What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

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What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by UltraInstinctRorikon » Wed Mar 10, 2021 8:12 am

I'm going to have to say the adventure aspect. And there are times where this has occurred in Z such as Gohan and Krillin on Namek, but for the most part there really isn't adventuring. DB and GT had these aspects which I quite enjoyed, I'd even argue the first half of GT is the best part and when it starts trying to replicate Z is where I lose all interest.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Kinokima » Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:20 pm

Besides the very early arcs of Dragon Ball the series as whole has always been battle orientated. It did not start with Z

And as for the question I prefer when the series mixes humor with drama than just straight gags like very early Dragon Ball did. There was also way more perverted humor in early Dragon Ball which I am also not a fan of personally.


I don’t actually care that much about fighting and power ups but I guess because I started Dragon Ball with Z I do sort of prefer that era and I am more attached to the characters that were introduced in Z like Gohan, Trunks and Vegeta. I also like the family aspect in Z. Although I do love Kid Goku in early Dragon Ball.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by DBZAOTA482 » Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:08 pm

Dragon Ball is at its best when it balances both but the action-oriented is the better of the two. The standalone adventure stories are kinda boring (Son Goku arc and RRA arc) whereas the action stories prove why DB is considered one of the greatest shonen.
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DBZGTKOSDH wrote:... Haven't we already gotten these in GT? Goku dies, the DBs go away, and the Namekian DBs most likely won't be used again because of the Evil Dragons.
Goku didn't die in GT. The show sucked him off so much, it was impossible to keep him in the world of the living, so he ascended beyond mortality.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by MasenkoHA » Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:49 pm

Kinokima wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:20 pm Besides the very early arcs of Dragon Ball the series as whole has always been battle orientated. It did not start with Z
Yes, thank you.

The “adventure” aspect that everyone acts like defines the entirety of the original Dragon Ball really was only the Journey to the West inspired first arc. It switched gears to an action oriented series in the very second arc. Even the Red Ribbon arc which kind of sort of had the adventure aspect was really about Goku kicking ass from Muscle Tower to Tao Pai Pai to the assault on Red Ribbon HQ.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by KBABZ » Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:19 pm

Kinokima wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:20 pm Besides the very early arcs of Dragon Ball the series as whole has always been battle orientated. It did not start with Z
I disagree, aside from the Tournaments the story was much more focused on adventure and travel, and the Pilaf Arc has barely any fighting in it (Goku wouldn't love martial arts until he trained with Roshi). Fights occurred along the way, but it wasn't until Daimao that Toriyama started the whole Villain Arc thing and battles took much more precedence as the core behaviour in the story. Compare the RRA Arc to Namek to see what the difference is.

As for the topic itself, I prefer the adventure style because it focuses far more on character interactions and development, but I acknowledge that it isn't really feasible in a modern Dragon Ball story anymore. Pilaf and RRA worked really well because while Goku was strong, he wasn't invincible and it still took him a while to get anywhere, so the idea of traveling on foot meant something, especially encountering people along the way. You can't really do that in a world where Goku is crashing through the god ceiling because you can no longer just introduce new, stronger characters on a whim, you have to immediately have some sort of in-universe justification for why they can be a challenge to him.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by jjgp1112 » Thu Mar 25, 2021 3:43 pm

MasenkoHA wrote: Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:49 pm
Kinokima wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:20 pm Besides the very early arcs of Dragon Ball the series as whole has always been battle orientated. It did not start with Z
Yes, thank you.

The “adventure” aspect that everyone acts like defines the entirety of the original Dragon Ball really was only the Journey to the West inspired first arc. It switched gears to an action oriented series in the very second arc. Even the Red Ribbon arc which kind of sort of had the adventure aspect was really about Goku kicking ass from Muscle Tower to Tao Pai Pai to the assault on Red Ribbon HQ.
Shit, the Red Ribbon arc was probably the most supercompetent and invincible Goku was portrayed in the entire series up until GT, with Tao Pai Pai being the one time he truly looks weak.

But yeah, once the first arc is over, the focus becomes fighting. The RRA arc is still a fight themed arc with classic Kung-Fu movie settings. The adventure was just a means of getting from point A to point B...really not too many layers removed from the Namek arc, really.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by MasenkoHA » Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:05 pm

Ya know, while it’s probably not my favorite arc or even in my top 5 the Red Ribbon arc is easily the MOST Dragon Ball of all of Dragon Ball (as in the entire story including the Z portion)

We have

1. The search for the dragon balls being a prominent part of the story. Really the last time this happen

2. Toriyama’s gag humor is still very much part of the series dna that pretty much gets downplayed afterwards, but not completely removed, before making a full blown comeback in the Boo arc

3. Goku kicking ass left and right

4. Goku realizing he’s not strong enough to defeat his foe and goes on to become even stronger than before

4. And then we end with a tournament mini-arc with Baba.


It really is no surprise Toei decided to return to the Red Ribbon arc for the 10th anniversary movie.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by JulieYBM » Thu Mar 25, 2021 5:37 pm

I like variation, so I can't say I prefer one over the other. I want to see a story where battles are a mixture of an adventure's rising action and climax while also being sparse.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Cipher » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:03 pm

Both are good.

