Were Fusions just a pointless addition to the franchise?

[precita]

You know I just can't help but realize Fusions had no real point in the series.

Gotenks never beats Buu. Vegito never beats Buu. Both Fusions were literally just used to add some extra fights/padding to the series. Toei then created Gogeta who only got 2 minutes of screentime in Movie 12 and 1 episode in GT, both of which were underused appearances.

And now its because of Fusions that Trunks and Goten as individual characters are undermined since they're useless besides when they become Gotenks. And it didn't have to be that way since they're both Super Saiyans as kids. It almost feels like the whole Fusion gimmick was pointless.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Just because they weren't ultimately used to save the day doesn't make them pointless. They made for an interesting concept that was allowed to not be as grounded as other transformations we've seen in the past because of the inherent "exotic" nature of the process. Not every idea has to be included in the grand finale for it to have a point.

[ekrolo2]

The fusion was just there because all the relevant people were swept off the board (Gohan, Goku and Vegeta) and there had to be a way for the spawnlings to do anything to Boo so fusion was invented. Until it too was swept away by the Mystic gimmick which then got swept away by another fusion gimmick. Its pretty much a pattern of the entire second half of the Boo Saga.

[TheGreatness25]

I always disliked the fusions. They made no sense to me. First of all, let's suspend our disbelief that somehow they could create their own clothing. And also, let's suspend our disbelief that somehow, a whole new person is born with the two people's memories as if nothing happened. They're not like, "What? Who am I? Where am I?" No, it just so happens that this new person is ready to fight as if he's always existed. But ultimately, the idea was just a cop-out. "Hey everyone's too weak to stand a chance... I got an idea! Do a dance and combine!!!" And then it somehow became, "Put on these magical earrings and combine!!! But somehow you'll be even stronger than just by dancing!" In the end, they really just stalled for time and gave people a whole new thing to argue about.

[precita]

Forgot to mention I dislike Gotenks going Super Saiyan 3. If Trunks and Goten were just Super Saiyans, how would their fusions come up with a transformation as powerful as Goku?

Also I would have prefered Goku being the only one to go Super Saiyan 3, because it seems like a weird transformation only Goku came up with that never existed before. Others shouldn't be able to do it. Its why I also like that Vegeta never went Super Saiyan 3.

[FoolsGil]

To be fair, a lot of transformations were pointless additions. But yes it was.

[Truhan]

Without actually looking at the events that took place, I think the concept of fusion is great. It allowed names and neat costumes to be made with a new character template for the series. As a fan, I only need to pick up two fighters whose names give a funky result, and merge their looks for an interesting outcome. Truhan, my username, is the end result of Potara fused Gohan and Trunks of the Future. For what reason, I don't know, but it's a cool game made possible by Akira Toriyama's concept.

[Wezenheim]

As others have said, fusion is a very cool concept. It just seemed kind of pointless after all was said and done in the Boo saga. That being said, there's a (small) part of me that hopes Super ends with Goku and Vegeta becoming Vegetto to beat the main villain. FnF's ending seemed to say that this probably ain't happening, but now that we know Potara fusion can be undone it might be cool to see Vegetto return. I have to believe Kaioshin and Kibito unfusing was meant to set up something. Maybe we will see a Potara Goten/Trunks fusion? Trunkten?

I'd like to see Vegeta and Goku develop on their own, but I wouldn't be opposed to more fusion.

[90sDBZ]

I've always liked them personally. I like how Gotenks acts like a younger, more childish version of Vegeta, and his hair looks really cool in base form. I've always thought Vegito was the ultimate badass in the way he endlessly humiliated Buu. The way he intentionally got absorbed and even fooled the Kai's was great, and he really felt like the perfect blend of Goku and Vegeta's personalities. Movie 12 Gogeta was an interesting contrast to Vegito in that he was more serious and down to business. I'd love to see either of the Goku/Vegeta fusions make another appearance in Super or a new movie.

[Chuquita]

It's a neat gimmick, but I don't want to see it come back because:
-it temp replaces the characters who make up the fusion (I think Gokû and Vegeta are way more interesting as individuals.)
-it hampers character growth (Goten and Trunks are so dependent on it they're unable to grow in skill and be useful in battle without relying on fusion).

I'd rather watch Gokû and Vegeta begrudgingly work as a team, or to see Trunks and Goten come into their own with new techniques.

[IDreamtIWasABee]

God, no. The original Super Saiyan, Gohan's hidden power, and fusion are the only transformations with dramatic heft and overwhelming battle power. And the Vegetto and Gotenks fights are two of the most imaginative and satisfying of the series, especially in the anime.

It's so potent, the new stuff has to pretend really really hard that we forget it exists. Kinda like Gohan's hidden power and the dragon balls.

[B]

The entire point is that it's stupid. The series is already full-on ridiculous by that point; it's Toriyama going for broke under the impression he'll be free from the shackles of DB soon. See also everything Buu does and Super Saiyan 3.

Also, Gotenks is hilarious and Vegetto is cool. Journey, not the destination, blah blah blah.

