Dead or Alive 6 review – fabulous fighting with an unwelcome soft-porn vibe - The Guardian

"Impressive graphics and an innovative story mode make for faultless gameplay in the latest instalment of this series, but its hyper-sexualised characters feel out of touch" The Guardian says.

[ReVibe]

It's DoA... play it or move along.

[CobraKai]

Right!! They only realize this 6 games into the series?!?

[Felix_Argyle_Catbro]

What is it with Americans fearing the human body? They have no problem when it comes to destroying it though...

[Omnisonne]

Or promoting so called ''slut walks'', where actual women barely wear any clothing.
I bet the people complaining about game titties and promoting these walks are the same too.

[nyu1]

What is it that's so hard to understand about sexualization being out of place ? It's criticism just like any other criticism about other aspects of a game.

but the online gaming community doesn't get that. It's always same old stupid arguments. "So violence is okay but not sex?" (as if the two were the same kind of thing), "oh why so scared of the human body".

So stupid.

[RavageX]

This game series has been about what it's about, so its not out of place for this game.

[Hungryalpaca]

You’re not helping your case. They’re titties. You people sound like the christians did every time a movie came out.

Go clutch your pearls else where.

[rainslacker]

How is it out of place here? It's been a staple of the series since the first game. Also, over sexualization is a far cry from soft core porn.

Why is it that you blame the community as being wrong, or not getting it? The same old arguments are used, because the same people who want to seem all moral and judgemental of others, keep making stupid comments about how these things are bad, unwanted, or just going around shaming others because it makes them feel good about themselves.

But, if you're so worried about people asking the same old things, why not answer the questions.

Why is violence OK, but sex is not? You're right, sex and violence are not the same thing....violence is much worse. Given the choice between killing someone, or having sex with someone, I'd choose sex. Given the choice between beating someone to a pulp, versus watching a girl in some sexy clothing, doing sexy things, I'd pick the girl.

Why are you scared of the human body? Or better question, why are you so worried about what other people feel about the human body? It doesn't hurt you, or anyone else if some people like it.

You're right though, it is so stupid, but that's because people like you don't really want to have an intelligent discussion on the topic. You bring puritan beliefs into a community which isn't anywhere near majorly puritan, and you get unequal representation of voice in that discussion, and you continue to think your right, and remain ignorant, while others just want to be left alone, and for this idiocy to die.

You have the capability to ignore these games. You don't have to buy them or play them. You don't have to engage in the discussion. But, those who want this game, or others like it, would be hard pressed to discuss the game without someone like you coming in and adding their voice. Censorship happens, which affects us that do care about this game. You don't care about the game, you just care about the devs or industry appease your moral viewpoint, affecting us.

That's what's so stupid about it.

[RememberThe357]

For me I don't associate sex with violence so any games that have half naked beautiful women kicking ass always seems weird to me. Kicking ass is for rugged pissed off men and sexiness is for naked chicks. I remember feeling that way with the first Bayonetta, the game is great but the sexuality amungst so much carnage just threw me off. Yet Kratos is mostly naked and I don't give a sh!t I just want to murder stuff. Maybe I'm being too narrow minded or maybe I'm being an SJW, I don't even know nowdays. The definitions of these terms keep changing.

[Aloren]

It's not out of place. It's been part of DOA for decades.

And actually, I'd be curious to know why people fear to be seen playing a game with girls in bikini yet they are ok to brag about their headshot streak , or their triple kill, or their victory in a battle royale....

[WeedyOne]

Its a fake trend created by major media which is nothing more than a tabloid these days...

[rainslacker]

I dunno, but apparently the reviewer has no idea what constitutes soft core porn. I can't think of any DOA game, even the volleyball ones, that have any kind of soft core porn material in them. There is no implied sexual intercourse, nor excessively long sequences of women(or men), doing sexy things like taking their clothes off while being sexy at the same time.

It's sad to see people who misappropriate terminology to try and seem intelligent. They only end up looking ignorant.

Further, the reviewer is saying its unwelcome, and maybe it is to them, but it shows a complete lack of knowledge of the series, because people buying it, probably do welcome it.

[Lord_Sloth]

What is it with people blaming Americans for British articles?

[Flewid638]

I'm American and a hardcore fan of DOA. The art style is just corny. Nobody is so prude that we dont like the bounce....its just dumb as fuck. lol.

