Super Dragonball Z - Have it? Share your thoughts!

[Sebastian (SB)]

Are people trying to say that Super Dragonball Z is better than Budokai 3 and Tenkaichi? Super DBZ, to me, is a generic fighting game... but with Dragonball character skins and flashy lights. Sorry to enrage anyone, but it really is a toned-down version of the existing games.

I personally think this game has nothing to compare with the likes of Sparking! & Dragon Ball Z 3 since I find it to be a different, more mature Dragon Ball experience. To me, it had what the other Dragon Ball Z games lacked, good gameplay. However, it doesn't have what made the previous games successful, contents & features. In other words, beam struggles, huge character roster, teleportation maneuvers for every character, flashy ultimates, many different forms, "burst" modes, etc.,. The other games had those nice little touches that made them a visually satisfying experience, but that's about it.

Overall, each game has their pros & cons.

[Deus ex Machina]

I said it before it came out, and having played it now, it still rings true.

Super DBZ is a better fighting game, it is perhaps the best DBZ fighting game. But the Budokai series is still the best DragonBall game themed games.

I thought at first that I would be turned off by the "variety" of costumes, 90% of which are just pallette swaps, but I was surprised by how fun it is to play Trunks in a black jacket with a lazer sword.

[Castor Troy]

I haven't read through most of the the thread and have been wondering if the US and Japanese versions are different music wise (besides the intro).

I'm most likely leaning towards the japanese version and may rent the US one soon. I really wanna pick up this or Battle Stadium DON before the summer ends.

[jwimz]

I guess I'll add my two cents on the debate on "SDBZ IS the SUX0RS!!!11 BUDOKAI RULS!!!"

As most people have said here, SDBZ is a superior fighting game. Although not up to the level of others in the genre, it is the best DBZ fighter. The Budokai series was a fun fast paced, high flying, high energy game and it is incredibly fun. I love that you can transform at the press of a button and the ability to send your opponent flying is great. BT broght that action to the next level with it's free roam battles and it's outstanding roster.

SDBZ gives you more of a fighter feel, and doesn't emulate the high action that the show is known for. I enjoy that the fighting is the main focus here and not the theatrics (granted the theatrics are still there with the Dragon Finisher moves). It is also incredibly fun to play but it is a different experiance, and IMO you cannot say one is overall better then the other just for the sheer fact that they are two totally different animals. However, as fighting mechanics go SDBZ is the best, and Budokai is better at the "action".

But out of all of the DBZ games released thus far SDBZ and BT (Sparking!) are my favorites.

[Steven Perry]

I haven't read through most of the the thread and have been wondering if the US and Japanese versions are different music wise (besides the intro).

I think you should pick up the US version (assuming the music is identical to the European one), because there is a good theme during the Namek stage (when she's about to blow). I find it very dramatic, especially when the final showdown is with... FRIEZA! Although, as mentioned on the podcast, his red/purple disk looks funny. To be more precise, it looks like cardboard.

I also like the music when you get knocked through the clouds under King Yemma's palace.

[Sebastian (SB)]

I've read that the music for the Japanese version is identical to the US/ European version aside from the CHA-LA-HEAD-CHA-LA 2005 Opening & The Special Rival Music (It's the music that plays when you fight an overly powered customized enemy).

[Jord]

When you blow op Kaio's car on his planet. You see Kaio running away. (he was in the car apparently). He's green and white.

[Phred]

I loved it, but my friends are all turned off by the graphics, so I have no one to play with >_>;
But you get experience from 2 player vs battles though, and that rocks!

[Tsukento]

Kaioken burns out instantly?

Like in the story, it increases Goku's power (in the game's case, his ultimate gauge) while the use of it can also strain his body (again, in this case, it drains his health bar).

The legendary Super Saiyan transformation is a 10-second burst of power, after which Goku happily depowers to base to fight Final Form Freeza?

And in the Budokai series and Sparking!, Mr. Satan can easily defeat Majin Boo and Yi Xing Long!

A basic Ki blast isn't one of the basic attacks?

Maybe it's just me...

