PixlBit

Dead or Alive 5 represents a classic fighting game paradox. While every release increases the game's quality, it also increases the burden of delivering added value to fans who are skeptical of re-buying a game they’ve already purchased one or two (or three or four) times.

Enter DOA5 Ultimate, the third iteration of Team Ninja’s fifth entry into its provocative fighting game series. Originally released almost exactly a year ago, DOA5 returned with a Vita port (Plus) in March. Now it’s bouncing back to consoles with a few extra features to share.

DOA5 was already pretty great, so the fact that Ultimate is the best version now available should be no surprise. Like with any “Ultimate” or “Game of the Year” update, however, being the best version now available doesn't necessarily equate to being worth the upgrade.

While Ultimate's complete list of updates is quite extensive, a lot of its “new” features are imported from Plus. Although these features still might be new to audiences who skipped the Vita port, I’m going to focus on what's unique to the Ultimate release.

Five new characters, boosting the roster to 29, comprise what's easily the most visible and substantial update. DOA regulars Ein and Leon return, Jacky joins the other Virtua Fighter guests, and Momiji and Rachel represent Ninja Gaiden.

Momiji's the most fun of the lot. She's responsive and quick, and her spectacular acrobatic combos are surprisingly easy to use. Ein and Leon are true to their earlier incarnations. The former's combos are great, while the latter's strength is a force to be reckoned with. Jacky's fighting style resembles Jann Lee's. He's about the punches and therefore a great choice up close, but low damage and short reach can be a problem against certain opponents. Rachel is a well balanced character, but she's also the least distinct.

While the gameplay is mostly untouched, Ultimate adds one new mechanic called Power Launcher. Like Power Blow from the original release, it's a special attack you may activate only after you drop below 50% health. It launches opponents into the air, opening them up to aerial combos. Also like Power Blow, it's a bit tough to pull off because it will be canceled if you're hit while holding the buttons to activate it. As a casual player, I found it was smarter to keep calm and carry on than to get myself KO'ed trying to activate it. It might be more useful to a more skilled player, but it doesn't fundamentally change the gameplay either way.

Several of the well received training modes from the Vita port return, but the only new mode unique to Ultimate is Team Fight, which allows you to build a team of up to seven characters to fight against the computer or a couch opponent. It's a welcome addition, but there isn't a whole lot else to say about it except it's a shame you can't play it online.

Speaking of which, Ultimate addresses the unreliable online experience PixlBit's original review described with improved netcode. I didn't notice any lag, but the trade off is incompatibility with earlier versions of the game. Other online updates include new ranking systems and the ability to play tag team matches with a friend. An online pass is no longer required to play online, either.

Ultimate boasts 231 costumes, including one or two new ones per character. While a lot of the paid DLC costumes from DOA5 are now unlockable in-game, others undermine the “Ultimate” designation by still requiring a purchase. The game also adds five new stages, increases the number of titles to more than 800, and implements myriad other tweaks, some of which you'll notice and/or care about more than others.

Ultimate costs $40 — a reasonable price, at least at face value. Fighting game DLC characters are usually $4–$5 apiece, so the roster update alone could be said to add $20–$25 value. With the other $15–20, you get a ton of DLC costumes cheaper than buying them individually, the other new features, and the base game itself.

If you don’t already own a version of DOA5, Ultimate would be the one to buy. Face value doesn’t always reflect perceived value, however. If you’re considering a second or even a third purchase, you’re likely to experience a sense of diminishing returns here. Welcome although the other changes may be, the new characters and possibly the online improvements (if you’re still playing online a lot) are the only updates with enough substance to factor into purchasing decisions. They're likely to rekindle your interest for a while, but expect a quick return to feeling like you've already experienced everything worthwhile the game has to offer.