[SegaGamer]

I personally find the obscene season pass more unwelcome.

[Rapidfirepunches]

Buy the stuff you want separately then. Do you expect 64 costumes and 2 characters to be cheap? Other games sell single skins for $15-$35.

[SegaGamer]

Yes, why shouldn't they be cheap? You actually think all of that stuff should cost more than the price of a full game? Those costumes were already made, so I can argue that they should be in the base game to begin with. This stuff has just been held back because they want money, it's pure greed. Just put it in the game so we can unlock it, like we used to do in the past. What makes it worse is that this is only season pass 1, there is more to come!

Also, other games doing it doesn't make it okay for this game to have it. I have always been against this type of thing, no matter what game it is. The difference is that this genre is the only one that gets away with it and has it's fans making excuses for it.

People like you making excuses for this type of thing is why we have seen overpriced DLC and Microtransactions get worse and worse in the last decade.

Sorry, but if you think it's normal to charge over £1000 just to get the whole experience from a game (like with DoA5) then you have been brainwashed. Something like this would have been unheard of only a few years ago, but people like you have let yourself be tricked into thinking it's okay and completely normal.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

Are you seriously trying to defend a $100 pass? This is why they feel like they can charge this much, because suckers like you give them the money.

[Rapidfirepunches]

If you take into account the characters being at least $3.99 (probably more) that makes the costumes only $1.33 each (or less if the character price is higher).

It costs like $8 for a sticker in Anthem. Fortenite Skins can be 25 bucks each.

If you don't want to pay $93 for 64 costumes that's perfectly normal, you should buy them separately then if you really want some. Suggesting that 64 costumes should be free? You might as well just go to the developers and take money from their wallets.

[Dizzy11523]

That's why it should have been free to play.

[Rapidfirepunches]

The free to play version will be coming later

[SegaGamer]

@Rapidfirepunches

Why do you keep bringing up other games in your defence? I already said that I don't agree with those games either. Fortnite obviousy get's away with it a bit because it's free to play, I don't agree with the prices of those skins though, and I feel the same way about Anthem as I do with other games that force this crap into games.

Also, how is buying them seperately any better? It's still going to cost a ridiculous amount to buy the complete game. And don't feed me that "you can buy costumes for the characters you like" line, that is as weak an excuse as any other. When I used to unlock costumes for characters in fighting games in the past, I wanted them for all characters, we did it because we liked completing games 100%. To do that now, I would need to pay for multiple season passes that cost insane amonts of money. I remember playing Dragon Ball Z Budokai games and unlocking the stuff with capsules that you paid for with IN GAME MONEY. If that was today, we would probably have to pay £30 extra just to unlock it.

If people keep defending this, then dont be surprised when we start seeing £120 season passes and higher as the years go on.

[King_Noctis]

Well, in Smash costume are free. So...

[CorndogBurglar]

I get what you are saying about devs making money off of this stuff. The price of games hasn't gone up since the Xbox 360 game out. But where does it end? It used to be that Season Passes were about $20-$30 for content that would release over the course of many months. It could be anything from costumes and skins all the way up to weapons and extra missions.

But because people have been buying this stuff companies keep pushing the envelope to see how much they can get away with. Before long the price was $40-$50. Now the norm is about $60. That's a the price of a whole new game! And keep in mind that there has NEVER been a Season Pass that includes as much content as a base game. So that's silly in itself.

But people keep buying it. Now look. $100 for a Season Pass? Are people out of their minds? And you're defending this? That is just completely insane.

[BigTrain]

pffft, more like free.

[gamer7804]

But its optional so its not forced on you so therefore can't be unwelcomed. Buy the individual characters only.

[Rapidfirepunches]

This costumes in HD games are much more expensive and time consuming to make than those old games. They don't grow on trees you know. Don't forget DOA5 gave away lots of free costumes over time too.

[King_Noctis]

So that is the reason it costs more than the base game? Or do you mean that those costumes take longer to develop than the actual game that is why it cost more?

[Rapidfirepunches]

A small % of people who bought the game will buy costumes. It's supply and demand. If everyone who bought the game also bought the costumes, they could make them cheaper.

