Final Showdown: No to the Dead or Alive Dress Code





There is no doubt that creator Tomonobu Itagaki wanted sex appeal to be a big part of the Dead or Alive series. With every iteration of the game including Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, that trait has been maintained. It's also acknowledgeable that the fighting game aspect has to be recognized and should be the focus. The sexuality, in that case, is more like icing on the cake.
In reality, however, the general gaming community finds the series less a competitive game and more as a vehicle to see bouncing breasts and revealing dresses. The series' stigmatization has thus limited the player base to a relative few.
Regardless, the players want to show the game beyond the visuals. To that extent, it's very admirable to see them, along with help from series developer Team Ninja, work hard toward that competitive end. Unfortunately, a rule is putting the scene in a position that isn't productive.