 To
put it bluntly, sometimes there are cultural event-sites where the
participant is simultaneously appalled, yet so fascinated by the
concept or addicted to the play that it's hard to disengage. This
is probably the best way to describe Team Ninja's Dead or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball. This insidious little piece of Xbox thumb candy came to my attention
as a result of my ongoing research into the construction and representation
of artificial bodies, virtual and otherwise. Furthermore, my critical
stance regarding the violence of game culture piqued my curiosity
in this title, in that DoAXBV incorporates gameplay with amazingly amiable competition.
I knew that I would have a great deal of ambivalence towards this
title, and it didn't disappoint.
The basic plot of the game takes on the popular Dead or Alive fighter
games, except that in a bombastic plot twist, the fight promoter
Mr. Zack (voice by Dennis Rodman) has invited his female fighters
to his tropical island for a special tournament. However, the joke
is on the ladies, as Zack has provided them with a two-week, all-expense-paid
South Seas vacation, filled with poolside activities, numerous landscapes
to wander through, potentially profitable volleyball matches, and
a full casino to party the night away.
The
player can choose one of the numerous female characters from the
Dead or Alive game series (the one most famous in the electronic
art world would be Hitomi, who appeared on the cover of the last
issue of Artbyte magazine). Upon doing so, they are brought to the
poolside where Lisa (a tanned American fighter from the series)
gives you a quick overview of things to do on the island. During
the day, these activities may range from walking on the beach, shopping
for gifts for fellow players (to create alliances), looking for
swimsuits for your collection, frolicking by the poolside, or finding
a volleyball match. The fourth and final segment of the day is spent
at night in the hotel, where Zack usually sends you a gift, and
you can either review your winnings or go to the casino, where you
find a full range of games of chance.
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One of the game's deeper moments relates to the social dynamics
of gaining and keeping volleyball partners. Apparently, rivalries
from the Dead or Alive games have been transposed onto
DoAXBV, so not only do you have to develop a winning strategy to keep
a good partner, but in order to gain others, you have to remember
favorite colors, foods, hobbies, etc. in order to win them over
through gifts and the like. This is one of the more engaging aspects
of the game in that it emphasizes the social dynamics of your vacation,
but conversely it also reinforces stereotypes through the assumption
that your deadly ninja rival might be mollified somewhat by a gift
of red nail polish. Such plot devices require a great deal of suspension
of disbelief on the part of the player, let alone the idea that top
Japanese and Chinese fighters might actually have D-cup busts. But
I digress.
It's
in the model of gifting and friendly competition that DoAXBV continually
breaks the traditional formula of gore and violence, but renders
itself problematic through the stereotyping and objectification
of even the fiercest of female warriors. I even remember some press
around the time of DoAXBV's release jokingly mentioning advances in Team
Ninja's "mammary physics engine."Furthermore, one can't
misinterpret the voyeuristic use of the camera zoom trigger while
exercising by the pool. I realize that there is a minority of games
that offer alternatives to the usual violent fare, but is the best
option to the abattoir striving to win volleyball matches so Lei
Feng can have the coveted 'bracers and briefs' outfit? This gives
me serious cause for reflection.
The
main problem with this title is that it is so undeniably well
done. The modeling, character design, cut scenes, and intro animations
are nothing short of breathtaking. In this respect, Team Ninja
has come close to Square Enix's Final Fantasy franchise in terms
of aesthetic points. However, I detect a need of Western mass
media culture to conflate Sarah Connor (the woman warrior for
the future from The Terminator) with Dita von Teese (buxom heiress
to the Bettie Page fetish genre) in continually using the same
Pamela Anderson centerfold tropes. The issue of body image in
gaming is a critical point that has been dealt with quite well
by theorists in the New Media genre, and I feel that I cannot
add anything to the conversation that has not already been critically
analyzed.
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Another
annoying aspect of DoAXBV is that the game play is easy to pick up
but hard to master. There are roughly only two actions, lob and
spike, but position and timing also determine the effectiveness
of your players in the court. However, the range of game play, including
the casino, the poolside hopping game (which is useful to win a
few thousand yen if no one will play with you that day), as well
as the volleyball matches make for game play that I haven't gotten
bored with after a handful of plays, which has been longer than
many titles have held my attention.
I
realize that DoAXBV possibly isn't the safest title to review --
for many of the reasons I have already mentioned. It is a cultural
minefield (and thus of particular interest). I remain deeply ambivalent
in my feelings toward it in that DoAXBV violates many of my principles
of mature or complex representations of women. I would definitely
not recommend this game for young women in their formative years.
Nevertheless, I find that DoAXBV represents a refreshing diversion
from the usual machisimo-fueled grind that powers a lot of other
titles. Unfortunately, it does this in ways that I find nearly as
objectionable -- but sadly, for now I have been seduced into wanting
to worry whether Lisa is going to like the hibiscus flower I bought
for her hair. It doesn't leave much middle ground for political
correctness, and judging from its title, it doesn't make any pretenses
about offering that. For a person like me who gets a bit of battle
fatigue, DoAXBV's tropical vacation has insinuated itself as a guilty
pleasure in my gaming activities. It's a game I hate to love. |
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