Dead or Alive 5 Last Round is yet another remastered release coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Koei Tecmo is already advertising that the upcoming version will be the “definitive” one for the fighting game, which has already seen several updated launches in recent years. So is Last Round worth buying on the two current-gen consoles? Let’s take a look at some elements that may factor into your decision.
Quality of Dead or Alive 5
Dead or Alive 5 was originally released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The Vita version, which is titled Dead or Alive 5 Plus, was launched in early 2013 and added some extra modes. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate was then made available later in the same year on the PS3 and Xbox 360, adding in some of the modes from Plus, fixing several bugs, incorporating new mechanics in addition to including more playable characters.
All three previous versions have garnered favorable reviews. While the sequel may not be revolutionary, its fast-paced, reversal-heavy battles are very cinematic and easy to get into for newcomers. At the same time, some of the more intricate mechanics may take some time to master. With the lack of fighting games released on the PS4 and Xbox One so far, it may not be a bad idea to pick up Last Round when it launches.
Enhanced Graphics
Of course, Team Ninja is also going to be taking advantage of the added horsepower of the two current-gen consoles when compared to the last-gen Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. Dead or Alive 5 Last Round has been confirmed to run at 1080p and 60 frames per second on PS4 and Xbox One. The videogame is already considered to be one of the best looking games in its genre. With the new improvements, the graphics are going to be even better.
New Characters
Perhaps the biggest selling point for Last Round are new characters. The first is Raidou, the boss of the very first game in the series. You will also get to play as Honoka, a schoolgirl who uses a combination of styles (which she referred to as “Honoka Fu”). Along with these newcomers, the upcoming version has the biggest roster of the franchise yet. If you have been waiting to jump into the DoA series, Last Round should be the perfect opportunity to do so.
Other New Content
The extras aren’t just limited to Raidou and Honoka. There are also new character customization options, bringing the total to over 300 costumes, hairstyles and accessories. The stages got a boost as well with some new danger zones for you to knock your opponent into. So there should be plenty of new content, even if you already played the other iterations of DoA 5.
Transferable DLC
If you do own the above-mentioned Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, you will be able to transfer DLC packs that you previously bought to Last Round on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Therefore, your previous purchases won’t go to waste.
Final Verdict
If you haven’t played DoA 5, or any other games in the series, then you should definitely pick up Last Round. On the other hand, gamers who already owned Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate may want to wait until a price drop unless they are really interested in the improved visuals and extra content from the PS4 and Xbox One versions.
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round is releasing on the 17th of February on the two current-gen consoles. You can preorder the upcoming release from Amazon with this page.
