Dead or Alive Xtreme 3

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3[lower-alpha 1] is a sports video game in the Dead or Alive series developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo as the second sequel to the beach volleyball spin-off title Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. It was originally released in 2016, under two titles for the two different platforms, as Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Fortune for PlayStation 4 and as Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Venus for PlayStation Vita. The game was distributed in Asian territories, where it does contain an English language option. A PC web browser version called Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation was released in 2017. An update for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch ports, entitled Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Scarlet was released in 2019, followed by a Steam port of Venus Vacation for specific Asia regions six days later.

Cover art for Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Fortune featuring the series' characters, Marie Rose (left) and Honoka (right)
Developer(s)Team Ninja
Publisher(s)Koei Tecmo
Digital Touch (South Korea)
Director(s)Yohei Shimbori
Producer(s)Yosuke Hayashi
Designer(s)Takayuki Saga
Tsuyoshi Iuchi
Artist(s)Kazuhiro Nishimura
SeriesDead or Alive
Platform(s)PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, MacOS
ReleaseOriginal (PlayStation 4 and Vita)
  • WW: March 24, 2016[1]
Venus Vacation
(DMM GAMES)
(Steam)
Scarlet (PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch)
  • WW: March 20, 2019
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is a sports game played from a third-person perspective and retains the camera mode from the earlier installments in the Dead or Alive Xtreme series. It features multiple gameplay modes, which includes mini-games such as beach volleyball and "butt battle".[4] Game modes include beach flag, in which characters will compete in a race to retrieve a flag, and rock climbing.[5] The feature which displays tan lines and swimsuit malfunctions is only available in PlayStation 4 version.[6][7] In addition, there is a new suntanning system. As the player unlocks new costumes for one character, the items will also be available for use to all characters. There are also new modes like Girl Mode, where the player can take direct control of the girl they have selected, and Owner Mode, where the player becomes an owner of another island.[8] The player is also able to initiate various activities with the girls, such as dating.

A new variation known as Photo Paradise was released in September 2016, allowing owners to take gravure pictures of the heroines in a variety of poses and swimsuits.[9] The PlayStation Vita version uses the console's touch panel and gyro sensor features.[10] The PS4 later added a virtual reality functionality.

Development

The development of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 was first disclosed by Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi during Dead or Alive Festival on August 1, 2015.[11] It was officially unveiled one week later in Famitsu,[12] and the first screenshots were published on August 21.[13] The PlayStation 4 version of game features an improved breast physics engine from Dead or Alive 5 Last Round, called Soft Engine 2.0, with the PlayStation Vita version using Soft Engine Lite.[10][14] The Soft Engine 2.0 also allows the developers to implement greater realism towards object interactions, such as clothing wetness and deformation.[7] The PlayStation 4 version is compatible with the PlayStation VR headset system.[15] The release date was originally scheduled for February 25, 2016, however it was later pushed back to March.

A free-to-play version of the game was released on May 16, 2016. The version contains all gameplay features and activities to try out, but the player can only play as Kasumi; all other characters need to be purchased additionally.[16] Originally, the PlayStation VR support patch was meant to be included for October 13, 2016, but was recently delayed for some unknown reasons. Support was made available on January 24, 2017.

During Tokyo Game Show 2016, a PC web browser version called Dead or Alive Xtreme Venus Vacation was announced to be released in 2017.[2][17] During the 2018 Dead or Alive festival held in Japan in November, Koei Tecmo announced a new edition of the game, Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Scarlet, will launch for the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2019 in Japan and Asia at least, with pre-orders for the game opening on November 19, 2018.[18]

Release

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 was released to Asian markets for PlayStation versions only,[19][20][21] but following protests from fans, Hayashi said a version of the game "adjusted for North America" might come to the West if the demand is high enough.[14][22][23][24] However, on November 24, 2015, Team Ninja posted on the franchise's Facebook page stating that they will not release the game in Western territories.[25] The Asian version will include an English language option and is region-free on both systems.[21]

Following the announcement not to release the PlayStation version of the game outside Asia, a public debate arose whether this was due to avoid criticism of the sexualized portrayal of women in the games, or the comparatively low North American and European sales of the previous game in the Dead or Alive Xtreme series.[26][27][28] Shuhei Yoshida, president of SIE Worldwide Studios, said in a statement; "It's due to cultural differences. The West has its own thinking about how to depict women in games media which is different from Japan."[29] In response to the decision not to distribute, the developer behind the adult puzzle game and dating sim HuniePop offered Koei Tecmo a million dollars for distribution rights in North America.[30]

Characters
See also: List of Dead or Alive characters

The original game's nine playable female characters were selected from the 15 candidates of the roster of Dead or Alive 5 Last Round as the ones whose paid character themes have been downloaded most by fans on the PlayStation Store, but only the downloads from Japan count. The top two characters will also be featured in the first-print run bonuses. The results were announced during Tokyo Game Show 2015.[31][32] No additional characters are planned to be added through DLC until they were added in the update versions.[33]

  1. Marie Rose (17.6%)[34]
  2. Honoka (14.9%)
  3. Kasumi (12.0%)
  4. Ayane (8.2%)
  5. Kokoro (8.0%)
  6. Nyotengu (7.6%)
  7. Hitomi (5.9%)
  8. Momiji (5.1%)
  9. Helena Douglas (4.9%)

Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation exclusive characters. Currently, only Leifang and the new character Misaki were also added exclusively in Scarlet and as DLC for Xtreme 3:

  1. Misaki
  2. Luna
  3. Tamaki
  4. Leifang (originally unqualified at rank 10, 4.7%)
  5. Nagisa
  6. Fiona
  7. Kanna
  8. Monica
  9. Sayuri
  10. Patty
  11. Tsukushi
  12. Lobelia

