"DBZ: Battle of Z" (360/PS3/Vita) On-Going Discussion Thread

[thatdbzguy]

I've been hearing nothing but bad things from people who've played the demo.

That's unfortunate. I was really hoping this game would be good.

[Big Momma]

My version is better

To be honest, it really isn't. You have a random selection of characters clustered on there, one who isn't even playable and another one with his head cropped off.

A good try, though.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

The controls are kinda wacky but once you get used to them the game becomes pretty fun and again the game felt like an upgraded Legends to me. Haven't tried the Vita version yet as I didn't want to format to just change my PSN... I'll get the US Demo and delete the JP demo on my PS3 once the English demo is available.

So far from what I got from the controls are.
Square - Move up
X - Move Down
Triangle - Melee/combo/melee dash
Circle - Ki Blast

L1 - Guard
L2 - Special
L1 + Triangle - Normal Special
L1 + Square - Normal Special 2
Triangle + Circle - Super Move (Ki meter must be full + the green thing flashing, it seems to run out quickly..)

Now if you connect combos you should be able to hit Triangle to chase which your character will attack the enemy and knock him to the ground.


This game while different from this generation is a breath of fresh air because it's different from the same crap that we've technically been receiving since 2002... If they're going to make a fighting game at least do it right... Super DBZ was that but it was released sadly at the wrong time...

This isn't a fighter(good) because so far they've been bad, the game is a brawler/beat em up kind of game and actually does a pretty good job doing it. When I was playing online (Ericks1989) I was able to customize the character somewhat but that isn't new to dbz games.

I don't find the game bad at all, it's certainly different and new to console db games that we'll see a sequel with better controls and refined mechanics. The game is fun and is a pretty addictive online, sadly never judge a demo that's just bad.
If they're going to do a fighting game it needs to be, open world, have solid controls, great fighting mechanics and I think that'd be BOZ fused with Street Fighter.

[supersaiyan DbZ fan]

I done it on a mobile phone

[JeffJarrett]

Controls were already known:

[supersaiyan DbZ fan]

Now that's what I want/waiting for

[Silkman3003]

My personal views on the demo

Spoiler:

Lol, the gameplay in this game is garbage in my view. Can't believe I even defended this game, but i suppose i was in denial. Since the first trailer, i felt it looked mediocre, but thought that you know, maybe the gameplay is much better than what it looks.

LOL NOPE. The combat system is pretty much shallow, and there is only one real combo, with a few other minor starter hits. But thats just it, there is little to virtually no variety at all in the combat system. You can't charge your beams, or melee attacks, no throws, only one real combo. No way to really modify your combo via directional pad or analog stick . Hell the UNS games have more combos and variety , and those games are known for being simple as hell. The fact that you can cancel a blast spark into a super attack is cool though(in laymans terms, cancelling a super, into another " big super"), as well as some of the unique moves(like planning piccolos hellzone grenade and deciding when to truly use it, goku's kaioken) but it's not enough. The combat system is ass.

Themightyoozaru is going to love(or hate?) the fact that he was right all along. Perhaps i'm wrong though. Maybe there is some form of hidden depth in this game that i haven't discovered yet, hopefully it's because I suck at the game. Or maybe I'm just spoiled by better games like Budokai and Tenkaichi, especially the latter which is far far far superior to BoZ in terms of combat, defensive moves, and overall depth. BT3 and TTT make this game look like an utter joke, and i dare say that the only thing BoZ even has over those games is 4 vs 4 play. Otherwise, yeah Tenkaichi has a much larger moveset, more combos, more defense moves, etc. Even not comparing it to tenkaichi, it's shallow. It's crap.

It being "new" means absolutely nothing if it

I suppose this game is good for some simple fun, playing against your buddies online in 4 vs 4 play and not taking it seriously at all, not even in the least. but if i bought it, i'd probably trade it in shortly after because the fighting system is too simple for my taste and a large amount of characters, SS God Goku, Bills, Whis, and 4 vs 4 play is not enough to justify the $60 price.

If you like this game, all power to you. But this is just my view and I'm sticking with it until I (hopefully) get proven wrong on the combat system and it has more depth and variety than i thought.

Oh and Btw, heres a new report from Treevax where he spoke to the devs/producers of the game . Pretty interesting stuff
https://www.facebook.com/notes/nostal-t ... 4842531663

Spoiler:

Hi everyone! Here is a small report of the DBZ Battle of Z community night that took place in Paris. As soon as we arrive at 6:30PM, we’ve been welcomed by Olivier Planchon (who’s in charge of Namco Bandai’s European marketing) and his colleague, Pierre-Adrien. We have had to sign a confidentiality contract, which is the reason why I only share this report today (17/12/13)!

