bring Mai back, I'll buy every last of the dlcs and change my review to positive.

Can't even create a lobby to play other people. There's only ranked matchmaking.

TLDR: Visually stunning with captivating fanservice and satisfying combat moments, but buried under a mountain of greed and shallow mechanics. A beautiful, fleeting experience that leaves you hollow inside.


Dead or Alive 5 initially pulls you in with its visual appeal—meticulously crafted character designs, absurd jiggle physics, and jaw-dropping outfits. But beneath the beauty lies a lack of meaningful depth. It’s all show, with little substance.


The fanservice is blatant, and if you're here for eye candy, you’re in luck. But that’s all it offers—sexy characters with shallow backstories and a focus on teasing over real innovation. The focus on fanservice detracts from the experience.


The combat is fast but frustrating. Moves and combos require a level of precision that the game doesn’t always deliver on. When you land a blow, it’s visually rewarding, but the inconsistent controls often derail your efforts.


Dead or Alive 5’s DLC system is greedy at best. The base game gives you only four characters. If you want more, that’s extra money. Story mode, outfits, and characters are locked behind paywalls, making the game feel incomplete without paying more. The prices are absurd, and it feels like the game is designed to milk you for every cent.


The game offers flashy visuals and fast-paced combat, but the lack of depth makes it feel shallow. Input issues and an anti-consumer DLC model diminish any potential for long-term enjoyment.


Pros:

Visually stunning character models and environments
Engaging fanservice with enticing jiggle physics and revealing outfits
Fast-paced combat with satisfying moments
Destructible environments add dynamism
Solid power blows and flashy moves

Cons:

Anti-consumer DLC practices with essential content locked behind paywalls
Limited base roster of only 4 characters
Inconsistent input recognition with third-party controllers
Fast pace requires precision, but inputs often don’t register
Shallow mechanics with limited long-term depth


Dead or Alive 5 dazzles with visuals and fanservice, but behind the glitter, the experience falls short. The combat is frustrating, and the greedy DLC model forces you to pay for what should’ve been included. What could’ve been a great fighting game is instead a hollow, short-lived spectacle.

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