Super Dragonball Z - Have it? Share your thoughts!

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

Ok, so I got mine today and I've already finished the game with Goku in the 'original' mode.
Matter of fact is...I'm not that well impressed with the game.
First of all, the intro video is one of the lamest, bad-quality things I have ever seen in a recent Dragonball game!
I mean...the quality of the video itself is just so horrible that I even had to re-play it to make sure I was seeing right!
As far as the game itself, well...let's say that it isn’t all that much.
The game has nice graphics and the characters are actually quite nicely done, but nothing special or that much different.
The music is not that good, being just a bunch of remixed BGM's, and that doesn’t really make the trick for me, since music is one of the strongest components in Dragonball Universe.
As far as game-play is concerned, its not that easy to make some combinations work, and the sequence that one must do to transform his character into super saiyan is just plain stupid!
There aren’t many moves as well per character, making the game sometimes extremely boring and repetitive, but even so, there are really cool moves (like Majin Buu spitting fire and holding his breath before he does).
The scenarios are nice and very well done, and they have a certain 'manga' look that makes you feel you're inside one.
Well...I'm off to see if this was actually worth the money and check out the other in-game options.

[MajinVejitaXV]

Matter of fact is...I'm not that well impressed with the game.

Hm, I'm gonna sound like a real dick here, but...

First of all, the intro video is one of the lamest, bad-quality things I have ever seen in a recent Dragonball game!

Yeah, granted. It's a quick low-res movie of the ingame engine. Agreed here, but I can't say it hurts my feelings or anything.

As far as the game itself, well...let's say that it isn’t all that much.
The game has nice graphics and the characters are actually quite nicely done, but nothing special or that much different.

Except for the fact that this game is actually a fighting game, whereas the Budokai's were more a 'hit this combo of three buttons and watch a 30 second cinema attack' ;p

The music is not that good, being just a bunch of remixed BGM's, and that doesn’t really make the trick for me, since music is one of the strongest components in Dragonball Universe.

Then wait for the US version, I'm sure it'll have some of that great generic synth music that we always got because they were too cheap to option the original soundtrack

As far as game-play is concerned, its not that easy to make some combinations work, and the sequence that one must do to transform his character into super saiyan is just plain stupid!

If you've never played an actual fighting game, like any of the Street Fighter II/III incarnations or Mortal Kombat, maybe. If you have though, these motions are second nature.

There aren’t many moves as well per character, making the game sometimes extremely boring and repetitive.

Um...you did try the 'build-up' mode, right? Where you get experience, and Dragonballs, and can customize your characters and get better moves (Final Flash, etc.)? If not, they you only have about half of your character's moves.

Well...I'm off to see if this was actually worth the money and check out the other in-game options.

Yeah...go do that.

-Corey

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

Except for the fact that this game is actually a fighting game, whereas the Budokai's were more a 'hit this combo of three buttons and watch a 30 second cinema attack' ;p

Well...actually, I think that the Budokai system provided more of a 'dragonball experience' than this one... I mean, this game does remind me of Street fighter 2 and all, but a bad version of it. Could just be first impression though. I think the 'cinema attacks' like you called them made the game a lot more fun (at least for me).

Then wait for the US version, I'm sure it'll have some of that great generic synth music that we always got because they were too cheap to option the original soundtrack Wink

That would make it even worse! But believe me that the music in this game isn't all that hot.

If you've never played an actual fighting game, like any of the Street Fighter II/III incarnations or Mortal Kombat, maybe. If you have though, these motions are second nature.

Very true but still, I thing I became accustomed to the 'easier' combos.
I've had the same feeling with 'Fighting for One Piece'. I used to play back in the old days Street fighter 2 and all the Dragonball games that demanded the traditional combos, but I guess I became lazy.

Um...you did try the 'build-up' mode, right? Where you get experience, and Dragonballs, and can customize your characters and get better moves (Final Flash, etc.)? If not, they you only have about half of your character's moves.

Yes I was starting that one and got some other moves, and there is also an option that allows you to exchange trademark moves (Freezer doing the Kamehameha, etc...).

Even so, I'm going to have to keep playing the game and see if I get into it.

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

The survival mode is far more interesting!
It pits you against 10 other characters and lets you upgrade yours.
You can collect the dragonballs and gain some other attacks, as well as increase your health bar.
Getting interesting! And its bringing old memories from the Street fighter days.
Goku has a move that is exactly Ryu and Ken's Shoryuken.
Oh the memories...

[DB_Fan]

Does anyone knows when will the game be released in Europe?

[tarsonis]

the Budokai's were more a 'hit this combo of three buttons and watch a 30 second cinema attack' ;p

You make it sound like a bad thing. :\

[kindertuin]

Does anyone knows when will the game be released in Europe?

7/07/2006 or 14/07/2006. One site says this, another one says that. But i am guessing that the 7th is the most accurate one. Most site says it is that one. Let's hope it is the 7th one.

[Sebastian (SB)]

the Budokai's were more a 'hit this combo of three buttons and watch a 30 second cinema attack' ;p

You make it sound like a bad thing. :\

In terms of the actual in-game fighting, yes. I personally like the cinematic attack sequences.

[MajinVejitaXV]

Okay, now for my review:

Gameplay:

The most important aspect. Super DBZ handles like the Street Fighter games of old, only slightly less complex. Instead of 3 levels of punches and kicks, you have a light and hard hit, block and jump (since Super DBZ has a 3D field of movement).

Special moves can be learned, and are executed much like your garden variety Ryu's. If you know how to pull off a hadoken, a shoryuken, and the like, you'll fit in fine. If you're coming from the Budokai series of ->+P = Kamehameha...you might have a bit of a learning curve.

Still, the game flows a lot more smoothly, and the learning of moves that you keep at your disposal (unlike the 'learn 50 moves but you can only use 7...btw, fusion takes all those slots' approach of Budokai) and different paths that you can use to build your character make for a lot of diversity and fun. Plus, that sword on Trunks' back? Not just an ornament now.

Oh, and there is cheapness, but at least you can actually defend yourself, unlike the 'toss a coin' Dragon Rush system. If Goku keeps spamming the Kamehameha (which you can charge for greater hits), you can block until he stops and then nail him with a well-times Final Flash. Plus, SSJ is made into a quick powerup that lasts long enough for you to supercharge your hits, but not be an unstoppable tank (Budokai 3 SSJ4, anyone?). And the Kaioken being used to fill your super meter makes sense to me.

Those who like the cinematic attacks won't be letdown by the finisher moves either, from what I've seen. Just don't expect to be able to grab a bucket of popcorn during every move ;p

BTW, I like the Budokai games, I just see them as having flaws. If this game series makes the same amount of improvements in its sequels as the Budokai games did, it could very well be a respectable series to fans and detractors alike. All in all, I'd say this is a more stable foundation than Budokai 1 made.

Music:

Eh, save for intro songs, I've never really kept much in terms of music in my memory from the DBZ games. Here, you get a decent remix of tunes from DBZ which will spark enough nostalgia to make the game that much more enjoyable. Does the score give you the next Unmei no Hi? No, but it's not bad by any stretch.

Graphics:

Yes, Budokai 3 looks better. Then again, Budokai 3 is based on the anime. Super DBZ draws heavily from the manga (as evidenced by the tankoubon-themed loading screens and color-schemes which are derived from the manga chapters), and does a great job.

Detail? We've got detail. The way the characters move and react to their attacks being blocked will bring a smile to the attentive DBZ fan. I don't see anything disappointing here.

Overall:

It's a great game. If you're a fan of actual fighting games, and have wanted to see a game this generation of consoles that gives a challenge...welcome home. The bloat of the other games this generation isn't to be found here, nor is the hand-holding or simplistic control schemes...but if you've played the SNES games or Ultimate Battle 22...you'll fit in fine.

My hope? That they won't stop here. I'd love to see a second entry with the small amount of tweaks necessary to make this game even better. I'd give it a solid 8/10 for a fan though.

-Corey

[veshira]

*After reading MajinVejitaXV's review*

Awesome! *_* I can hardly wait for the North American release! *goes back to Capcom vs. SNK 2*

[Kula]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... ROKL5A1OLE

The UK version is realeased on the 14th July. £17.99 is damn cheap for a brand new game.

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

Well...I keep playing the game, and the more I play the more it reminds me of Street Fighter, King of fighters, Fatal Fury and so on...
It really makes me go back in time, and its actually getting challenging to play the game, but I thing my conclusion is:

As far as a Dragonball game is concerned, this one's good but it isn’t the best one I've played.
Budokai really lets you experience the action and what would be if you actually were a Dragonball character (thanks to the cinematic attacks that also provide a lot of 'feeling').
Even Sparking has the same 'magic'!
I even think that the SNES games were far superior to this one. Don’t know if this is because when I played them, they were the best available, but even so...

As far as a fighting game, it's like MajinVegitaXV said:

Super DBZ handles like the Street Fighter games of old, only slightly less complex. Instead of 3 levels of punches and kicks, you have a light and hard hit, block and jump (since Super DBZ has a 3D field of movement).

So, to conclude, I think that if you're in to fighting games this one wont let you down, but if you're more of a hardcore Dragonball fan (like me ), you might not get everything you were looking for (as far as the Dragonball 'feeling' is concerned).

Anyways, these are my 2 cents! If you don’t get what I'm trying to say play the game and figure it out!

[MajinVejitaXV]

So, to conclude, I think that if you're in to fighting games this one wont let you down, but if you're more of a hardcore Dragonball fan (like me ), you might not get everything you were looking for (as far as the Dragonball 'feeling' is concerned).

