Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore is a video game created by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo Inc. The title was produced for a variety of platforms, including arcade machines, the PlayStation 2, the Dream Cast and the original Xbox. It was launched in October 2000, and was classed as a fighting game with an anime look, played from a third-person perspective, and based on an arcade machine.

Dead or Alive 2 has had a complicated history, driven by Team Ninja's desire to create a fighting game that could attract hardcore gamers, while offering a look that was very different from anything on the market at the time.

The initial release was for arcade machines, and got restricted to Japan. A second version of the arcade game was also created, but there were things that could only be managed on home consoles. Thus, both the Dream Cast and the PlayStation 2 received Dead or Alive ports.

Hardcore is seen as the most complete released version of the game out of the 11 developed so far. There are more characters in this title, animations for a lot of moves have been significantly tweaked, and some have even been cut, more character outfits have been included, the speed of gameplay has been increased, the Survival Mode has got a makeover, and a new gallery option has been introduced, in addition to the Items Collection feature. There are also a lot of statistics telling the player which characters he used, and which he fought the most.

GAMEPLAY HINTS

Zack: Flaming symbol

Select Zack's fifth costume and taunt (Left, Right, Left, F + P + K). The symbol on his chest and his eyes will ignite with a blue flame. Taunting again extinguishes the flame.

Zack: Glowing antenna

Select Zack's third costume and taunt (Left, Right, Left, F + P + K). The antenna on his head will begin to glow. Taunting again will turn this off.

Zack: Alternate costumes

Costume 3: Successfully complete story mode.
Costume 4: Successfully complete story mode without continuing under the default or higher difficulty setting. Alternately, successfully complete story mode six times (continues count).
Costume 5: Score 1 million Points in survival mode under the default or higher difficulty setting. Alternately, use Zack more than 50 times.
Costume 6: Grab the Parfait in Survival Mode under any setting. Alternately, use Zack more than 100 times.

Here's a video: