Today Team NINJA reveals two new contenders returning to the Dead or Alive fighting roster, as well as detailing a wealth of new features in the expanded online mode that awaits gamers in Dead or Alive 5, which launches on the Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 on September 25, 2012. Both the DOATEC leader Helena Douglas and former DOATEC scientist Lisa Hamilton make their triumphant return to the Dead or Alive franchise. Showcasing stunning new character designs and the lifelike detail that Dead or Alive is known for, these characters boast all-new styles and even deadlier techniques, reflecting the look and feel of the intense new generation of Dead or Alive combat. To premier these two new characters, Team NINJA has released all new images and a video vignette highlighting both fighters squaring off in heated combat in a brand-new undersea stage.
Helena Douglas, also known as “Fortune’s Heiress,†is the current leader of the Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee (DOATEC) and the daughter of Fame Douglas, founder of DOATEC. As a famous opera singer and Pi Gua Quan martial artist, Helena’s refined elegance translates into a quick yet graceful fighting style that allows her to pull off smooth windmill-like combinations that overwhelm her opponents. After the apparent destruction of DOATEC after the last tournament, Helena has re-emerged to announce the reformed DOATEC and issue an open invitation to all potential competitors to the fifth Dead or Alive Tournament.
Lisa Hamilton, also known as “La Mariposa,†is a former scientist for the Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee (DOATEC) and an accomplished luchadora. Lisa’s unpredictable lucha libre style combines moves she learned while training with friend and fellow DOA competitor Tina Armstrong during high school and her own blend of high-flying kicks. Her unorthodox style makes her a difficult opponent to counter and defend against effectively. Little is known as to why Lisa has returned to the fifth DOA Tournament, but the reemergence DOATEC has once again brought “La Mariposa†back into action…
It’s a slow descent as Helena and Lisa trade blows in an inescapable elevator heading straight for the bottom of the ocean in this aptly named stage – Depth. Surrounded by an ominous view of the vast sea, fighters must be wary of the danger lurking in the elevator panels, which if damaged could greatly affect the integrity of their makeshift battle arena. As the elevator is wracked with destruction, it speeds up and spews out dangerous fragments that become deadly projectiles which players can use to their strategic advantage in combat.
Dead or Alive 5 includes a wealth of new online features that offer players the best online experience of any previous Dead or Alive game to date. Up to 16-player online tournaments will allow combatants to set up their own bracket-style tournaments, while the fighter list allows players to view opponents’ battle records and call them out to fight at anytime. The online dojo allows players to practice with others in training mode, while the spectator feature allows players to chat while watching online battles. Players can also rock bragging rights by posting titles and sharing fighting records with friends on Facebook.
Dead or Alive 5 is developed by Team NINJA and will be published by Tecmo Koei.