Dead or Alive 5 Last Round

Dead or Alive: Last Round doesn't have the contortionist special moves required to master its Street Fighter rival, making this the more immediately accessible game by some margin. But neither does it have the mascots of Capcom's stable (it's telling, perhaps, that the most recognisable characters here are borrowed from Ninja Gaiden and Virtua Fighter). But at its deeper levels, it's an equally engaging and challenging proposition as its rivals, a quick tempo test of dexterity and reaction that, at its best, transcends the mildly grotty aspects for which it is best known.

Though the novelty has worn off, the action-packed battles remain among the most enjoyable and accessible in the fighting scene

If you're on the market for a flashy fighter that's perfect for some fast and fun local play, look no further than Dead or Alive 5: Last Round. Its accessibility makes it a brilliant alternative to the more technically demanding brawlers out there, and while much of what it does is unspectacular, it's a solid, satisfying title that's hard to put down when you really find your rhythm.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round amounts to the definitive version of a game released back in 2012, which is both a good and a bad thing.

"Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate" is a gorgeous and fun fighting game with multiple characters and plenty of unlockable content.

If you're still playing Dead or Alive 5 after three years on the market and have the desire to continue on a new set of consoles, then the price of admission shouldn't mean much to you. Even then, it's difficult to recommend only because of how little Team Ninja has added to the overall experience.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round gives Steam users a new and complex fighting game to add to their libraries, but the abysmal online play limits the fun and lasting appeal.

The best version to date, but not definitive

Without online multiplayer, all the stages and possessing visuals that are inferior to the console versions, Dead or Alive 5 Last Round manages that rare and horrible thing of making PC players feel like second-class citizens to their console brethren and in doing so, succeeds in heavily tarnishing what is actually a pretty incredible fighting game in the process.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round is an excellent ending point for this chapter of the series. It takes all of the groundwork laid in DoA5 and polishes it off in the best way possible. Armed with an excellent roster of characters and a ton of modes, this is a great introduction to 3D fighting on the new generation of fighters. Just be prepared to be smothered with DLC options.