We thought we were about to test the final version of the game, with all the content unlocked. Actually, we’ve been a little disappointed: Namco Bandai only submitted us the demo, the same that you will be able to download tomorrow on the European PSN and X-BOX Live. In the other hand, the good surprise had been that the consoles (PS3) were connected online, which gave us the opportunity to test the multiplayer part (a PS3 for each player). Thus, we have been able to test the 8 player mode for the very first time…


The main positive point that I noticed was the fact that there was no lag at all. It’s very fast, things happen all around you, it’s super reactive. OK. That’s the positive point that I kept. Now, let’s proceed with what’s bugging: what the heck is this mess on the screen, and more important: what the heck is this Dragon Ball game?!?!?


The fights are clearly messier than the DBZ Densetsu ones, on Playstation and Saturn. It’s totally logical: this is not a 3vs3 game, it’s a 8 player brawl. We were 4 players (on 4 consoles), and wanted to be 4 characters on the battle stage… But the game imposed us 4 CPU players, in order to complete the teams. As soon as the battle begins, the anarchy starts. It’s hopeful that the special attacks, sound effects and characters remind us that we’re playing a Dragon Ball game, as the gameplay has nothing to do with it…


Several persons that were there also found that the screen interface was oversaturated, during the game. Oversaturated of information, but also oversaturated due to the size of the icons and the life bars.

Let’s get back in time: previously, we have had the possibility to test the Paris Games Week demo. But due to how noisy was the event, we couldn’t listen clearly to the game sound. In November, I shared the info that the BGM of the BOZ beta seemed to be the DBZUT ones. Well, during the community night, we have had the final confirmations: the European +US BGM will be a mix between several previous games (DBZUT, Raging Blast…), while Japan will get the original anime BGM (by Shunsuke Kikuchi), as always. This is even more frustrating than the previous years, as several Namco Bandai representatives let us think that we would have these BGM this time (mainly during the Japan Expo 2013).


The sound effects from the animated series are back, which is pleasant. The detail that bothered my ears is this unbearable “bip bip” that was already bugging me on the Zenkai Battle Royale videos. I think it’s linked with the targeting system, and as we have to change the target very often, it’s just awful…


Gameplay wise, I confirm the feeling I got with the Paris Games Week demo, with 2 nuances: First, the strategy (pad directions) is very useful when it comes to guide the allied CPUs. The other point is the “group attacks” (as seen in the recent gameplay videos on the Dragon Ball – Games Facebook page). Their utility comes to fruition with human partners. We haven’t been able to test this characteristic properly with the PGW demo, as the CPU players are what they are. For example, the L1+triangle command punches the opponent away, and you can chain with a second punch by pushing triangle again. But if your partners have the same target, they can also participate, and join the combo. About all the rest of the gameplay, I would risk to write things I already did (check the previous report of the PGW I went to with Sharnalk).

During the test, we have had a talk about the gameplays of the previous games. We came to talk about the Raging Blast 2 one, as Namco Bandai was confirming us that it was too much technical for the average buyer, which led to its lack of success. This is also what led Namco Bandai to propose the Ultimate Tenkaichi gameplay, full of screen instructions and real-time 3D cutscenes.


We have been able to test the tutorial mission, and for the first time, we have had the possibility to try a mission with only one character in our team. You play Gokû, and must explore the farm zone, where Raditz is supposed to land. Following the Ki on the map will lead you to Saibaimen that will jump out from the ground and attack you. As Tony (European community manager) told us in November, this is the only mission with level exploration. And according to our test, this is the only mission where you can play with only one character in your team. We have to deal with it: Battle of Z has the less faithful story mode that we have ever seen.


Battle of Z is a good video game, with efficient mechanisms and very reactive (more than the Raging Blast franchise). The feeling of freedom is good, you move around with fluidity, and the online mode is spotless (the opposite would have killed the game, obviously). In the other hand, this fastness has a price: the background modeling is very, very angular. We have only seen one bug (a Makankosappo that didn’t touch the opponent, because the arm went “through” him)… But this game is not aimed at everybody, and clearly not at all the DBZ fans. Sharnalk used to be enthusiastic before testing the game; now, he is less. The mechanic is good, but I come back to this question: Why applying this recipe to DBZ? The producers said during an interview in September that they want to keep proposing “new things”. This is concerning, what is the next step? Super Vegeta Kart? Bulma’s hairdressing salon? When I was playing Battle of Z, I didn’t have the feeling to find what I loved in the original manga/anime again…


We come back to this again, but… The graphics are not faithful to the anime, the team mechanic only corresponds to some very rare scenes of Dragon Ball (as the majority of the manga/movies is composed of duels), the 3D models of the characters have a serious lack of professionalism, the menus are complicated and absolutely not ergonomic…


