I'm not real fan of fighting game, but this game is the only one i can learn how its system working from tutorial mode and that will help me belong to play this game, for example:
- Triangle system (Strike - Hold - Throw) and how to counter each other
- How to combo (Stun opponent => Launch ==> Juggle)
- Strike, Hold, Throw from BASIC to ADVANCED
- Chain attack (how to cancel hit when you perform combo, juggle, bait opponent, etc...)
- Wake up system, wake up kick, fast recovery (which help you make advantage or against opponent when you're downing)
- Frame (every character moveset alway have different frame action and this is most of important thing when you learn how to play, how to counter, or how to against opponent)
- Offensive hold (which will confuse many newbies when it's a Strike but work as Hold)
- Wall combo, Trigger Zone, Danger Zone ( which take advantage enviroment for improve your combo damage)
- And there's many things to learn in tutorial i can't write detail here, it easy to learn and once you got how system work, you can really beat someone even they're high skill players

I feel sad when someone just judge it because sexy girls, cute girls for fan service but know nothing about how combat system depth, even it very newbie friendly when it have a tutorial which describe everything in game. Not like Tekken or another fighting games which poor tutorial and force you go to Youtube just search something basic like "how to cancel hit in combo chain" or "how to move fast in Tekken 7". Not yet, when you search it and watch, after that you practice it in game, take 2 month, you practice so hard but you realize you still trash because you can't fight against someone just wait and spamming low kick you until you dead.

https://www.facebook.com/100013766957842/videos/528339898593670/
Look at this video from my country Tekken community, this is basically how bad Tekken mechanic when compare to Dead or Alive, while in Dead or Alive you can tech roll, wake up kick will help you escape this suck Tekken mechanic

https://youtu.be/Nt_pEe1jLWg
This is typical Tekken online match with Akuma who character pro at Hadouken palm and low kick spamming

https://youtu.be/3kPP0nI0TmY
only 3 strong punch take most of your HP away, so broken character in that game

About tons of luxury DLC here, i just give you 1 recommend, BUY SEASON PASS, there's 4 season pass which include all of DLC here, just go with it, you have all, nobody buy single DLC, don't let the list make you fool. Maybe, it still expensive for some people, but that's best and only one smart choice to own DLC. It also include new characters for each Season Pass, it won't make you disappoint.

About 100$ base game, don't worry, it have free version with 4 basic characters (each character represent combat style in game, Bass Armstrong who wresler focus to defensive, strong at throw and hold, or Kasumi who is ninja with fast attack, various combo, Hitomi and Diego who is fighters with strong attack damage and balance at combo and throw, hold). You can try to play another characters in training mode, combo challenge, command training, when you found someone fit with your style, then go to buy them as single DLC, it cheaper than buy base game. Also, you want outfit for that character? then back what i said, buy Season Pass is the best choice.

For keyboard fighters, if you're new in fighting game and start with this game, you should find "View the manual" in Store page, it will help you know which key correct with controller symbol. You need practice with that setting because there's no key mapping, not only Dead or Alive, many fighting games won't allow you change key map and force you use default setting. You must practice or buy controller for yourself and also practice it with controller because the most fighting games work better with controller. I'm keyboard player and i also practiced it for long time, so i can play it smooth, no problem.

One more thing, it's also my problem, that's game balance. I don't really know if there's some characters very OP and easy to destroy your characters so easy or because my level not enough to against someone better with their characters. But i believe this game did the best to balance all characters. Before it dead, dev team listened to everyone feedback and trying to buff/nerf characters moves, balance some moves damage, change system work a bit to improve specifically combo,... However, it's not quite balance, but they did the best. In another game, you will see how terrible when OP character just punch you 1 hit and you lost half of HP or make you fool just by combo which you have no chance to escape it, or something else i can't write clearly here.