Reception

In the first week of its release, the Fortune version sold 44,723 copies while the Venus version sold 21,959 copies.[36] In an April 2016 financial report, Koei Tecmo revealed that Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 collectively shipped 190,000 copies within a month.[37][38] LewdGamer noted that the sales are higher than Koei Tecmo's Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book (170K) and Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13 (180K), two titles in the same report which were out for months longer.[37][38]

Play-Asia, an import game retailer, reported that they had their highest pre-order record yet with the release of Dead or Alive Xtreme 3.[39] The prior record holder was the Japanese release of J-Stars Victory VS, a game which was initially considered unlikely to be localised due to rights limitations involving multiple anime licenses.[39][40] Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 eventually broke Play-Asia sales records as well.[41]

Famitsu reviewed both versions of the game 32/40 (8/8/8/8).[42] Operation Rainfall gave Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 a score of 3 stars out of 5, and although they praised the graphics and visual engine, they found Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 to be more of a technical demo than a finished game. They also noted that the game has "lots of replay value."[43]

Notes
  1. Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 (デッド オア アライブ エクストリーム3, Deddo oa Araibu Ekusutorīmu Surī, DOAX3)

References
  1. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 delayed to March 24 in Japan". Gematsu. December 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. "Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation announced for PC browser". Gematsu. September 15, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  3. "Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation released at Steam". Siliconera. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  4. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 launches February 25 in Japan". Gematsu. October 13, 2015.
  5. "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3". www.gamecity.ne.jp. December 25, 2015.
  6. "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3's Tan-Lines and Bikini Slips are PS4 Only". Niche Gamer. November 20, 2015.
  7. "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3". www.gamecity.ne.jp. December 25, 2015.
  8. "【先出し週刊ファミ通】『デッド オア アライブ エクストリーム 3』やわらかエンジン2.0がぷにぷにでむにむに（2015年12月17日発売号）". Famitsu. December 15, 2015.
  9. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Getting First Destructible Swimsuits, New Sexy Bikinis and Photo Stage". dualshockers.com. August 31, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  10. Georgina Young. "Hayashi Yosuke Interview Reveals new Details about Dead or Alive Xtreme 3". TechRaptor. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  11. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 in development [Update]". Gematsu. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  12. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 announced for PS4, PS Vita". Gematsu. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  13. GameZone. "Bikini's, boobs and volleyball here to stay in Dead or Alive Xtreme 3". gamezone.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  14. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 might come west if demand is high enough". Gematsu. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  15. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 launches spring 2016 in Japan, playable characters announced". Gematsu. September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  16. Sato. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3's Free-To-Play Version Is Launching On May 16". Siliconera. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  17. "DMM版『クラッシュ・オブ・キングス』が今秋配信決定。『DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme Venus Vacation』の新情報も". 電撃オンライン (in Japanese). Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  18. Doolan, Liam (November 18, 2018). "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3: Scarlet Is Splashing Onto The Switch Early Next Year". Nintendo Life. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  19. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Probably Won't Be Getting Western Fans Excited Anytime Soon". cinemablend.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  20. "Official statement from Koei Tecmo Games". Twitter. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  21. "Team Ninja Confirms Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Won't Get Western Release". Anime News Network.
  22. "West Might Get 'Adjusted' Version Of Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3 – NowGamer". NowGamer. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  23. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 might get a western release". Gamereactor UK. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  24. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Could Head West, Says Producer". Arcade Sushi. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  25. Julian Benson. "Why the Next Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball Game Won't Leave Japan". Kotaku UK.
  26. Rob, Crossley (November 25, 2015). "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Won't Ship Worldwide Due to Sexism Backlash Fears". GameSpot. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  27. davidjenkins2012 (November 25, 2015). "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3 cancelled in West because of sexism – Metro News". Metro.
  28. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Won't Ship Worldwide Due to Sexism Backlash Fears [UPDATE]". GameSpot.
  29. "Dead Or Alive Xtreme 3 Not Coming West Due to Cultural Differences, Says Sony Boss – Niche Gamer". Niche Gamer.
  30. Finnegan, Lizzy (November 28, 2015). "HuniePop Dev Offers $1 Million for Right to Publish Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 in the US". The Escapist. Defy Media. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  31. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Character Voting Now Open — Niche Gamer". Niche Gamer. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  32. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 official website opened, character elections started". Gematsu. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  33. "New Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 details are here!". digitallydownloaded.net. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  34. "第一回 DOAX3総選挙 〜ザック島行きチケット争奪戦〜". Gamecity.ne.jp. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  35. "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Fortune for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  36. Sato (March 30, 2016). "his Week In Sales: Monsters, Skeletons, Vocaloids, Bikinis, And Nobunaga". Siliconera. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  37. ZenithTheOne (April 28, 2016). "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Sold 190k in the First Quarter of 2016". LewdGamer. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  38. "Investor Relations Document - 28th April 2016" (PDF). Koei Tecmo. April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  39. Nelva, Giuseppe (March 29, 2016). "PS4/PS Vita Exclusive Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Breaks Sales Record at Play-Asia". Dualshockers. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  40. Ortiz, Fabian (January 13, 2014). "Could J-Stars Victory Versus Be Localized? Very Unlikely". ShonenGames. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  41. Pierce, Walter. "Play-Asia Sales Record Broken by New Dead or Alive". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  42. Romano, Sal (March 15, 2016). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1424". Gematsu. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  43. Sigadel, Joe. "REVIEW: Dead or Alive Xtreme 3: Fortune". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
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