Leifang

Leifang
Dead or Alive character

Leifang in Dead or Alive 5
First game Dead or Alive (1996)
Created by Tomonobu Itagaki
Voiced by (English) Zinnia Su (DOAX2—DOAD)[1][2]
Cassandra Morris (DOA5)[3]
Voiced by (Japanese) Yumi Tōma[4]
Portrayed by Ying Wang (film)[5]
Fictional profile
Nationality Chinese
Fighting style T'ai chi ch'uan
Occupation College student

Leifang (Japanese: レイファン, Hepburn: Reifan), often written as Lei Fang, is a player character in the Dead or Alive fighting game series by Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo. She was introduced in the original Dead or Alive in 1996 and has appeared in the series' subsequent installments. She is a Chinese college student and martial artist who competes in the Dead or Alive tournaments to prove her superiority over fellow combatant Jann Lee.

One of the Dead or Alive series' more popular characters, Leifang has appeared on series merchandise and the feature film DOA: Dead or Alive. She has received mainly positive public and critical reception for factors such as her sex appeal and in-game costumes.

Appearances

In video games

Leifang is a college student[6] born into a wealthy family. She was officially aged nineteen prior to the two-year timeline skip in Dead or Alive 5. Leifang is depicted in the games as a personable woman of justice and bearing an independent spirit, and hopes that by honing her own martial arts skills, she can inspire others to do the same. Her youth and general life inexperience sometimes causes her to act impulsively.[note 1]

In the storyline of the original game, she was saved from a gang of street fighters by martial artist Jann Lee.[7] Rather than being thankful, she instead becomes obsessed over defeating Jann Lee in battle, as she is bitter over his intervention because she believes she was capable at the time of saving herself.[8] However, she loses to him in subsequent DOA tournaments except that of Dead or Alive 4. She has a close friend in karate master Hitomi, and since Dead or Alive 2 she has formed a friendly rivalry with wrestler Tina Armstrong, who believes that the meaning of power comes from physical strength.

Design and gameplay

Character design sketches for the first DOA game, showing a prototype and a finalized version of the character

In the early sketches for the original Dead or Alive, Leifang's name was Long Lihua (龍麗華) and her fighting style was Chinese kung fu (中国拳法). Leifang is 163 cm high, weights 50 kg, and her measurements are B87/W55/H86.[9] She is known for cheongsam gowns [10] and her signature[11] braided queue hairstyle, but has also sported a variety of many other costumes and hairstyles (and hair colors) through the series.[note 2] Leifang's wardrobe in Dead or Alive 5 Last Round includes downloadable costumes of Telma from Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess,[12] Estelle Bright from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky,[13] Hotaru Sakamiya from School Girl Strikers,[14] and Junko from Time Bokan,[15] as well as many others including ninja and superhero outfits.[16][17] Leifang's Japanese voice actress has always been Yumi Tōma, who also voiced a similarly genki Chinese girl fighter Ling Xiaoyu in the Tekken series.

Saturn Power judged Leifang as one of the first game's better characters due to her "great counters and lightning speed".[18] According to IGN's Hillary Goldstein, Leifang "has some of the best counters in DOA Ultimate, which helps since she isn't exactly a master of combos."[19] She was vastly improved by the developers for Dead or Alive 5, for which she was given a more advanced ability to parry opponents' attacks.[20] According to Anthony Chau of IGN, "Her elegant moves hide powerful attacks and while she's not the greatest in combination department, she's never been a combo-intensive character like Zack or Kasumi. Lei Fang's strength lies in high-priority moves and proficiency in countering."[21] Developer Koei Tecmo offered Leifang as an additional free playable character in the "Core Fighters" version of DOA5LR to Japanese customers from August to September 2015, in celebration of the game reaching four million downloads.[22]

Other appearances

Stuntwoman Ying Wang played Leifang in a minor role in the live-action film DOA: Dead or Alive. The character makes several appearances at the beginning of the film, until she is knocked out by Gen Fu.

