most of the high level doa players say that the hit effects are distracting..
it's not distracting for me but maybe it's because my skill in fighting games is average at best..
They are distracting, sometimes I'm even too busy looking at the hitsparks to realize what's happening in the match. They look cool and I'd have them on to spectate or watch replays but they are a huge distraction in-game.
I have it on primarily for cosmetics. Got used to it in DOAD and makes the game look pretty. Sure, it was distracting at first because one is used to no effects for countless previous DOA titles. I predetermine the directional attributes to strikes and strings by whole character movement and not just their fists/feet.
Not to mention getting a CB with effects on makes is oh so gratifying.
I refuse to use it. I also had it disabled in the alpha demo. I really just don't care for it. It's bad enough that Tekken goes overboard with it. LOL @ Awesmic.