Games PS2 DEAD OR ALIVE 2-HARDCORE User Manual

WARNING: READ BEFORE USING YOUR PLAYSTATION®2
COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.
A very small percentage of individuals may experience epileptic seizures
when exposed to certain light patterns or flashing lights. Exposure to
certain patterns or backgrounds on a television screen or while playing
video games, including games played on the PlayStation 2 console, may
induce an epileptic seizure in these individuals. Certain conditions may
induce previously undetected epileptic symptoms even in persons who
have no history of prior seizures or epilepsy. If you, or anyone in your family,
has an epileptic condition, consult your physician prior to playing. If you
experience any of the following symptoms while playing a video game –
dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of awareness,
disorientation, any involuntary movement, or convulsions – IMMEDIATELY
discontinue use and consult your physician before resuming play.

WARNING TO OWNERS OF PROJECTION TELEVISIONS:
Do not connect your PlayStation 2 console to a projection TV without first
consulting the user manual for your projection TV, unless it is of the LCD
type. Otherwise, it may permanently damage your TV screen.

USE OF UNAUTHORIZED PRODUCT:
The use of software or peripherals not authorized by Sony Computer
Entertainment America may damage your console and/or invalidate your
warranty. Only official or licensed peripherals should be used in the
controller ports or memory card slots.

HANDLING YOUR PLAYSTATION 2 FORMAT DISC:

• This disc is intended for use only with PlayStation 2 consoles
with the NTSC U/C designation.

• Do not bend it, crush it or submerge it in liquids.

• Do not leave it in direct sunlight or near a radiator or other source of heat.

• Be sure to take an occasional rest break during extended play.

• Keep this compact disc clean. Always hold the disc by the edges and

keep it in its protective case when not in use. Clean the disc with a
lint-free, soft, dry cloth, wiping in straight lines from center to outer edge.
Never use solvents or abrasive cleaners.

DOA2 HARDCORE
PROLOGUE

~ Disaster of Tengu at the end of the century ~

A great leader was killed at the end of the 20th century.

His name was Fame Douglas, and he was renowned as
the sponsor of the legendary world battle championship
"Dead or Alive." Since his death—and in the absence of

his charisma and leadership--the world has become

chaotic. Amid this chaos, it is announced that

"DOA2: HARDCORE Championship" will be held.

However, Douglas’ passing has taken with it the purpose

and significance of the tournament. Even worse,

the promoter of "DOA2: HARDCORE Championship,"

who is fond of conflicts and jealous of the strong, is

responsible for Douglas’s death. The new promoter is

more than just a corrupt mastermind, but a man of

pure evil. His involvement in the tournament has

brought a sense of terror to the world, resulting in the

infamous Tengu Disaster that occurred at the end of

the 20th century. The climax of the disaster is about to

begin with a roaring battle.

Thank you for purchasing "DOA2:HARDCORE" software for

PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Be sure to read

this instruction booklet before you begin playing the game.

This game can be backed up. Backup requires a memory

card(for PlayStation 2) sold separately. Never switch off the

main unit or insert/remove memory cards(for PlayStation 2) or

controllers while saving is in progress. The game screens used

in this manual may differ from those of the actual game.

Contents

Prologue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Starting the Game . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Basic Operations . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Option Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Basic battle know-how . . . . . . .25

Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

The World of “Dead or Alive” . .41

Operation

DualShock™2 analog controller

controller

This game is designed for use by one to four players.
This section describes basic controller operations.

LED
light

L1/L2 buttons

DIRECTIONAL button

SELECT button

Combine with the Directional button for free steps.

Changing screens, displays, etc...

LEFT ANALOG STICK / RIGHT ANALOG STICK

Used for free steps during operation in
Analog mode (LED stays red).

Not Used

ANALOG Mode Switch

Turning this on enables Analog mode.
The LED lights continuously in red.

Controlling characters

Menu selection, etc.