Several figures of Leifang were released by Bandai, Epoch, and other companies[23] like After Dark and Kotobukiya.[24][25] Other merchandise included dakimakura body pillow cases[26] and 3D mouse pads.[27]

Reception

One of the original DOA girls, Lei Fang is the face of the Dead or Alive series, with the most recognizable braided pigtails in all of video gaming. We love Lei Fang because she dresses with some elegance, but also because counters are easily the most visually impressive attacks in DOAU and Lei Fang can deliver them time and time again.

—IGN in 2004[19]

The character has received mainly positive reception by gaming media. Dreamcast Magazine described Leifang as "a Chinese beauty in all senses of the word...as well as proving to be a bit of a femme fatale at the same time", while she was "an elegant fighter if ever there was one."[28] Computer and Video Games and Sega Saturn Magazine both compared Leifang to Virtua Fighter character Pai Chan,[29][30] with the latter also holding her, Tina and Kasumi in the same class as Lara Croft.[30] Saturn Power opined that while most of "the DOA competitors seem either insipid or a mite too similar to Virtua Fighter stalwarts for comfor," Lei-Fang and Jann Lee "are okay."[18] PSX Magazine chose Leifang as the character most fun to play as in the first game.[31] Sina Corp stated that no fighting game fan would not recognise Leifang's dresses,[32] while Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft called her "everyone's favorite supreme ultimate fist college student."[33] Leifang was voted the Dead or Alive series' ninth-most popular female character in a fan poll held by Koei Tecmo in 2014 and 2015.[34][35] She almost qualified for Dead or Alive Xtreme 3,[36] but in the end was barely beaten by Helena Douglas in an Asian popularity poll.[37]

GameDaily featured the "beautiful yet deadly" Leifang as their "Babe of the Week" on multiple occasions, and as one of their "bikini babes".[38][39] Leifang joined fellow DOA characters Kasumi, Ayane, and Hitomi in a four-way tie for tenth on the Spanish edition of IGN's 2011 selection of "video game hotties".[40] Maxim chose her as one of the top nine "video game vixens" in 2009.[41] China's NetEase included her among the 21 "game goddesses" in 2012.[42] In their 2013 selection of the "greatest boobs in gaming history", GameFront ranked Leifang thirteenth.[43] Steve Jenkins of CheatCodes.com ranked her as the 16th hottest "video game girl" of all time thst same year.[44] In 2015, Indonesian television Liputan 6 placed Leifang fifth on their list of sexiest Oriental women in video games,[45] while Vietnamese daily Thanh Niên ranked her as the 16th most sexy female video game character in general.[46] In "Xbox High Yearbook 2003", Official Xbox Magazine chose Leifang and Hitomi as a couple "most likely to have a 'college experience'."[47] Complex rated her Dead or Alive: Dimensions victory quote ("No matter how much you try, you still won't beat me") among their 2012 selection of a hundred "most humiliating" video game quotes.[48]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ This is particularly evident in Dead or Alive 4, where she fights with her friend Hitomi over a simple cabbage and kicks an elderly man off a train after he accidentally grabs her breasts.
  2. ↑ In some installments, she has the Chinese characters "方麗鳳" written on the back of her underpants; the writing reads "Fong Leifang" which suggests it is her full name.

