Dead or Alive started off using Sega's Model 2 board, which gave the game similar graphical treatments as Virtua fighter 2. Not only that, Team Ninja borrowed many fighting game elements from Virtua fighter 2 as well. These elements include:
- A punch button
, a kick button and a hold button (This replaces guard as a face button) - Attacks having high/mid/low hit levels.
- Attacks having priority over throws while in execution.
- Throws having 0 execution frames, and were considered guaranteed throws. When not guaranteed, a will execute.
- Throw not working on a stunned opponent.
- Throws having priority on a non attacking opponent (either blocking, holding,
movement or in idle state). - Rising attacks (both mid and low).
- Side rolling.
- Triangle system is based upon:
- Blow > Throw
- Throw > Holds
- Holds > Blows
- Every character having an exchange attack(Hold)
- Every character having a low throw
- Offensive holds (catch throws in other fighters)
- Every character having an offensive hold
- Combo Throws
- Combo Offensive holds
- Juggles based on a lower gravity
- Cannot re-float with a or
- Blows, throws and holds have larger knock back properties
- Danger Zones
- Ground Bounce(not otb)
- Techrolling
- is used for blocking
- Movement (such as crouch dashing) is easier to do.
- Movement in general is faster
- Damage modifiers/revisions is different
- Offensive hold vs Offensive hold result in a clash.