R1/R2 buttons

button

button

button

button

START button

(Multi-function button
for holds, guarding,
free steps, etc.)

PUNCH

FREE

KICK

THROW

(Evade Throw)

Pause during game
Start game

Executing menu commands, etc.

Tag change (for use during Tag battle only)

Changing screens, displays, etc...

Cancel menus, etc.

++

Operations shown in black letters are battle operations.

represents the Square button in the game.
Likewise, represents the Triangle button and represents the Circle button.

+

Game Reset: To reset the game and return to the Title screen during a

game, press the START button and SELECT button at the same time.

* To play with two or more players, you will need to

purchase additional Controllers (sold separately).

* Use the Option mode (page 21) to switch the

Vibration function on and off. If the Vibration
function is on, the controller will vibrate regard
less of the setting of the ANALOG mode switch.

* The operation method shown uses the default

button assignments. Use CONTROLLER SETTING
in Option mode to change settings.

* Pressing the START button pauses the game.

4 5

Starting the Game

Mode Select

start game

Press the START button on the Title screen to display the
Mode Select screen. Use the directional buttons to select a
mode and press the START button or “X” button.

Character Select

Use the left and right arrows on the directional buttons to
select characters. The character’s costume can be selected
using the Up arrow on the directional buttons when the cursor
is on a character in the top row, or the Down arrow when the
cursor is on a character in the bottom row. After making your
character and costume selection, press the “X“ button. Press
the triangle button to return to the Mode Select screen.

*Different characters have different

number of character colors.

Rules

1. Criteria for winning battles

In battle, the conditions specified below are required for a set
victory and the player that wins the predetermined number of
sets wins the battle.

KO: Opponent’s health falls to 0.
Time Up: Your health is greater than your opponent’s at time up.

2. Draws and sudden deaths

A draw occurs when both parties have the same amount of
health remaining at time up, or in the event of a double KO.
In the event of a draw, both parties earn points for that set.
If both parties reach the number of sets required for victory at
the same time, a sudden-death match is held. If there is no
clear winner even after sudden-death combat, the defending
champion is declared the winner.

3. Continue

Press the START button within the allotted time following the
Game Over message to issue another challenge.

6 7

Battle screen

start game

In Tag Battle mode, 1P and 2P each have two life gauges.
The display will change so that the life gauge of the character
fighting is always displayed in front.

Set count:

Displays the number of sets required for
victory. One light will illuminate for each
set victory. The battle is won when all
lights are lit.

Time:

Time up occurs when this counter
reaches 0. The player with the most
remaining on his or her life gauge wins.

Life Gauge:

A player loses if his or
her gauge drops to 0.

About the menu during game pause

Pressing the START button during a game pauses
the game. A menu screen will be displayed.

Exit: Reset:

Exit closes the menu and Reset ends the Battle
returns to the game. mode and returns to

the Title screen.

Victory Icons:

Victory icons appear when a battle has been won (2P battles
only). If you win several battles in succession, the number of
icons will increase and the shape of the icons will change at one,
five, and ten continuous victories. Different characters have
different types of victory icons.

8 9

Basic Operations

operations

This section explains the basic operations applicable to all characters.
Instructions for keys apply when the characters are facing to the right.

By using the directional button and F button together, you can execute
free steps that allow characters to move freely. After entering free-step
mode by entering one of the commands, then holding down the F button
while operating directional button, you can move freely. If you release the
F button or stop using the directional button, the game status will return
to normal. The same operation may be carried using the Left/Right sticks
on the Analog controller (DualShock™2 analog controller) or using the
directional button while holding down the L1/L2 buttons.

Legend

The F button shown is the Square button, the P button is the Triangle button and the
K button is the Circle button (when default settings are used).

• indicates a short press of the directional button,

• while the indicates a long press.