References

  1. ↑ "Voice Of Lei Fang - Dead or Alive: Paradise". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  2. ↑ "Voice Of Lei Fang - Dead or Alive: Dimensions". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
  3. ↑ "Voiceover Reels & Credits | Cassandra Lee Morris". Cassandrasvoice.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  4. ↑ "Yumi Toma Profile". Metacritic. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  5. ↑ "Ying Wang". Rotten Tomatoes. 2015-12-15. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  6. ↑ "Dead or Alive 2 Strategy Guide - IGNguides". Guidesarchive.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  7. ↑ "XBOX Manual: Dead Or Alive 1 Ultimate". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  8. ↑ "XBOX Manual: Dead Or Alive 2 Ultimate". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  9. ↑ "《生死格斗Online》太极撼天地——雷芳_新闻_电脑之家PChome.net". Article.pchome.net. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  10. ↑ "蘋機會：《 DOA5》不停換衫 打交鬥 Sexy | 蘋果日報 | 果籽 | 科技 | 20120801". Hk.apple.nextmedia.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  11. ↑ Carle, Chris (2006-11-14). "Videogame Babe of the Day: Leifang". uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  12. ↑ "Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Gets Collaboration Costumes From Deception". Siliconera. 2015-06-16. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  13. ↑ "Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Video Shows Off Its Falcom Collaboration Costumes". Siliconera. 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  14. ↑ "Transforming Schoolgirls Strike Dead or Alive 5 with New Costume Crossover". Push Square. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  15. ↑ "Dead or Alive 5 Last Round Gets Tatsunoko Mash-Up Costumes, New Screenshots Released". Wccftech.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  16. ↑ "Los superhéroes se ponen sexys con los nuevos trajes de DOA 5: Last Round". Sdpnoticias.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  17. ↑ "Más trajes llegan a Dead or Alive 5: Last Round". Sdpnoticias.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  18. 1 2 "Saturn Power - Issue 09 (1998-01)(Future Publishing)(GB)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  19. 1 2 Goldstein, Hilary (2004-09-24). "Girls of DOAU: Lei Fang - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  20. ↑ "DOA5: Leifang Character Breakdown - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  21. ↑ Chau, Anthony (2001-10-30). "DOA 3 Fighter Of The Day: Lei Fang - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  22. ↑ "Dead or Alive 5: Last Round Core Fighters tops four million downloads". Gematsu. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  23. ↑ "Lei Fang ‹ Characters ‹ Encyclopedia - MyFigureCollection.net (Tsuki-board.net)". MyFigureCollection.net. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  24. ↑ "Lei Fang Statue Lacks Graceful Pose". Kotaku.com.au. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  25. ↑ "Lei Fang Statue Lacks Graceful Clothes". Kotaku.com.au. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  26. ↑ "Dead or Alive 5 pillow cases coming to Japan - GamerTell". TechnologyTell. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  27. ↑ "『デッド オア アライブ 5』レイファン、こころ、ティナのマウスパッドが登場！ この弾力、体験してみる価値あり！！ - ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  28. ↑ "Alive & Heaving". Dreamcast Magazine issue 5, page 39.
  29. ↑ "Computer and Video Games - Issue 199 (1998-06)(EMAP Images)(GB)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  30. 1 2 "Official Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 26". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  31. ↑ "PSX Magazine 26 Extra Top Secret". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  32. ↑ "世上最强主机游戏代表作品一览_电视游戏_新浪游戏_新浪网". Games.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  33. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (May 23, 2012). "First Look at Dead or Alive 5's Lei Fang". Kotaku.com. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  34. ↑ "DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round タペストリー キャラ投票". Gamecity.ne.jp. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  35. ↑ "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 mid-way character election results announced". Gematsu.com. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Who are the most popular Dead or Alive girls?". Technobuffalo.com. 2015-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  37. ↑ Seeto, Damian (2015-09-19). "Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Cast Revealed; Game Has PlayStation VR Support". Attack of the Fanboy. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  38. ↑ "Babe of the Week: Lei Fang Gallery and Images - GameDaily". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  39. ↑ "Babe of the Week: Bikini Babes Gallery and Images - GameDaily". Web.archive.org. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  40. ↑ "Wii: Top 25 de tías buenas de videojuegos". Es.ign.com. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  41. ↑ "Top 9 Video Game Vixens". Maxim. 2009-10-29. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  42. ↑ "游戏女神的人生故事（五）_网易游戏频道". Play.163.com. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  43. ↑ "The Greatest Boobs In Video Game History (Gallery)". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  44. ↑ "Top 25 Hottest Video Game Girls of All Time | Page 11 of 26 | CheatCodes.com Extra". Cheatcodes.com. 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  45. ↑ Iqbal, Jeko (2015-02-19). "10 Karakter Game Wanita Oriental yang Cantik nan Seksi". Teknoliputan6.com. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  46. ↑ "25 nhân vật nữ khiến các game thủ nam "mất tập trung" nhất | Đánh giá - Phóng sự | Thanh Niên Game" (in Vietnamese). Game.thanhnien.com.vn. March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Official Xbox Magazine Issue 20". Archive.org. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
  48. ↑ Anyanwu, Obi (2012-11-14). "Lei Fang - The 100 Most Humiliating Video Game Victory Quotes". Complex. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
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