Shh! No one tell him about the lack of energy blasts aside from the Kamehame-Ha in the begining of Dragon Ball!

Seriously, I think you're being overly anal about it, like the rest of the people on the net who're bitching about the game and still clinging onto the idea that Budokai 3 is the best thing to ever exist in the Dragon Ball franchise. :\ No offense.

I rented it the other day. Was hesitant about the whole English voices only part, but I got over it as I did with the Budokai games. To my suprise, the game was even more fun than I had expected. Though I think I'm gonna need either an official PS2 controller or an arcade stick for this one. It's almost impossible pulling off any of the moves on the craptastic 3rd party controller I have. XD

[Rocketman]

Like in the story, it increases Goku's power (in the game's case, his ultimate gauge) while the use of it can also strain his body (again, in this case, it drains his health bar).

I know. I just expected more FWOOM.

And in the Budokai series and Sparking!, Mr. Satan can easily defeat Majin Boo and Yi Xing Long!

I know, and I accept that as nessessary for gameplay. But this just brings bad memories back of Goku's horrible setup in Budokai 1. "Sure, you can be a Super Saiyan, if you want nothing else good and only two seconds of it! HAHAHA" WHY?! WHY DO THE GAMES TAUNT ME SOOO!

Shh! No one tell him about the lack of energy blasts aside from the Kamehame-Ha in the begining of Dragon Ball!

This is supposed to be Dragonball Z, where the characters toss around Ki blasts like rocks.

Seriously, I think you're being overly anal about it, like the rest of the people on the net who're bitching about the game and still clinging onto the idea that Budokai 3 is the best thing to ever exist in the Dragon Ball franchise. :\ No offense.

I'm different. I think Budokai Tenkaichi is the best DBZ game.

My beef with it is, it doesn't feel like DBZ. When I put a DBZ game in, I want the FWOOM and the OOH and the POW and the BIFF, not the 'ha, you didn't push that d-pad hard enough, sucker' or 'congrats, you're a super saiyan! you've got 10 seconds'.

If I wanted a serious fighting game, I can put in Street Fighter. If I wanted to study random giblets for a few hours, I can when I go back to college. DBZ should be fun, fast-paced, flashy and fucking easier to pickup and play.

It did have ChiChi, though, so it wasn't a total bust.

[VegettoEX]

DBZ should be fun, fast-paced, flashy and fucking easier to pickup and play.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are describing Super DragonBall Z right there ^_~.

[MajinMetroid]

I haven't read all the pages of this thread, yet I'll post my thoughts on the game, regardless.

I've had it for a week or two now and it's been really fun. I really like how the buttons do different things and there are moves to pull off (like, down-to-left, down-to-left, square+triangle, "Super Kamehameha!). The visuals are great and the customization/wishing has given me a reason to keep playing it.

Strangely, though, the difficulty seems inconsisent. First off, I suck so I have mine set to Easy. Through Original mode, it seems like Vegeta is my hardest fight, regardless of what number opponent he is. When I finally manage to defeat him I breeze through my remaining enemies... Maybe my playing style is clashing with however he's programmed to fight... I don't know. XD

Anyway, it may not have all the characters I want but it sure is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to a sequel.

[Rocketman]

DBZ should be fun, fast-paced, flashy and fucking easier to pickup and play.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are describing Super DragonBall Z right there ^_~.

Easier. As in, L2+Triangle+Up, not U+D+L+LD+R+L+RD+LD+LU+RU+RD+UD+WHEE+SPIN+3/4 Z axis turn+Find x if {pie = 2}+Square.

[veshira]

Well the credits in the actual game don't list Christopher Sabat as Cell.

Now I see what you mean! That's really weird that they screwed up the credits in the booklet like that.

[Tsukento]

This is supposed to be Dragonball Z, where the characters toss around Ki blasts like rocks.

Hey now, that's FUNimation kind of thinking right there. It should be known that that's not what DBZ is about, nor is that what made the fighting it's shown makes it interesting.

Seriously, I think you're being overly anal about it, like the rest of the people on the net who're bitching about the game and still clinging onto the idea that Budokai 3 is the best thing to ever exist in the Dragon Ball franchise. :\ No offense.