The gameplay of this game could have made a very good feature to a game that would have proposed to have a fewer characters on screen. But building a complete game on this, I think that it doesn’t work. You will tell me your feeling after testing the demo, but from my point of view, the game becomes boring very quickly. The demo was enough for me, I don’t even want to play the final game. I have had the same feeling when I tested DBZ for Kinect…


We took advantage of the event to ask some other questions about other licences. The first one was about J-Stars Victory VS, about its eventual adaptation outside Japan. The previous crossovers on NDS (Jump Super Stars and Ultimate Stars) never got out from Japan, neither did Battlestadium D.O.N. on PS2. However, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure European release is encouraging, as this licence isn’t that much profitable in France. The staff couldn’t tell us what to expect. Wait and see, as we use to say! ^^


The other question was about the sales of Saint Seiya Brave Soldiers. Sharnalk noticed some days ago that the price drop down in the supermarkets, and he logically deducted that it was a consequence to bad sales. But Olivier Planchon told us that Brave Soldiers was “brilliantly succeeding”.


We were 10 persons to come and try the game. We had the possibility to stay until 10:30PM, but everybody left 40 minutes before the end. I can’t talk for everybody, but to me, it was because the game bored me. It’s the first time that I leave a community event before its end, and yet you can believe me, I love Dragon Ball. Even for Raging Blast 2 and Ultimate Tenkaichi, we had stayed until the end. We still took a little time to give our feedback to the Namco Bandai staff. 2 of the 10 testers really enjoyed the game as it was. Olivier Planchon confirmed us that it didn’t surprise him, that it corresponded to the global review of Battle of Z (press + players).


As a fan, I am completely disgusted by how the Dragon Ball games evolve, and I am especially stunned when I see the moral incoherency of Namco Bandai Games’s approach. The global demand is about very specific quality and content criterions, but the production process doesn’t seem to be made in order to give the consumer what he asks insistingly. Namco Bandai settles for producing the strict minimum with regularity, multiplying the changes of producers so the new product doesn’t look like the previous one. As a result, only the incautious consumers will always find what they want, as long as the game is “playable” (rare bugs and accessible gameplay).


As this subject is really important to me, I will continue to fight for it to change. If you like the DBRB3 project that we gave to the producers in july 2012, please “like” the Facebook page “Nostal / Treevax” (www.facebook.com/DBRB3Project). We have currently exceeded the 12 700th support. It doesn’t cost you anything, I don’t get any benefit from it, but the goal is to convince them to change their strategy, and being more attentive to what the majority asks.


That’s all! Thanks for reading everything until the end! For those who will like Battle of Z: Have fun! For the others: let’s continue our fight, it’s not over yet!


Treevax

December 11th 2013

[Flame Dragon]

During the test, we have had a talk about the gameplays of the previous games. We came to talk about the Raging Blast 2 one, as Namco Bandai was confirming us that it was too much technical for the average buyer, which led to its lack of success. This is also what led Namco Bandai to propose the Ultimate Tenkaichi gameplay, full of screen instructions and real-time 3D cutscenes.

Raging Blast 2... Complex?
Okay seriously... What the fuck?!

I really don't understand this. The fans demand a richer, competitive and complete experience... So they give them the opposite?
This just goes to show they don't listen to their fans and just try to win the casual market (and they fail at it too...)
Also this makes no sense... Just because you make a complex, competitive game doesn't mean casuals can't enjoy it too.
I know that i enjoy Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter A LOT even without knowing how to do 60% combos, infinites and all that stuff. I like learning complex battle systems, i like when i get better and manage to pull off a 33% combo (which might be low but it's great for my standards), i like using my mind to try new tricks and learn how to chain abilities together.
I mean Street Fighter never tried to appeal to the "brainless" and it's still on top.

Please outsorce the next game to Capcom or Netherrealm Studios... Sick of this.
At least we now know where that horrible pile of dung, Ultimate Tenkaichi, came from...

[GogetaSSJ2]

You know dbz games really have gone downhill since Atari left. So from what I'm hearing the gameplay is more shallow than Tenkaichi Tag Team? I thought BoZ would be like that game but with 4v4. Thats not very progressive at all...

[UltWarrior1]

Also this makes no sense... Just because you make a complex, competitive game doesn't mean casuals can't enjoy it too.
I know that i enjoy Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter A LOT even without knowing how to do 60% combos, infinites and all that stuff. I like learning complex battle systems, i like when i get better and manage to pull off a 33% combo (which might be low but it's great for my standards), i like using my mind to try new tricks and learn how to chain abilities together.
I mean Street Fighter never tried to appeal to the "brainless" and it's still on top.

This. The whole "appealing the casual" initiative BACKFIRES, especially when executed in the core gameplay department.

[Jord]

One thing you have GOT to like is that Goku voices the "play in a well lit room" stuff before the game starts.

[EXBadguy]

Raging Blast 2... Complex?
Okay seriously... What the fuck?!

