DEAD OR ALIVE 2 - HARDCORE
OFFICIAL TITLE  Dead or Alive 2 - Hardcore
COMMON TITLE  Dead or Alive 2 - Hardcore
SERIAL NUMBER(S)  SLPS-25026
REGION  NTSC-J
GENRE / STYLE  Fighting.

DEVELOPER  Team Ninja.
PUBLISHER  Tecmo.
DATE RELEASED  14 December 2000
DISC NUMBER &
PRINTED SERIAL NUMBER
DISC 1

SLPS-25026
SERIAL NUMBER IN DISC SLPS-25026
MEDIA DVD-5
NUMBER OF TRACKS 1
( 1 Data Track )
BARCODE NUMBER(S)
( UPC / EAN )

From the back cover.
  •  4960677800036  - 
     

  •  


English

Japanese

French

German

Italian

Spanish
Menus and gameplay are in Multi-6 (English, Japanese, French, German, Italian & Spanish); Voices in Multi-2 (English & Japanese).

Tecmo, best known for its popular Ninja Gaiden series on the NES, wasn't the most likely source for a 3D fighter that would compete with the likes of the Tekken and Virtua Fighter series. And yet, thanks to their in-house development group, Team Ninja, that's exactly what the gaming public got in 1996, when Tecmo released Dead or Alive, a game built on Virtua Fighter's impressive engine. The game showed promise, although it was perhaps most famous for the buoyancy of its abundantly bosomed female characters.

In an attempt to really compete with the big boys, Tecmo unleashed Dead or Alive 2 into arcades in 1999. The inevitable console versions soon followed, with Dreamcast's port being the quickest, as DOA2 was created using Sega's NAOMI hardware. For the PS2, Tecmo has beefed up the game to supposed "Hardcore" levels, adding a few flourishes to entice old and new fans alike.

There are 12 playable characters to start, representing the wide mixed-martial arts style of all respectable 3D fighters, from Muay Thai kickboxing to Wu Shu to Pro Wrestling. There are four buttons, but their function is unique in the fighting world. Perhaps its closest cousin is the Virtua Fighter series, but DOA 2 has done much to establish itself as its own beast. There are only two striking buttons, one for punching and another for kicking, and a grapple button. There is no guard button, as DOA2 uses the Street Fighter 2/Tekken method of holding back to block. The important addition is the FREE button, which allows players to move in full 3D, ala Soul Calibur, as well as reverse almost any striking attack in the game.

And these reversals are one of the major keys to DOA2. They are simple to perform and can turn around high and low attacks with ease. Learning this ability is at least as important as mastering the other moves of the characters, of which there are plenty. The game boasts a large martial arts arsenal: graceful strikes, canned combos, and multi-throws are all present, and most all of these can be reversed, once the basics of the engine is grasped by the player. The fighting arenas in DOA2 are generally some of the largest available in a 3D fighter. Many of them are multi-tiered, giving players the ability to bash their opponent over ledges of a building or through the stained-glass windows of a cathedral. A few levels even possess so-called Danger Zones that can be triggered by knocking opponents into them, causing extra damage to occur. There are also differences in terrain and topographical grade that change the mechanics of movement slightly.

DOA2: Hardcore's modes include Time Attack, Versus, Survival, Team and Sparring (practice). DOA2 also has a Watch Mode, where players can view computer-controlled demonstrations, and Battle Rec. Mode, where players can record their battles. The modes that Tecmo obviously attempted to innovate are the Story Mode, which attempts to bring a flowing plot to the normal string of battles, and Tag Mode, DOA2's very own two-on-two mode in the tradition of Capcom's Vs. series and Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament.

In an attempt to lure people who might have already had their fill on the Dreamcast version, released months earlier, Tecmo has added a slew of new goodies. In addition to new moves for every character, there are new one-on-one and tag levels, double the number of costumes (over 70), an English dub, and a CGI Gallery where people who would like to view the DOA2 ladies in various states of disrobement can do just that. Tecmo also claims to have improved graphics and sound over the initial PS2 release, and there are now two more playable characters. Many of these features can be unlocked through various in-game feats.

DOA2: Hardcore marks the fifth different version of the game released (Arcade, Japanese Dreamcast, English Dreamcast, Japanese PS2, and Hardcore all have different features) and Tecmo has endeavored to make this version the most complete, just as Team Ninja has done its best to see that Dead or Alive 2 is taken seriously as a member of the modern 3D fighting elite.

Features
* Fight with a dozen martial arts experts
* Battle in and around multi-tiered arenas
* Ten different game modes including time attack, versus, and survival



  MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:

First must have game for Playstation 2
gamepro.com

- Special cinema modes reveal the lives of characters
- Amazing NEW multi-tired fighting stages
- Visually stunning characters and graphics
- Revelsals, combos and characters taunts
- English and Japanese voice options
- 10 exciting modes of play
- User Profile System: allows you to record your battles
- Special Battle Record Mode: Reverse-replay, pause and change the viewing angle
- Furiously paced two-on-two Tag Battle mode
- Unlock hidden characters, costumes and exclusive "HARDCORE" secrets.

