Dead or Alive (video game)

Dead or Alive is a fighting game series created by Team Ninja and initially published by Tecmo (later Koei Tecmo). The series is known for its fast-paced combat, interactive stages, and emphasis on counter-attacks. It features a diverse cast of characters with unique fighting styles, drawn from various martial arts disciplines.

The core gameplay revolves around a triangle system of holds (counters), strikes, and throws. Holds are designed to counter strikes, strikes beat throws, and throws beat holds, creating a mind game between players. Successful holds can lead to significant damage.

The series is also recognized for its "Danger Zones" or "Power Blows" which are stage elements that can trigger devastating attacks or transitions when a fighter is knocked into them. These interactive stage elements add a layer of strategy to positioning and stage awareness.

The franchise has expanded beyond the main fighting game series to include spin-off titles, such as the Dead or Alive Xtreme series, which focuses on volleyball and other mini-games.

The main installments in the Dead or Alive fighting game series typically feature a story mode, arcade mode, time attack mode, survival mode, training mode, and versus mode. Online multiplayer has been a standard feature in later installments.

The series has appeared on various platforms, including arcades, home consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo), and PC. Each installment often introduces new characters, gameplay mechanics, and refinements to the graphics and presentation.