’s a boob joke finally has a title that’s a boob joke.
“Dead or Alive” was conceived in 1996 as a excuse to use new technology to render the female body in three dimensions. Though the girls in the original game looked little better than animated mannequins, they had something mannequins didn’t — breasts composed of an unholy concoction of Slinky and Flubber, which would undulate every which way and continue to bounce long after all other motion had ceased.
But players weren’t intended to simply worship their mammaries. We were expected, according to the series’ creator, to “love” characters like Kasumi, a 17-year-old ninja whose clothing is more appropriate for cheerleading than assasination.
| ‘Dead or Alive: Dimensions’ |
| » System: 3DS |
| » Price: $39.99 |
| » Rating: 3 out of 5 stars |
Maybe it’s a Japanese thing, and we wouldn’t understand, but whatever it is, the 3DS is a perfect platform for it. A pioneer of 3-D technology can finally display its goods in full 3-D, with the ladies’ upper bodies practically slapping you in the face.
Oh, yeah, and there’s a fighting game somewhere in here too. And, wonder of wonder, a good one.
“Dead or Alive” operates on a principle similar to rock-paper-scissors. Punches and kicks beat throws, throws beat holds, and holds beat punches and kicks. It may sound confusing, but “Dimensions” does an admirable job explaining it all in its story mode, which frequently pauses the action to advise you on countering whatever an opponent may try. Just hitting a bunch of buttons remains sadly effective — the folks behind the series should consider making punches and kicks less effective, if they want people to take their overall model more seriously — but even so, this is the rare fighting game whose advanced techniques are accessible to those of us outside the arcade priesthood.
Especially novice-friendly is a mode by which you can tap moves on the touch screen, and they will be performed automatically. This is a great choice for people who know what to do but have a hard time with the finger acrobatics required to pull it off.
“Dimensions” is funny, fun and a perfect fit for the 3DS. With a recalibration of its fundamentals, it could go from good to great.