[Cetra]

They're not like, "What? Who am I? Where am I?" No, it just so happens that this new person is ready to fight as if he's always existed.

If you have the memories of Goku and Vegeta you know that you have been born from the fusion 1 second ago.

Also Dragon Ball is inconsistent here anyway, as, while originally shown to mean it as one completely new person that comes from both consciousnesses/individuals vanishing through merging together, the show also sometimes tries to show a fusion as a collective consciousness instead of a new individual.

[T Pac]

"Neat gimmick" is a good way to put it.

Totally worth it for the Gotenks - Buu fight (although I suppose that theoretically could have been accomplished even without fusion)

[Lord Beerus]

I though the Fusion gimmick, while entertaining in it's own right in the Majin Boo arc and DBZ Movie 12, but honestly, I wouldn't want it to make any type of comeback. I would much rather have characters win battles using independent skill and rather than relying on a gimmick like Fusion.

[HourglassIndigo]

Fusion may be a lazy plot device used to power up weak characters, but it definitely isn't pointless. I personally love the idea of fusion, because you get 2 of your favorite characters in one.

[Kamiccolo9]

The entire point is that it's stupid. The series is already full-on ridiculous by that point; it's Toriyama going for broke under the impression he'll be free from the shackles of DB soon. See also everything Buu does and Super Saiyan 3.

Also, Gotenks is hilarious and Vegetto is cool. Journey, not the destination, blah blah blah.

Exactly. The Buu Arc seems, to me, at least, to be a last hurrah for Toriyama, and a chance to parody himself.

You like the transformations? In the Buu Arc, we've got transformations for days!
You liked invincible villains? In the Buu Arc, we've got a villain who's almost literally invincible!
You liked kid Gohan? In the Buu Arc, we've got TWO kids!

Seriously, all the "iconic" things Toriyama put in his manga are included in the Buu Arc, and turned up to 11. That's the point.

[Araki]

The entire point is that it's stupid. The series is already full-on ridiculous by that point; it's Toriyama going for broke under the impression he'll be free from the shackles of DB soon. See also everything Buu does and Super Saiyan 3.

Also, Gotenks is hilarious and Vegetto is cool. Journey, not the destination, blah blah blah.

Exactly. The Buu Arc seems, to me, at least, to be a last hurrah for Toriyama, and a chance to parody himself.

You like the transformations? In the Buu Arc, we've got transformations for days!
You liked invincible villains? In the Buu Arc, we've got a villain who's almost literally invincible!
You liked kid Gohan? In the Buu Arc, we've got TWO kids!

Seriously, all the "iconic" things Toriyama put in his manga are included in the Buu Arc, and turned up to 11. That's the point.

I think the only reason we got this arc was because Toriyama was allowed to go all out and have fun like that. Satan's introduction at the very end of Cell was a strong sign he wanted desperately to be more ridiculous.

The aspect i don't like about Fusion, though, is that if not for the movies and filler, we would pretty much never see Goten and Trunks fighting by themselves. Or even doing anything at all, in the manga they barely had time to do much before Gotenks was introduced, only fight each other and be knocked out by Vegeta.

[Wizard Sesame]

I don't mind fusion at all, I just wish it would have come from a different source. The Potara is okay, but having a technique come from a third, unseen party just does not feel organic to me. It could have been cool if Tenshinhan or someone invented it as a way to try and keep up with the Saiyans but never got a chance to use it. I don't know if I like that source any better, but I feel it's a tad more natural than the Metamoran.

[Kamiccolo9]

The entire point is that it's stupid. The series is already full-on ridiculous by that point; it's Toriyama going for broke under the impression he'll be free from the shackles of DB soon. See also everything Buu does and Super Saiyan 3.

Also, Gotenks is hilarious and Vegetto is cool. Journey, not the destination, blah blah blah.

Exactly. The Buu Arc seems, to me, at least, to be a last hurrah for Toriyama, and a chance to parody himself.

You like the transformations? In the Buu Arc, we've got transformations for days!
You liked invincible villains? In the Buu Arc, we've got a villain who's almost literally invincible!
You liked kid Gohan? In the Buu Arc, we've got TWO kids!

Seriously, all the "iconic" things Toriyama put in his manga are included in the Buu Arc, and turned up to 11. That's the point.

I think the only reason we got this arc was because Toriyama was allowed to go all out and have fun like that. Satan's introduction at the very end of Cell was a strong sign he wanted desperately to be more ridiculous.

The aspect i don't like about Fusion, though, is that if not for the movies and filler, we would pretty much never see Goten and Trunks fighting by themselves. Or even doing anything at all, in the manga they barely had time to do much before Gotenks was introduced, only fight each other and be knocked out by Vegeta.

Well, I don't particularly like Trunks, and Goten's a non-character anyway, so it doesn't really bother me all that much. Gotenks at least has some cool techniques, even if I can't stand his personality.

If they want to develop Goten and Trunks, they need to separate them in general, not just as Gotenks. GT at least did something with that, even if it did pretty much just ignore Goten.