[Rachel_Alucard]

Blame KT, they have a different mindset then the rest of the industry with DLC. They don't see a game missing DLC as being less of a game. So they just keep adding things. That season pass thing only started with the 3rd release of DOA5 and it was only in response to some whales who found it annoying to have to download everything one at a time. This pass is 2x the most expensive season passes in the west, and it only covers 3 months. Most people wouldn't be so adverse to it if it covered a whole year of content or everything for this one version. But pricing that much for so little return on top of knowing there's gonna be more in 3 months is what drives everyone away from it.

Though I'm surprised this company just released a 4th season pass that's $45 for DW9 and it's all weapon reskins.

[GrizToof]

You guys that are offended about Doa's boobs need to stop. It's been part of the game since the beginning and it should never stop being that way. Its freaking harmless and nothing to cry over.

[Omnisonne]

Yeah DOA's been around forever, and now suddenly its article after article of ''sexualization this'' ''objectification that''. I've never been into fighting games so I haven't played it, but these journalists are just weak.

[Fist4achin]

I thought the women were just expressing themselves.

[rainslacker]

Women in this game are pretty kick ass, and generally are strong characters....relative to what you'd expect from a fighting game. DOA has an above average story line for the series. Them being sexy is just a matter of style, not a testament to their worth as a character. My favorite characters are Ayane, and my favorite outfit of hers is her fully clothed ninja outfit(same as Ayane), and Kokoro, with my favorite outfit being her Geisha robes. They're sexy because they are, not because they're trying to be sexual.

[NotanotherReboot]

Imagine getting offended by fictional boobs

[nyu1]

Imagine being so thick headed as to conflate any criticism about sex with being 'offended'

[Hungryalpaca]

Imagine being you. What an awful life that would be.

[rainslacker]

The only criticism one should accept about sex is from their sexual partner. Men should just accept it from their female partners, and women should tell the men to shut up, they'll do what they want. That's the balance that has existed for long enough that we don't need to rock the boat.

Any other criticism is just an expression of one's personal viewpoints on the subject itself. None of these expressions are representative of anything meaningful in the big picture, because people ascribe their viewpoints to make a judgement, instead of actually knowing the facts to know how the content affects the world around them.

I can say I feel Game of Thrones has become way too gratuitous in it's sexual content because it is unnecessary to the story in the way its done. Doesn't mean I'm against sex, or that I feel that I need to shame others who like it. Unfortunately though, those who do it like yourself, or some in the press use it to judge the game, or others who may not care about it, or actually want that content.

[averagejoe26]

Imagine getting upset at not being able to drool over CGI boobs

[Hungryalpaca]

What? That doesn’t make any sense. It’s part of the game. Removing it because some people are offended is ludicrous.

You seriously need to change your name to belowaveragejoe26. You don’t seem very smart. That 26 for your iq?

[gamer7804]

Imagine getting upset at being able to drool over CGI boobs

[Rachel_Alucard]

Fitting profile pic

[Rapidfirepunches]

What's wrong with soft porn?

[DafunkyRebel]

They prefer hard core I guess

[godashram]

Guess they haven't played DOA2: Hardcore on the PS2....

[nyu1]

It feels out of place (subjective ofcourse). Not hard to understand why many people might find the soft core porn vibe weird in a fighting game.

[Hungryalpaca]

It’s been around for 20 years. At this point is as part of a fighting game as anything else.

I bet you don’t bitch about the overly muscular men wearing speedos. But a BOOB?!?

SHOCKED! How DARE they show a WAHMENS body!

[gamer7804]

It's not softcore porn as no sex is even simulated so your argument has no merit.

[rainslacker]

Man, I was playing that Uncharted 4, and Nate, as an archiologist going around killing people that attack him, and being proficient at many different kinds of weapons, some which require actual training, despite it being established he had never been in the military so probably wouldn't know how to use those things, really feels out of place. Given that it does, and that violence offends me, I'm going to be offended by UC4 and its violence.

See how stupid your argument sounds when you take the sex out of it.

And DOA is not anywhere near soft core porn. A woman, or man, dressed sparingly or in tight clothing, doing some sexy poses and some jiggly breasts, is not anywhere close to soft core porn. These things don't feel weird, because they're done in a way that makes sense to the game....even disregarding the history of the series. They're victory poses mostly, and they're stylish. They aren't done in a way that makes it seem like they're trying to have sex.....ever. What few moments in the series which reference actual sexual acts, it's either laughed off, or completely rejected.

