Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball Xbox Preview @ Gaming Target

Written by Gavin Wright on July 10, 2002

First Impressions: DOAXBV: Even the abbreviation needs to be abbreviated.

Tecmo's Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball turned a lot of heads at this year's E3 show. The premise seems innocent enough -- the girls of Dead or Alive have taken to the sands for an unassuming game of volleyball to unwind before the next DOA tournament. But if you are familiar with the Dead or Alive series, you'll know that the games don't exactly tend to sell on their gameplay alone. In fact, the big-breasted, overly exaggerated women featured so prominently in the games have contributed in large part to the success of the series. Now Tecmo is taking this tried-and-true formula and carrying it over into the sports genre, creating a volleyball game that's every bit as risquщ as the infamous fighting game series, but also promising a strong volleyball simulation (no, I didn't say УstimulationФ) to go along with it.

The game all starts out with Zack (who we are assured will be the only male character in the game) who, after hitting it big in the casino, buys an island and names it after himself. He then invites all of the Dead or Alive girls to the island, and they all arrive assuming that they will be taking part in the next DOA tournament, only to realize that no men have been invited to the island. So, to unwind during their free time (or perhaps just an excuse to get the girls to wear swimsuits) they decide to kick back and play some beach volleyball.

Matches in the game are played two-on-two, but it looks like the player controls only one of the two members of their team. From the short amount of video that's been released, XBV looks like it plays just like a real game of volleyball, with dead-on player reactions and ball physics. Picture the fluidness of DOA3, only brought over into a completely different genre.

There are over 150 different pieces of clothing and accessories for your characters to buy and wear. Every imaginable type of bikini is available in the game, but you also have the option to make custom designs of your own. Tecmo has even stated that they will more than likely include an option to let you take off the swimsuits entirely, even if it means necessitating a Mature rating for the game. Accessories, such as watches, sunglasses, and necklaces can be worn too. Even the volleyball court itself can be customized to your liking, allowing you to change the net type, volleyball, and the court's spot on the beach.

Players can strengthen their relationships with teammates off the court by buying them gifts. If they like your gift, they may wear it during the game to show their appreciation, or even buy you something in return. Better friends make better teammates on the court, so it's important to keep up strong relationships away from the tournament.

There are tons of diversions on Zack Island in addition to the volleyball tournament. There's a casino that lets you try your hand at games like roulette, blackjack, and slots; an arcade where you can play a mini-game of Dead or Alive 3, and perhaps some Tecmo classics such as Ninja Gaiden and Tecmo Bowl; then there's a movie theater that essentially serves as an advertisement for all past and future Tecmo games, allowing you to view trailers of the upcoming Ninja Gaiden game, along with all three Dead or Alive games; and there are also some other mini-games, like a dance competition, beauty contest, and lifeguard drill. All of these extras must be unlocked before being used, so they will offer a nice reward for playing further into the game.

From the video trailer we've been shown, the graphics look to be as good as or even better than the impressive Dead or Alive 3. The beaches on Zack Island look similar to the beach level in DOA3, but this time around there's a lot more going on around you. Boats sail by in the in the water, planes fly above the island, and seagulls soar around the beach, adding a lot of life to the environment. One of the more impressive effects is the sand, which leaves prints whenever anything makes contact with it, leaving a mark in the sand that realistically represents the object that made it. The girls are animated perfectly, and all of their volleyball moves look just like the real thing. In one of the more novel graphical effects to be included in the game, you'll actually be able to notice the girls tan as they spend more time on the island. Overall, Dead or Alive 3 is still just about the best-looking Xbox game around even to this day, and DOAXBV looks like it will improve on it, if only marginally.