...you're right. I'm not 'hardcore' enough. This game sucks ;p

-Corey

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

Please understand that I am NOT questioning anyone’s dedication to the series!
It's just my opinion as far as the game is concerned.

[MajinVejitaXV]

Please understand that I am NOT questioning anyone’s dedication to the series!
It's just my opinion as far as the game is concerned.

That's cool, it's just (and don't take this personally) I hate people justifying their views by saying how 'hardcore' of a fan they are.

I own all the DragonBoxes, all the Kanzenban, all the DBZ games in one form or another and yet I don't think of myself as 'hardcore'. 'Hardcore' to me can only be used when referring to penetration, and mixing that with DragonBall...so very wrong

My whole thing is, if I want a game to watch and go "Oooh, pretty", I've got RPG's. If I want to play a fighting game...I wanna play. Not, "Ooh, I went SSJ4 by hitting every button at once, then hit forward and X and killed you". And don't even get me started on the Dragon Rush mess from Budokai 3.

...anyway, I'm rambling. I like Budokai for a nice, effortless time. Sparking was kinda crap. Super DragonBall Z is the only game this generation that I can really label as a 'fighting' game. Just my opinion.

-Corey

[Xyex]

My whole thing is, if I want a game to watch and go "Oooh, pretty", I've got RPG's. If I want to play a fighting game...I wanna play. Not, "Ooh, I went SSJ4 by hitting every button at once, then hit forward and X and killed you". And don't even get me started on the Dragon Rush mess from Budokai 3.

...anyway, I'm rambling. I like Budokai for a nice, effortless time. Sparking was kinda crap. Super DragonBall Z is the only game this generation that I can really label as a 'fighting' game. Just my opinion.

-Corey

I don't hit every button to transform, just a shoulder button. XP

And Dragon Rush is great, I've got my success rate up to 85% or so now, using that. Stupid computer uses a pattern, you know. And for that matter, so do the Human players. They may not realize it but they do.

And I think I understand what Son_GokouSSJ4 was trying to say, just based off what I've been hearing in this thread. Super DBZ isn't for DBZ fans, it's for fighting game fans. What's the difference? A game for DBZ fans replicates the show (Budokai did this very well, Sparking! tried too but didn't do as good). A game for fighting game fans is a fighting game with DBZ gimmicks and elements tossed in for fun. Which is what it sounds like Super DBZ is. You could swap the DBZ characters for something like Street Fighter characters and it wouldn't seem that out of place...

'Hardcore' to me can only be used when referring to penetration, and mixing that with DragonBall...so very wrong

That all depends on who's involved.

[vl]

i'm really looking forward to playing the game, I like fighting games, and I like Dragonball, and I really hope this is gonna be something that will bring this two things together, I liked the budokai games, but Tenkaichi was kinnda an odd game to play, though it was a good try........

[Son_GokouSSJ4]

My, my...we even have sexual talk now!
Anyways, Xyex, I think you got exactly what I meant.
Just get the game people, and check it out for yourselves.
I think you will also understand what I'm babbling about.

[MajinVejitaXV]

I don't hit every button to transform, just a shoulder button. XP

And Dragon Rush is great, I've got my success rate up to 85% or so now, using that. Stupid computer uses a pattern, you know. And for that matter, so do the Human players. They may not realize it but they do.

Yeah yeah, shoulder button is mapped the same as pushing all the buttons at once, you get what I meant ;p

And I still think Dragon Rush broke Budokai 3. Hell, if they would have kept that out and put the 'What-If' fusions back in, it would have been a complete slam-dunk over Budokai 2. I remember playing it back when I first bought it, and going, "Oh, yay. May as well go get a drink, Buu is Dragon Rushing. Again. And again."

Super DBZ isn't for DBZ fans, it's for fighting game fans. What's the difference? A game for DBZ fans replicates the show (Budokai did this very well, Sparking! tried too but didn't do as good).

Eh...I disagree.

People keep tossing out the 'Budokai replicates the show, Super DBZ doesn't', which I honestly don't get. First of all, this game is drawing off of the manga solely, so...yeah, of course it won't be like the show. Second, NO GAME can replicate DBZ. It's too off the wall. Yeah, Budokai had the over-the-top ki explosions and such, and I like the games, but I wouldn't say Budokai is the real deal and Super DBZ is...

A game for fighting game fans is a fighting game with DBZ gimmicks and elements tossed in for fun.

Oh well, if that's the opinion you're drawing after having played the game though, I respect it even if we disagree. Plus, you quoted Legacy of Kain in your sig, so points there as well. Are you buying the Soul Reaver replica that United Cutlery is releasing this Winter/Q1 2007?

-Corey

[Olivier Hague]

this game is drawing off of the manga solely

*looks at Piccolo's hands*