Seven years after DEAD OR ALIVE 6 first stepped into the ring, Team NINJA has brought it back for another bout.
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round is out now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, giving the 3D fighter a refreshed home on current hardware – and a few extra reasons for returning players to jump back in.
Priced at £32.99 for the full version, Last Round packages up the original roster, previously released fighters, new costumes and a Photo Mode that gives players far more control over the action once the bell has stopped ringing. There is also a free-to-play route in with DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Core Fighters, should you want to test the waters before committing to the full game.
At A Glance
- Game: DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round
- Price: £32.99 – Free Core Fighters Edition Also Available
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- Developer: KOEI TECMO GAMES / Team NINJA
- Publisher: KOEI TECMO Europe
A Familiar Fight With A New Coat Of Paint
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round is positioned as the definitive version of the 2019 fighter. The big draw is the move to modern hardware, with the KATANA ENGINE’s new OBORO lighting system bringing more natural light, shadows and detail to its arenas and fighters.
The series has always been quick, flashy and easy to understand at a basic level, but there is still plenty to master underneath. Holds can turn an opponent’s attack back against them, Fatal Rush offers a more accessible way into combos, and the Break Gauge opens up more powerful moves when the pressure is on.
Danger Zones return too, allowing players to turn the stage itself into part of the fight. Knock an opponent into the wrong spot and the damage soon adds up.
A 29-Fighter Roster And More To Come
The full version includes 29 playable characters. That covers the 24 fighters from the original DEAD OR ALIVE 6 roster, plus Nyotengu, Phase 4, Momiji, Rachel and Tamaki – characters that were previously tied to DLC or bonus content.
Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond from THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV are also available at launch as collaborative DLC characters, alongside a set of five additional costumes.
A new fighter named Minato was also teased in the launch trailer, with Team NINJA set to share more details on new characters and costumes as the year goes on.
For those coming from the original release, save data can carry over for unlocked costumes, DLC outfits, items and more, although some costume transfers may not be supported.
Photo Mode And Online Play Join The Party
The new Photo Mode is one of the clearest additions here. Players can select a stage and fighters, then adjust their positions, poses and expressions to create their own screenshots. That should appeal to anyone who has ever wanted to pause a particularly ridiculous counter throw and make it look even more dramatic.
Online modes DOA Quest and DOA Central are also available from launch, while Kasumi, NiCO, Marie Rose and Honoka are playable immediately in both the paid game and the free Core Fighters edition.
Core Fighters is the free-to-play version of DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round. It gives players access to the game’s fighting action, but Story Mode and further characters require separate Story Unlock Keys and Character Unlock Keys. The £32.99 full version includes those unlocks as part of the package.
A Return To A Fast And Fun Fighter
When we reviewed the original DEAD OR ALIVE 6 back in 2019, we found a fighter that was “easy to pick up, but seriously hard to master”. That still feels like a fair description of what makes the series work.
The original review also praised its speed, its fun factor and the fact that it never took itself too seriously. Last Round has the job of carrying that spirit forward, while adding a more complete roster, modern presentation and a new way to enjoy the fighters outside of battle.
DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC for £32.99. DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round Core Fighters is also available as a free download on all three platforms. Those links will whisk you straight to the Xbox Store.
