Last week Koei Tecmo stealth dropped Samurai Warriors 4 DX on Steam, and while it is one of the best games in the series and serves a purpose being released this way, it begs the question: does this strategy end with Samurai Warriors 4 DX or does this become a repetitive business pattern that brings their portfolio of titles to Steam; the strongest video game ecosystem on the market that becomes more and more dominant as time passes its natural course.
To my knowledge (and I could very well be wrong) this is the first time Koei Tecmo has shadow dropped a product meaning that there was no overhead or prior advertising; it just came out on a whim to the public. Some people would constitute DOA: Ultimate, Dead or Alive 3 & Dead or Alive 4 being backwards for XBOX ONE as a shadow drop, but it was announced by Phil Spencer in advance, and it was also a backwards compatibility update; not an official release.
This has also raised the question on many social media outlets if Koei Tecmo would officially release past Dead or Alive games onto the Steam platform which is of course a valid question to ask after something like this has been done, and it seems like it would be possible. A long time ago we heard from Team NINJA that the code was no longer available, but I really don't know how valid that point is in the present day seeing as how strong technology has changed; and at the very least they could remaster and release Dead or Alive Dimensions, Dead or Alive 5 or even Dead or Alive 6 with a condensed store while reenlisting licenses for the Virtua Fighter & King of Fighters characters or just do away with them all together if it's not possible.
Samurai Warriors 4 DX is fantastic because it melts down 150+ DLC items into the game itself and also includes an assortment of Japan exclusives including various characters. Dead or Alive 5 & Dead or Alive 6's stores are polluted with an overwhelming number of items, that confuses consumers to this day with some content no longer available to purchase; it would make sense to re-release these games and make them complete to people that want to buy them.
Let's say that Team NINJA doesn't want to release the older games because of their relationship status with Tomonobu Itagaki. That's where DOAD comes remastered for Steam. This is Koei Tecmo's take of the original four games and would provide the entire storyline and game history coverage for DOA players on Steam.
SW4DX looks the best it has ever looked with this stealth drop release on Steam. The game runs perfectly with no frame dips, looks crisp and clear and has one of the better combat systems of a Warriors game. There are plenty of characters to choose from, and this was also the debut of Naotora Li who has overtime become a highly respected character within the Dead or Alive community thanks to her presences as a character in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round.
Koei Tecmo's ability to write entertaining storylines with these real premodern characters is both impressive and feels purposeful to the players and I would award this stealth drop a ✮✮✮✮ star rating. A star rating you say? Yes, indeed! I have been working on a review system for the past year, and when it's released to FSD it will be big and there will also be community involvement; so, look forward to that happening soon!
Keep pushing for DOA; when the surveys come out - let your opinion be known. When you see an opportunity take it. We will have some tournament information soon for your continued competitive DOA involvement and to coincide with the stealth drop of Samurai Warriors 4 DX @KasumiLover has rereleased his incredible guide for Naotora Li in our DOA5 character selection. If you have any interest at all in the character check that bible of information out.
To my knowledge (and I could very well be wrong) this is the first time Koei Tecmo has shadow dropped a product meaning that there was no overhead or prior advertising; it just came out on a whim to the public. Some people would constitute DOA: Ultimate, Dead or Alive 3 & Dead or Alive 4 being backwards for XBOX ONE as a shadow drop, but it was announced by Phil Spencer in advance, and it was also a backwards compatibility update; not an official release.
This has also raised the question on many social media outlets if Koei Tecmo would officially release past Dead or Alive games onto the Steam platform which is of course a valid question to ask after something like this has been done, and it seems like it would be possible. A long time ago we heard from Team NINJA that the code was no longer available, but I really don't know how valid that point is in the present day seeing as how strong technology has changed; and at the very least they could remaster and release Dead or Alive Dimensions, Dead or Alive 5 or even Dead or Alive 6 with a condensed store while reenlisting licenses for the Virtua Fighter & King of Fighters characters or just do away with them all together if it's not possible.
Samurai Warriors 4 DX is fantastic because it melts down 150+ DLC items into the game itself and also includes an assortment of Japan exclusives including various characters. Dead or Alive 5 & Dead or Alive 6's stores are polluted with an overwhelming number of items, that confuses consumers to this day with some content no longer available to purchase; it would make sense to re-release these games and make them complete to people that want to buy them.
Let's say that Team NINJA doesn't want to release the older games because of their relationship status with Tomonobu Itagaki. That's where DOAD comes remastered for Steam. This is Koei Tecmo's take of the original four games and would provide the entire storyline and game history coverage for DOA players on Steam.
SW4DX looks the best it has ever looked with this stealth drop release on Steam. The game runs perfectly with no frame dips, looks crisp and clear and has one of the better combat systems of a Warriors game. There are plenty of characters to choose from, and this was also the debut of Naotora Li who has overtime become a highly respected character within the Dead or Alive community thanks to her presences as a character in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round.
Koei Tecmo's ability to write entertaining storylines with these real premodern characters is both impressive and feels purposeful to the players and I would award this stealth drop a ✮✮✮✮ star rating. A star rating you say? Yes, indeed! I have been working on a review system for the past year, and when it's released to FSD it will be big and there will also be community involvement; so, look forward to that happening soon!
Keep pushing for DOA; when the surveys come out - let your opinion be known. When you see an opportunity take it. We will have some tournament information soon for your continued competitive DOA involvement and to coincide with the stealth drop of Samurai Warriors 4 DX @KasumiLover has rereleased his incredible guide for Naotora Li in our DOA5 character selection. If you have any interest at all in the character check that bible of information out.
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