Sit down, shut up, and play. This is real fighting action - sexy and edgy. It's Hardcore for sure! Let the fighters of Dead or Alive 2 take you to places you've only dreamed of. But don't get too close to these beauties because they're capable of turning on you in an instant, leaving you battered, bruised, and asking for more. Drool over lush backgrounds, meticulously detailed with the most advanced techniques in lighting and texturing ever seen. Exclusive multi-tiered fighting stages let you toss you opponents through cathedral windows, over cascading waterfalls, and off towering rooftops to continue the fight below. But, the action doesn't stop there. Enter Tag-Battle mode where up to four players can engage in two-on-two bouts using vicious combos and mind-blowing special moves. Experience the most responsive and realistic fighting action ever developed as you compete for the Dead or Alive 2 World Combat Championship.

You've been warned... Think you're hardcore enough to play?



  FEATURES:
  • Third person perspective.
  • 3D graphics
  • Cartoon graphics
  • Martial Arts theme.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS  1-4 Players
NUMBER OF MEMORY CARD BLOCKS  85 KB Minimum
COMPATIBLE CONTROLLERS TESTED
( OFFICIAL GAMEPADS ONLY )
 Standard Controller / Analog Controller ( Dual Shock Controller compatible )
COMPATIBLE LIGHT GUNS
( OFFICIAL LIGHT GUNS ONLY )
 None
OTHER COMPATIBLE CONTROLLERS
( OFFICIAL CONTROLLERS ONLY )
 None
SPECIAL CONTROLLERS INCLUDED OR
SUPPORTED ( OFFICIAL ONLY )
 None
VIBRATION FUNCTION COMPATIBLE  Yes
VIDEO MODES  50 Hz = No / 60 Hz = Yes / Progressive Scan = No / 16:9 Option = No
AUDIO MODES  Stereo = Yes / Mono = Yes / Dolby Surround = No / Dolby Digital = No; Dolby Pro logic II = No
MULTI-TAP FUNCTION COMPATIBLE  Yes ( 1 to 4 Players )
LANGUAGE SELECTOR  No
NETWORK ADAPTOR (ETHERNET) COMPATIBLE  No
EMULATOR  PCSX 2 v.0.1.5.0 r3121
SPEED HACKS USED  EE Cyclerate = 0; VU Cycle Stealing = 0; Enable INTC Spin detection = Yes; Enable Wait Loop Detection = Yes; Enable fast CDVD = No; mVU Flag Hack = Yes; MTVU (Multi-Threaded Micro VU1) = No
SPECIAL GAME FIXES USED  None
VIDEO PLUGIN  GSDX v.1.1.1 ( Allow 8-bit textures = Yes; Alpha Hack = No; Offset Hack = No; Skipdraw Hack = 0 )
AUDIO PLUGIN  SPU2-X v.2.0.0 ( Interpolation = 4; Disable Effects Processing = No; Use the de-alias filter = No; Enable Dubug options = No; Module = 1; Synchronizing Mode = TimeStretch Mix; Audio Expansion Mode = Stereo )
CD-ROM PLUGIN  CDVDolio Cdrom plugin v.0.1.0
GAME PAD PLUGIN  LilyPad svn (r3993) 0.10.0
VIBRATION COMPATIBLE  Yes.

  NOTE:   This is not the only possible combination of plugins. There are others that will work (better or worse) for your particular hardware. We provide you with one working set-up so that you may get the game up and running, hassle-free. Testing other emulators/plugins is up to you.
 

 BASIC CONTROLS:

Square Button free steps, hold, guard
Circle Button kick
Triangle Button punch
X Button throw
R1 or R2 Button change screens
L1 or L2 Button change screens
Start Button pause
D-Pad Up jump
D-Pad Down low guard
D-Pad Left move forward
D-Pad Right standing guard
D-Pad Up Left jump back
D-Pad Up Right jump foward
D-Pad Down Left low guard
D-Pad Down Right crouch forward
D-Pad Right (twice) forward dash
D-Pad Right (twice and hold) run
D-Pad Left (twice) backward dash
D-Pad Down Right (twice) crouching dash



 

RAW CODES:

Unlock Tengu
004A79CD 00000001

Unlock Bayman
004A79CE 00000001

Unlock CG GALLERY
004A79CF 00000001

Have 200 Stars
004A7A52 000000C8
NOTE: Just play and lose in the SURVIVAL MODE to unlock All Costumes

Unlock COLLECTION
004A79E0 00000001

Unlock Stars in the COLLECTION
004A79E8 00000001



 - JEWEL CASE COVERS
FRONT BACK
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Res. - 300 dpi
File Size - 412 KB
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 - ADVERT COVERS
USA ADVERT PAGE 1 USA ADVERT PAGE 2 JAPANESE ADVERT PAGE 1 JAPANESE ADVERT PAGE 2 JAPANESE ADVERT PAGE 3 JAPANESE ADVERT PAGE 4
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Res. - 300 dpi
File Size - 200 KB
 - DISC COVER
DISC
MISSING
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 NTSC-J:
  • Dead or Alive 2 - Hardcore [Playstation 2 the Best] [SLPS-73406]   
     
 NTSC-U:
  • Dead or Alive 2 - Hardcore [SLUS-20071]   
     
 PAL:
  • Dead or Alive 2 [SCES-50003]   
     

Thanks to E-DAY for providing the game USA advert hires covers.
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