The time spent with the characters and world in the adventuring arcs (of which they are really only two...) also pays off in terms of making you invested in the shift to more serious, supervillain-focused storylines.

I think the flow of the series works as is. It's also not like you stop being introduced to new locations and characters in the later arcs. Maybe that's true of the Cell arc, but Namek takes us to entirely new planet, and the Boo arc introduces new deities and the Kaioshin Realm, which even becomes the setting of its climax.

I think it's safe to say that Super even gives us a third mode for the greater scope of Toriyama-ideated DB, which is a more condensed, almost short-story-feeling version of those action/villain-oriented arcs, with more compact conflicts and greater focus on guest characters in terms of story- and thematic prominence. Has its appeal as optional sequel content too.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Vijay » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:51 pm

Like both of em. That's why they're called DragonBall☺️

Original Dragonball with Kid Goku is whole adventure. You view the world from his perspective & it's a rollicking fun ride. DBZ is same, but with emphasis on epic action & power levels.

I enjoy both equally.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Planetnamek » Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am

I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Vijay » Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:51 am

Planetnamek wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
Care to explain what are those?

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by KBABZ » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:12 am

Vijay wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:51 am
Planetnamek wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
Care to explain what are those?
Any scene with Roshi and Bulma in it.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by Soppa Saia People » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:28 pm

Planetnamek wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
we get it you lean left wing but that really doesn't have anything to do with the question.

anyway honestly well i would like to say i prefer the stuff like the first arc, rra arc or the piccolo arc...i just don't, i don't reread those arcs very often besides the first one and that's more so for the comedy. the saiyan freeza and boo arcs, yeah i have a lot of issues with the last two but that's the stuff that i've reread the most and enjoyed the most.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by MasenkoHA » Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:48 pm

Soppa Saia People wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:28 pm
Planetnamek wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
we get it you lean left wing but that really doesn't have anything to do with the question.

You don’t have to lean left wing to see how problematic the humor in early Dragon Ball is. It’s not like it’s a matter of opinion. If it bothers him enough to impact his enjoyment of it then fine. I enjoy early Dragon Ball in spite of and not because of that humor but I can’t expect the same of everyone.


A lot of that humor is still in Dragon Ball Z though just somewhat downplayed because of Roshi’s reduced role and the shift away from gag humor.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by KBABZ » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:24 pm

Soppa Saia People wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 12:28 pm
Planetnamek wrote: Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:05 am I prefer Z as while the adventure aspect of DB is interesting, it's also got a lot more problematic elements then Z does.
we get it you lean left wing but that really doesn't have anything to do with the question.
I think it does, I absolutely understand why someone wouldn't want to watch Dragon Ball, especially the first three arcs, due to the gross sexual antics that go down.

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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by JulieYBM » Fri Mar 26, 2021 4:59 pm

I definitely think Dragon Ball is inappropriate for children due to its content. It's also unsuitable as a mainstream adult work because its content is offensive and has no intended elicitation of an erotic response.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by UltraInstinctRorikon » Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:32 pm

As a kid the Bulma scenes didn't bother me but when Babidi got his head punched off by Buu all that blood kinda traumatized me for a week.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by ABED » Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:44 pm

I prefer the battle oriented approach but that began in DB, not Z. I love me a tournament.

As for the dirty humor, I'm fine with it as long as it doesn't cross a certain line. Muten Roshi loving exercise tapes gives me a chuckle and Kuririn convincing the world's greatest martial arts master who didn't seem to want to take on students to train him by giving him a stack of porno mags is still one of my favorite jokes.
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Re: What do you prefer? The more battle orientated style of Z or the adventuristic aspect of DB?

Post by PurestEvil » Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:47 pm

I can't say that I have a preference. While I do prefer the first DB series overall, it is not totally because of its mystical adventures. Both of them have a key place in Dragon Ball as a whole.

As for DB being problematic...yeah, I don't think primary school kids should be exposed to sex humor of that caliber. I quite like a lot of the humor myself, but some of the gags are quite disconcerting (Roshi touching girls' asses, Oolong trying to assault Bulma in her sleep, etc).
(TBH My first impression was that it was fit for teenagers, they certainly could get a kick out of it.)
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