So as a casual player, I've got to say, I'm really happy with the new direction of the gameplay.
I mean, but is it a new direction? It feels different anyway, more similar to the older games - not so reliant on the stun system and juggling.
Definitely more fun than DOA5 to me - richer in mechanics, but sadly lacking somewhat in terms of content, on the flipside.
Of course, it's hard to judge against the original DOA5, which was pretty bare compared to later releases as well, but, it's just kind of weird to have a costume list full of recolors, at this point - to where the hair and eyewear options make a bigger visual impact, even.
I'm sure DLC later down the line will fix this, but that isn't really the point.
I wouldn't have minded if there was only, you know, three or four costumes per fighter, with the recolors tucked away in a menu somewhere, along with the hair, eyewear and panty options. As it is though, it feels like they were trying to bloat the menu for the sake of it - which, if nothing else, makes it a drag to scroll through.
The stages, I was expecting them to feel more static, but they don't, which is great. I still would've liked more than ten or however many it is that we have, though - and again, Miyabi and Hidden Garden being counted as separate stages is nothing but cheap menu filler.
It's visual variety that's missing here, nothing else IMO.
But hey, I think as soon as the ball starts rolling with this game and we eventually get to DOA6U or DOA6++ or whatever, they'll have rounded out the cut corners just fine. At least music customization is in from the start, from the looks of it.
edit: Like ideally, we'll end up in a place where Gen Fu, Leon and Ein are back on the roster, as well as Momiji and Rachel - and there's double the amount of stages, similar to the ones we already have in terms of gimmicks/interactivity. Throw in one more original character, or two, and we're set for content.
