Despite the lightweight premise, this is stillĮasily the best 3D volleyball game ever created. Of course, the heart of the game is the volleyball, and it is here where This "gift giving" aspect to gain alliances is probably more challenging than playing the actual volleyball, because you could give really nice presents to your partner and still get ditched, simply because that particular girl doesn't care for those items. This requires that you learn each of their individual likes and dislikes and catering to them. This is accomplished partly by playing well and choosing your opponents carefully, but also by lavishing expensive gifts on your partner. You can't play volleyball without a partner, and to retain your partner, you need to keep her on good terms. The game as a whole feels more like a dating SIM than a volleyball game, because the relationship management aspect of the game drives everything else. Not easily discouraged, the ladies decide to remain on the island paradise, spending their time playing volleyball, gambling, shopping and even just lying around on the island, soaking up the sun. Once they arrive, however, they discover that they were duped by Zack and are actually on a two-week vacation at his tropical resort. It successfully integrates a solid volleyball simulation, a relationship management system, and a complete gambling casino all in one.ĭOAX centers around the voluptuous female fighters from Dead or Alive 3 arriving on “Zack Island” to participate in the fourth DOA tournament. While writing this review, I found myself torn trying to categorize their latest endeavor as a simulation game or a sports game, since both elements are equally important in Xtreme Beach Volleyball. When Tecmo first announced that Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball was coming out for the Xbox system, they categorized it as the first-of-its-kind "fantasy sports simulation", starring the ladies from the Dead or Alive 3 fighting game.