Jump

back

Standing guard

Low

guard

Jump

forward

Move forward

Crouch

forward

Jump

straight up

Low

guard

Character Movements

Forward dash Run
Backward dash Crouching dash

Free Steps

Background movement Foreground movement

Strikes

Punch Kick

Each character has its own strike moves. Combining them with the
use of the directional button, you can execute various attacks.

Types of attacks

High attack: Hits standing opponents
Middle attack: Hits both standing and crouching opponents
Low attack: Hits both standing and crouching opponents
Super High attack: Hits standing opponents, no guarding

Critical Combos

When your opponent staggers, you have an opportunity for a series
of attacks. String your strikes together in the right combination to
cause maximum damage.

Guarding

High and middle guard Low guard

Attacks can be made high, in the middle, or low. To guard against high and middle attacks,
use left on the directional button. To guard against low attacks, use down. It is also possible
to guard using the F button. You can guard against high attacks by crouching and low
attacks by jumping.

10 11

operations

When too close to your opponent, you can use
the F + P buttons to throw him or her. Different
characters have their own special throws. Use the
directional button in combination with the F + P
buttons to execute more powerful throws.

Evade Throw

Evading Ordinary throws

(Well-timed) Evading a string of throws

Hold

(Against a high attack) High hold

Critical Hold

When you receive a hit as a counter, you may be forced into “critical
status,” during which time you’ll be unable to guard yourself or
attack. Critical Hold will relieve you from critical status, providing a
chance to recover from an unwanted situation.

Throws

Ordinary throw Low throw

+

+

+

+

Ordinary throws can be evaded by pressing the F + P buttons the instant you’re thrown.
Some characters will throw again soon after the first throw. Well-timed use of the F + P
buttons will enable you to evade that throw.

(Against a middle attack) Middle hold

(Against a low attack) Low hold

By properly timing the entry of your command against the strikes of your opponent, you
can fend off his or her attacks and launch a counterattack. Be aware, however, that the
method of entering the Hold command differs depending on the type of strike.

Arcade Version Holding

The input procedures for holding moves can be changed to reflect
the ARCADE version. To change the setting, use the “CONTROLLER
SETTING” in Option mode.

The input procedures will reflect PlayStation 2 mode when "Command Type" is
set to "PlayStation2" and ARCADE mode when set to "ARCADE."

(Against a high attack)
(Against a middle punch attack)
(Against a middle kick attack)
(Against a low attack)

High hold

Middle punch hold

Middle kick hold

Low hold

Down Attacks

Down attack Follow-up attack

+

or

When a character goes down, you can execute a follow-up attack. Use the P or K Button
for the follow-up attack, depending on the character.

Down attack
Down attack causes the opponent a bigger damage, but it also gives the opponent a
bigger chance to attack while you are trying to use the attack.

12 13

operations

Use the directional button to get up after being knocked down. Some characters
also have special attacks that can be used while getting up.

Getting Up

1. Press P button several times in succession:
Get up quickly at your present location

2. UP + Press F button several times in succession:
Side roll at back of screen

3. DOWN´ + Press F button several times in succession:
Side roll at front of screen

4. Press the K button several times in succession while getting up:
Middle kick while getting up

5. Press DOWN + K button several times in succession while getting up:
Low kick attack while getting up

Modes

There are eleven different game modes. Two players can play in Versus
mode or during a surprise attack. When two or more people play,
additional controllers are required (sold separately).

This mode allows you to follow a story involving the character you have
selected, and to attempt to complete the story. Battle in a tournament
against the computer - if you knock out all of the enemies, the game will
clear and you will be on your way toward completing it. If another player
intrudes during play, you must engage in battle with him or her. If you are
using 1P Controller, your opponent can press the START button on the 2P
Controller, and if you are using the 2P Controller, he or she can press the
START button on the 1P Controller, to launch a surprise attack.

*At Game Over, the screen will switch to the Continue screen. Press the START

button while on this screen to resume play from Game Over. There is no limit to
the number of times the game can be continued.

STORY MODE

14 15