That said, if you find the vibe weird, then move on. Or just play it, because it's not really like it detracts from the game itself, and generally speaking, one is likely to just skip over most of the starting and ending scene of the fights, and the story itself isn't really anything like that outside a few characters who are more outgoing in their personality.

[Rachel_Alucard]

"Soft-core porn vibe"

The funny part is this game's only softcore parts are a few suggestive costumes. The game never focuses on the characters asses or tits and doesn't even zoom in on their chest when doing break blows. If anything it's more violent with the camera focus on the punch to the face when performing a break blow. If you want an actual soft-core game go play Senran Kagura for reference.

[Chaos-Dad]

Womans Body -> "Soft Porn"... What a Sexist Headline @Guardian...

[nyu1]

Soft Porn vibe. It's clear what the author means and they're not wrong from what I've seen of DOA.

There's no need to be that obtuse, really.

[Hungryalpaca]

Just give it up. No one agrees with you. Go play your little Puritan games where everyone holds hands wearing parkas.

[Inzo]

Oh boy, then take out fat women in gaming, movies and magazine covers because I find it offensive and obtuse not to mention promoting unhealthy living.

[gamer7804]

really? software porn has simulated sex, this is nowhere to be found in this game. Its just quite simply a headline that is not fact-based. Suggestive themes is actually what the headline should say if they were really focused on being at all factual.

[CrystalFantasy3]

This review is out of touch

[WitcheRivia]

I'm out of time (time)

[x_xavier_x]

But I'm out of my head
When you're not around
Oh, oh-oh, oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh

[Shikoku]

Actually that's the reason most people love the series...so yeah it is welcomed.

[BadElf]

Noo no. Very welcome.

I hope these developers dont listen to these fools

[FlyingFoxy]

This is why parents need to be smart about letting their kids watch anime.

15 rated stuff is basically soft core, extremely inappropriate.

[gamer7804]

Lol the guardian, ultra violence A-ok. But show any skin like you'd see at a beach in cali or less than most European beaches Oh noes! They can have their opinion as long as they know how hypocritical it is.

[Loktai]

This is more of a rant than it needs to be .. I'll be concise.

This series and games like it have been around a long time. That is its target demographic.

Not every product is for everyone. Its like complaining that because Pornhub exists that its not appropriate for children and devoutly religious people. No shit.

DOA 1 had extreme bouncing breasts. DOA2 had bouncing breasts and revealing costumed- NUDITY in cutscenes.
DOA3, 4, 5, all had scantily clad women, bouncing breasts and this is what the series has always been.

If someone complained because suddenly a NEW game series comes out and they say "Its just softcore porn" it could be a criticism. But trying to shame a series that been running since the mid 90s on the grounds of being "out of place" is the most idiotic position yet.

Its like claiming DOOM having guns is out of place.

[kayoss]

There has been 6 DOA installment and a few side games. Yet some people are still surprised? Yet these are the same people complaining about Sony Censorship in video games.

[AK91]

Wow I know the guardian is cucked so didn’t think they’d give it a high score.

[drizzom]

The hell is The Guardian doing on this site?

[Samus707]

Soft porn ftw!

[TechnoGoat]

Unwelcome... by who!?

[Rachel_Alucard]

"The Guardian" should think about renaming themselves to "The Overprotective soccer mom"

[Inzo]

I think you are being unfair to soccer moms.

[Casepb]

DOA would have no reason to exist without T&A.

[gamer7804]

the combat is actually very well done, its very easy for more casual fighting fans to enjoy and get into, alot of fighting games struggle with that and focus more on the hardcore esports.

[Tross]

Has The Guardian ever played a DoA game? I’m assuming not.

[Inzo]

A very very welcome soft porn vibe.

[WhyHate]

A woman's body can't even move like it does in real life in videogames, without someone considering it to be obscene or viewed as something negative towards women.

A progressive attitude is great and I feel will lead us all to a path of equality and peace overall, but if we're getting to a point where a woman can't physically move and operate as a natural woman does and a man can't do the same in videogames or any other form of media for that matter, then we're all f**ked.
(pun intended)

In short what I'm saying is if we lose our humanity or even the ability to be human beings in that process, then it will truly all be for nothing.

The opinion expressed in this article is uptight, and begging for PC and or #metoo acceptance.

Leave all women's natural jiggle alone!

P.S. Say goodbye to Bayonetta....

Because if you don't agree with me now, you will once they turn there focus to Bayonetta...