Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive is a fighting game with an emphasis on buxom female fighters and male grapplers who are over the top muscular to different degrees.

Beginnings
Tomonobu Itagaki, who at the time was with Tecmo created a game that was the depending factor, which was "Dead or Alive", namely due in part of the term "sink or swim" in financial issues. It was successful to spawn over a dozen games, 2 or 3 remakes for a few of the titles and merchandise like hug pillows, special edition consoles, figurines and even women's swimsuits. However, it was not as well-received as its rival Tekken in the beginning. After Dead or Alive 4, Itagaki faced sexual harassment charges he incurred and so many others ills that needed treatment. He left the development team and said "You can't do Dead or Alive 5 without me!" in his severance message. Despite his message, two games for the series came out for the handhelds by Nintendo (Dead or Alive Dimensions) and Sony "Dead or Alive Paradise" which culminated into the 5th installment: Dead or Alive 5, which was remade 2 times within the lifespan of the XBOX 360.

Summary
Over the course of 3 years, 5 tournaments have been held call Dead or Alive. However, DOATEC, a company owned by the late Fame Douglas has been guilty of experimenting on The Mugen Tenshin Ninja Clan, particularly from the Tenjinmon Sect. The most at risk for the experiments was Kasumi who became a nukenin, or runaway ninja, when Hayate was experimented on and left paralyzed and comatose. Hayate eventually regained his full functions, but is under the delusion he is named Ein and after a few rounds against the other fighters and the Tengu, he remembers he is Hayate. Meanwhile, Helena Douglas is on a mission to avenge her mother Maria, who took a bullet meant for Helena. At first, she assumes Ayane had killed Maria, but after fighting the Tengu, Helena continues on, now as DOATEC's president.

Differences Between Japan and Western Versions
Aside from a lack of audio options, the ages of Kasumi, Ayane, Kokoro and Eliot are left as "N\A" in the West due to the moral backlash that would result from minors fighting and, in the case of the girls, wearing sexually provocative outfits. In Japan, Kasumi is 17, Ayane is 16, Kokoro is 17 and Eliot is 16. In fact, Japan is known for their "idol culture" in the sense of pop idols (under 18) dressing in skimpy outfits and playing around in the photo books and doing "gravure" videos which show "candid" relaxation.

Characters
• Kasumi - A nukenin who is avenging her older brother's disappearance

• Ayane - A kunoichi with a score to settle with her spoiled older sister

• Hayate - A ninja who was tortured and revived, the target of Kasumi's search

• Ryu Hayabusa - A shinobi with deadly accuracy. Appeared originally in Ninja Gaiden.

• Helena Douglas - An opera singer and heiress to the DOATEC group.

• Christie - An assassin with two confirmed kills, one being Helena's mother.

• Lisa Hamilton - A former DOATEC employee and current luchadora. Presumed dead.

• Hitomi - A young German\Japanese College Student with karate skills