"Dead or Alive" is such a weird series. What started out as a fast-paced 3D fighting game from Team Ninja somehow morphed into this franchise about women with ridiculous breast physics. Few other developers can claim they took a fighting genre title and somehow spun the story off wherein a main character tricks women into vacationing on an island – and playing bikini volleyball.
Regardless, "Dead or Alive 5" is on its way, and there's no immediate signs of volleyball or shopping.
According to VG24/7, Team Ninja held a pre-Tokyo Game Show event in Tokyo's Shibuya district last night, titled "Unmask." The developers formally announced "Dead or Alive 5" during the event, stating that the game would find its way to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. You can check out some pre-alpha gameplay right here.
Apparently, the slogan for "Dead or Alive 5" is "Fighting Entertainment." This made me giggle on multiple levels, not the least of which included visions of Team Ninja physically engaging in battle with your sense of enjoyment.
Team Ninja also discussed the eight-player, online multiplayer mode for "Ninja Gaiden 3." You'll have the ability to create your very own ninja, although it's still a bit unclear just how deep that customization goes.
During E3 2011, I had the opportunity to play some "Ninja Gaiden 3" single-player. The quick-time event button presses were a bit jarring, but Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi assured me that they were not really a component of the main game, just a way to teach you how to play. I'm really interested to see how that ends up in the final product.
The developer also announced that "Ninja Gaiden Sigma" will get a PlayStation Vita release in 2012. Here's to rear touchpad sword slicing!