Dead or Alive 5+: Touch Fight gameplay detailed for PS Vita

Greetings PlayStation Blog. Today we are going to share the new Touch Fight and training details that will be available for the first time in Dead or Alive 5+ for PlayStation Vita, due in stores from 22nd March 2013.

As fans await the game’s launch, Team Ninja is helping dedicated players get ready for the new, more personal style of touch combat that maximizes the PS Vita’s gorgeous OLED display by putting the opponent front and center. In the competitive world of DOA fighting, those who are best prepared will be the first ones to top the leaderboards!

With previously announced features such as triple the amount of frame data and impressive cross-device functionality with shared purchases and cross-platform online matches, Dead or Alive 5+ is shaping up to set a new benchmark for handheld combat.

The intuitive “Touch Fight” mode, newly created for Dead or Alive 5+, lets players attack opponents with simple taps or swipes of the touchscreen, offering a second fighting mode alongside traditional button-based control. In this mode, combat is shown from a first-person perspective to put players in the middle of the action for the most intuitive DOA fighting experience to date.

Players can hold the PS Vita horizontally for a full widescreen view of the interactive battle stage, or vertically to enjoy a close-up view of the opposing character.

A range of attacks are available via touch and swipe, and landing a five-hit combo will trigger a Critical Burst, leaving an opponent open for even more punishment. Characters will react based on where they are touched or attacked, combining the realistic feel of a first-person view with full player control. Swiping in different directions unleashes different moves.

For instance, swipe upward to launch your opponent flying into the air, opening up the opportunity to perform an air combo. Pinching the touchscreen will result in a hold if your opponent is striking or a throw if your opponent is guarding, standing, or executing a hold. When a throw or Power Blow is executed, the screen perspective changes to a cinematic view so players can enjoy watching their character dish out the punishment.

To help players master the intense martial arts techniques available in Dead or Alive 5+, the game includes several new training modes. In “Free Training” mode, players can choose exactly which moves and combos they want to practice. Serious fighters can to take their skills to the next level by isolating their weak points and drilling them to perfection.

In “Command Training”, players practice the moves of each character until they become second nature, advancing to the next move only after they master the previous one – but if they get stuck they can watch move demos to help master it.

“Tutorial” mode gives players a solid grounding from basic moves to advanced combos and fighting strategy, with both lesson and mission segments to learn and then test the moves in action.

Finally, “Combo Challenge” allows players to select a character they truly want to master and then practice that character’s key moves and combos until they can be summoned instinctively without hesitation.