I'm different. I think Budokai Tenkaichi is the best DBZ game.

DBZ should be fun, fast-paced, flashy and fucking easier to pickup and play.

Uh, Sparking wasn't exactly easy to pickup and play. In fact, Super DBZ was easier to play than Sparking was. o_O Customizing your character's stats and moves is definately fun. The fights are fast paced, especially when it comes to charging in on an opponent. Flashy? You bet it is. Especially with the manga-stylish backgrounds and the way characters perform certain attacks.

Easier. As in, L2+Triangle+Up, not U+D+L+LD+R+L+RD+LD+LU+RU+RD+UD+WHEE+SPIN+3/4 Z axis turn+Find x if {pie = 2}+Square.

Talk about overexaggertion.

[Rocketman]

This is supposed to be Dragonball Z, where the characters toss around Ki blasts like rocks.

Hey now, that's FUNimation kind of thinking right there. It should be known that that's not what DBZ is about, nor is that what made the fighting it's shown makes it interesting.

True, but it's rather hard to showcase characterization in a fighting game. And I think Tenkaichi's fighting is a better representation of the series.

Uh, Sparking wasn't exactly easy to pickup and play. In fact, Super DBZ was easier to play than Sparking was. o_O

Were we playing the same games? Tenkaichi was easy as pie to pickup and play. O_o

Customizing your character's stats and moves is definately fun. Especially with the manga-stylish backgrounds and the way characters perform certain attacks.

That does sound fun. In the sense of "I wish I liked this game enough to try to see that, it sounds neat".

I love the style of the game, the music, and the look. I just don't like the fighting system, which is rather important for this genre.

Talk about overexaggertion.

You're right. It's only R+L+LD+D+RD+R+Square and hope the game has mercy on you and decides to read the goddamn button presses.

[Leotaku]

Uh, Sparking wasn't exactly easy to pickup and play. In fact, Super DBZ was easier to play than Sparking was. o_O

Were we playing the same games? Tenkaichi was easy as pie to pickup and play. O_o

I'd have to disagree, although, I haven't actually PLAYED Super DBZ yet, but I've played other games that have that sort of controls, with the sweeping D-Pad movements and stuff.
Personally, it took me at least 2 hours to finally get into Tenkaichi. That's definitely not pick up and play.

Once you DO get into it though, I'd say it is easy, I'll give you that. Easier than the complex D-Pad movements of some Street-Fighter-style games.
I still don't think you can just pick it up though.

[Steven Perry]

ALL of the games require at least 5-6 hours of training if you want to understand the gameplay. Back in the ol' days, it took me days of training at high intensity to become used to B3. Same with BT.

Budokai 3 has a tremendous mount of replay value; I've played it for over... let me see... 100 hours. Although I barely touch it now, it's programmed into my subconscious. The speed and the action is tremendous, but it depends on your level of experience.

I don't think you can really judge SDBZ unless you've played it for a long period of time, 'cause newbies make the game look rubbish. IT'S ALL ABOUT TRAINING!

[vl]

Uh, Sparking wasn't exactly easy to pickup and play. In fact, Super DBZ was easier to play than Sparking was. o_O

Were we playing the same games? Tenkaichi was easy as pie to pickup and play. O_o

My cousin would have something interesting to say about that. Basically we play Tekken 5 a lot when he comes to visit, and one day we started playing a game of Sparking. I think his words were: "Tekken or any other normal fighting game is easyier to play than that." And I think his right, cause I pretty much kicked his butt (In Tekken we are pretty equally matched, and no he doesn't have that at home).

The biggest problem I saw was that you pretty much have to look through that stupid excuse of a tutorial if you wanna even get some of the "a little more than basic" controls.

Oh yeah, the second problem is after both players read the tutorial it starts to be a who hits who first button masher very fast. Maybe thats a bit harsh, but really not that far from the truth.

[Great Saiyaman]

I am totally in love with this game, the general fighting style & the fact that each character has strengths & weaknesses & different combo's makes my fanboy heart sing with glee.