With DOA 5 on the way, Team Ninja has posted a nice little flow chart graphic to act as a companion for fans to piece together the storyline for the DOA franchise. Thankfully, it's nowhere near as convoluted as the devil genes, sister assassins, and various cyborgs of Tekken. Check it all out below!
From Team Ninja, the DOA story so far:
Dead or Alive - After her brother Hayate was almost killed by Raidou, a crazed ninja who had been expelled from the village, Kasumi took over as the eighteenth head of the Mugen Tenshin Clan. But in her breast burned only the flames of vengeance - she longed for revenge on the man who had taken her kind and strong brother from her, and who had stolen the village's greatest treasure.
Knowing that any ninja leaving the village was considered a traitor and would be punished with death, Kasumi nevertheless snuck out in pursuit of her adversary, eventually finding herself at the Dead or Alive fighting tournament.
Under the watchful gaze of her half-sister Ayane, sent to secretly follow her, Kasumi defeated Raidou. But no sooner did she claim victory than a mighty explosion ripped Raidou's body to shreds, leaving Kasumi herself nowhere to be seen...
Following the tournament's conclusion, it was revealed that its main sponsor Fame Douglas had been assassinated. The various participants went their separate ways, as the whole event became shrouded in a veil of mystery and uncertainty.
Dead or Alive 2 - It was revealed that having disappeared at the end of the first Dead or Alive tournament, Kasumi was in fact abducted by DOATEC as the test subject for something known as Project Alpha. She managed to escape, but on her way out she encountered her clone, Alpha. Smiling cruelly, Alpha told her, "Hayate is mine."
As all this was happening, the second Dead or Alive tournament was announced.
Dragon Ninja Ryu Hayabusa, a friend of Hayate's, immediately sensed that a great evil beyond human comprehension was involved. "This is no ordinary fighting tournament," he declared, and set off in an attempt to save the world from destruction.
At the same time, Hayate disappeared from his deathbed, kidnapped by agents from DOATEC to be a test subject for Project Alpha's successor, Project Epsilon. However, an accident during transportation luckily freed Hayate from DOATEC's clutches.
Suffering from amnesia, Hayate was taken in by Hitomi, a karate expert who happened to be training nearby. Once his wounds healed, he found himself drawn inexorably to the Dead or Alive tournament, entering under the name of Ein...
Dead or Alive 3 - Having regained his memory, Hayate returned to his rightful post as the eighteenth head of the Mugen Tenshin Clan. At the same time, however, the Hajin Mon sect of the clan was in turmoil. The sect's leader, Genra, had been abducted by DOATEC and turned into an inhuman monster as part of their latest plan, Project Omega.
Eventually, it was announced that the third Dead or Alive tournament was to be held. The true purpose of the tournament, however, was to give Victor Donovan, the true power behind DOATEC, an opportunity to test the monster he had created as part of Project Omega.
To Ayane, Genra was both her adopted father and her teacher, and now he had been transformed into an inhuman killing machine. It was her duty as a good daughter to right the wrongs of her father, and to grant him peace.
Dead or Alive 4 - DOATEC's repeated experiments using human bodies had brought about one tragedy after another. The anger felt by the ninja toward this soulless corporation had reached breaking point.
Taking over from her father as head of DOATEC and striving to follow the principles and ideals he held dear, Helena Douglas announced that she would hold the fourth Dead or Alive tournament.
However, the rage felt by Hayate, head of the Mugen Tenshin Clan of ninja, soon turned into flames that would consume the 999 meter-high DOATEC TriTower, a symbol of the power and greed of the mighty corporation.
But just as the flames licked at the foot of the towers, the final result of DOATEC's ungodly experiments was being born: the ultimate fighting machine, Alpha-152.
The ideals and principles of Helena's father Fame Douglas had been utterly destroyed by the treachery of Donovan and the enmity his acts had brought to bear.
Realizing that her own idealism and naiveté had given rise to the terrible Alpha-152, Helena took the only course of action she knew was right. She would remain in the towers, and destroy them from within.
"Goodbye."
Surrounded by flames, and with the towers on the verge of collapse, Helena was suddenly and unexpectedly rescued by Zack, swooping in with his helicopter. Stunned, she looked back just in time to see the ultimate symbol of DOATEC crumble to dust.
Dead or Alive 5 Prologue - Two years after the destruction of the TriTower, headquarters and symbol of DOATEC...
Helena Douglas has begun the task of rebuilding DOATEC, this time with the aim of using its technology for peaceful ends. She has ordered the dissolution of the Biotechnology Division, the indefinite suspension of the Military Division's Projects Alpha, Epsilon and Omega, and the expulsion of all members of the Donovan faction from DOATEC's offices around the world.
Now in the same position once held by her father, DOATEC founder Fame Douglas, Helena has announced that she intends to hold the fifth Dead or Alive tournament, to show the world the principles and philosophies upholding the new DOATEC.
