There was a brief moment while playing Dead or Alive 6, Koei Tecmo’s latest fighter, that I had to stop playing and download Dead or Alive 5. Something felt amiss and I didn’t know what, so the hope was that returning the last step in the Dead or Alive franchise would help jog my memory or remember what I was missing. What it made me realise is that Dead or Alive hasn’t moved on much.

Dead or Alive 6 is, of course, the latest incremental upgrade in the Dead or Alive franchise. It’s the kind of sequel that will have anyone not already a fan of the series confused about what’s been changed or added. Quite rightfully so. Fighting games have always been closely tied to visual presentation, and Dead or Alive 6 looks an awful lot like Dead or Alive 5, frankly.