I really don't understand this. The fans demand a richer, competitive and complete experience... So they give them the opposite?
This just goes to show they don't listen to their fans and just try to win the casual market (and they fail at it too...)

That ain't true, cuz they do listen and Ultimate Tenkaichi had decent sales, almost as high as Burst Limit. Not all the fans wanted the complex experience. I say about 35% of the fanbase wanted that. Better read the majority, otherwise this like this would happen. http://youtu.be/uc62e2mn018

Now the rest of the fanbase either wanted something new or a Tenkaichi 4 or a Raging Blast 3, but after the horrible sales of RB2 and the fans bashed Namco and Spike for rehashing and wanting a cinematic experience, viola! Ultmate Tenkaichi was born, which was one of the reasons why we never got a another Budokai game or a Tenkaichi game as of now or ever again. They go by the loud voices. They wanted a game like Naruto Storm, that's what they got. NOW they overheard the "fans" bashing NB cuz they should've made a Zenkai instead of Spike's shit, BAM! BoZ's here!

You know dbz games really have gone downhill since Atari left. So from what I'm hearing the gameplay is more shallow than Tenkaichi Tag Team? I thought BoZ would be like that game but with 4v4. Thats not very progressive at all...

This is what happens when NB listens to the spoiled brats who don't know what the fuck they want. But guess what, even if Atari was still around, they would've been bashed too because back when Raging Blast 1 was announced, fans were already just fed up with the "same game".

[VegettoEX]

You folks know Atari was just the international distributer for those games, right? They didn't actually make them? That it's always been Namco-Bandai (in turn dishing it out to Dimps/Spike)...?

(With the exception of Taiketsu, Collectible Card Game, The Legacy of Goku series, and Sagas, which Atari themselves farmed out to developers like WebFoot.)

[Quebaz]

NOW they overheard the "fans" bashing NB cuz they should've made a Zenkai instead of Spike's shit, BAM! BoZ's here!

But like, they have Zenkai, if they heard us saying we want Zenkai ,why not port Zenkai?
They didn't make BoZ because we wanted them to(after all, we want Zenkai).

[EXBadguy]

NOW they overheard the "fans" bashing NB cuz they should've made a Zenkai instead of Spike's shit, BAM! BoZ's here!

But like, they have Zenkai, if they heard us saying we want Zenkai ,why not port Zenkai?
They didn't make BoZ because we wanted them to(after all, we want Zenkai).

A port of Zenkai wouldn't be worth it.

I think the reason why they didn't wanna port Zenkai is because of two things: The roster and the glitches. Do you even know HOW MUCH FLAK they would've gotten if they did that? At least BoZ has more stuff. The only thing missing is the combat depth, but like I said again, this is what happens when you try to cater to a dumb, spoiled, hyprocritical fanbase.

[Quebaz]

NOW they overheard the "fans" bashing NB cuz they should've made a Zenkai instead of Spike's shit, BAM! BoZ's here!

But like, they have Zenkai, if they heard us saying we want Zenkai ,why not port Zenkai?
They didn't make BoZ because we wanted them to(after all, we want Zenkai).

A port of Zenkai wouldn't be worth it.

I think the reason why they didn't wanna port Zenkai is because of two things: The roster and the glitches. Do you even know HOW MUCH FLAK they would've gotten if they did that? At least BoZ has more stuff. The only thing missing is the combat depth, but like I said again, this is what happens when you try to cater to a dumb, spoiled, hyprocritical fanbase.

Those 2 years given to work on BoZ could have been 2 years to give more atention to work on Zenkai, so I really don't see your point. Most people never asked for BoZ, people have been disliking it since the first scan, heck, if it acomplished one thing, it was to make Zenkai look better in comparison.

[VegettoEX]

Who are these "most people"? Who are the "we" that should be listened to? Have you done a sophisticated survey of every type of DBZ fan, especially that ones that don't provide any feedback on message boards?

Furthermore, games aren't promoted via "scans", they're promoted via magazines and online campaigns.

[Quebaz]

"We" and "Most people" as in "a dumb, spoiled, hyprocritical fanbase", but you're right, I shouldn't have tried to generally both this forum and the fanbase like that .

Also, I know that's how it works, however, what "most people" (can't think of better wording) see are scans of the pages that highlight the games in those magazines. Am I wrong?

[TheGmGoken]

I can't find it on ps store

[EXBadguy]

Those 2 years given to work on BoZ could have been 2 years to give more atention to work on Zenkai, so I really don't see your point. Most people never asked for BoZ, people have been disliking it since the first scan, heck, if it acomplished one thing, it was to make Zenkai look better in comparison.

Dude, really? Spike did work on Zenkai for two years, matter in fact, MORE than two since it was announced in 2010. If they really did release that instead of BoZ, it would've had at least 40 characters, which would piss off everyone.