Dead or Alive 5 Plus

Dead or Alive 5 Plus is a single-player and multiplayer 3D fighting game. The story continues the interconnected narrative of the Dead or Alive series, centering on the Dead or Alive 5th World Combat Championship, a tournament that draws together fighters from around the world while secret experiments and personal vendettas unfold behind the scenes. Players experience the storyline through multiple perspectives, following characters such as Kasumi, Ryu Hayabusa, and Helena Douglas as their paths intersect in the conflict surrounding the DOATEC organization and the creation of a deadly clone weapon.

Combat uses the series’ signature triangle system in which strikes beat throws, throws beat holds, and holds counter strikes. Fights emphasize reading opponents and executing precise reversals, with timing-based counters allowing players to intercept attacks from different directions. Each character has a unique fighting style, ranging from traditional martial arts to acrobatics and grappling, and advanced mechanics such as Critical Bursts and Power Blows can stun or launch opponents for extended juggle opportunities. Battles take place in multi-tiered arenas filled with hazards and breakable elements that expand combos or cause cinematic knockbacks when triggered.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus adapts the console version of Dead or Alive 5 for handheld play while maintaining the full combat depth of its predecessor. The game introduces a Touch Fight mode, allowing players to battle from a first-person perspective using touchscreen gestures. By swiping, tapping, or pinching the screen, attacks and counters are performed directly through motion input. The system offers a simplified but tactile interpretation of the core mechanics, complementing traditional button-based controls.

The game includes extensive training options, featuring tutorials, command lists, and combo challenges. Combo challenge mode tests mastery of character-specific move strings, while free training allows frame-by-frame analysis to refine timing and reaction. The fight recording and playback features enable players to review matches, making it easier to study opponent behavior or practice defensive responses.

Multiplayer includes local and online battles, with ranked and casual matchmaking. Cross-platform play between the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 3 versions allows shared matches and leaderboard integration. Save data can also be transferred between the two platforms, enabling progression continuity for story completion, unlocked costumes, and titles.