Real Talk: Competitive DBZ Fighting Games

[Quebaz]

So the new Xenoverse combo videos have sparked many reactions in the DBZ gaming community, some of the few I want to point out include:
-"Characters look like they play differently this time"
-"Actual Combos in a DBZ game"
-"Looks like a solid fighting game"
(actual quotations from various videos across youtube)

And I know we've had many threads regarding competiviness or depth in DBZ Games, and I kinda want this to be the MAIN thread regaridng those two topics, but hear me out.

All of these comment/reactions made think (once again) about competitive fighting games and/or what ways the DBZ franchise could benefit from a new one. From reading these recent reactions on Youtube (I know, I know), people do want a competitive fighting game, or else we wouldn't be seeing all of this "DBZ GAMES ARE BUTTON MASHERS!" thing that's been going on since...ever. But do they really?

You guys know how much I love Super DBZ, I do, if I were to choose I'd say screw Xenoverse, give me Super DBZ 2 right now. And Super DBZ is an interesting case because Its's a simple arcade-style (that originated in the arcades) fighting game, there's no Story Mode, no CaC mode, no Galaxy Mode, nada. A simple arcade, survival and versus mode that only care about one thing, the core gameplay.

And what beautiful gameplay it is.

There are no gimmicks here, no insane Ultimate Attacks, no Capsule Systems to give you an advantage (altough there is a costumization system), everything is down to a fast-paced, real time fighting, the controls are simple with enough mechanics to satisfy the fighting game enthusiasts, characters don't feel as clones (even the ones that are supposed to be). All of this seems like the perfect formula to me, so why isn't the game more popular, why don't people bring it up when these discussions occur instead of its Budokai siblings? My answer: Timing.

Super DBZ released for the arcades very late 2005 and the PS2 in summer 2006 (I think? someone correct me if wrong), at that point Tenkaichi 2 had already been announced and most people were already accostumized to the simpler Budokai mechanics, so what happened? DBZ fans that wanted their quick DBZ fix didn't like the game because it didn't feature all the fanservice past DBZ games did and fighting game enthusiasts dismissed at another Sparking styled game, even today you get people saiyng the game had "wierd" controls or that it was bad because it doesn't feature 70+ characters. Not only that but in 2006, traditional fighting games (even something like Tekken) were kinda dead, so even if those "pros" realized what the game was, there was almost no possibility to have a scene (tho there was a Japanese one and a enormous Chinese one, heck, some of the latest matches were in 2012, for a none well-known game that was released 6 years prior that's quite the achievement).

Would Super DBZ or another take on a competitive fighting game succeed if it was released during the PS360 era or maybe even now? IMO, yes, fighting games are popular again and some of the most anticipated ones are right at the corner. The fanmade Hyper DBZ was request by EVO to be a side-tournament so the demand is there I think.

What about you guys? Would you like a straight competitive DBZ fighting game? Would you rather see another take at an older formula? Maybe a competitive 3D Arena game like Gundam Extreme VS/Rise of Incarnates or even Zenkai Battle Royale? Let's try to get all those other topic ideas into this one so It's all more easier to discuss.

[Super Saiyajin Luffy]

If a competitive DBZ fighter ala Super DBZ would be released nowadays, it will be probably more known and would eventually picked some side tournaments at fighting tournaments. It would have probably still have to fight off against the major competors like Street Fighter, Arc-Sys fighters and the like, though, so an EVO tournament would be probably not happen, but it would have definitely picked the interests of people.
I remember Justin Wong tweeting about Hyper DBZ and MarkmanSDT playing some Hyper DBZ on twitch for example, also there was some side tournaments.

[Lord Beerus]

I'd love to see a Super Dragon Ball Z-esque game released again some time down the line. But at the same time, I also think that games like Burst Limit and Budokai 3 would be perfect to use as a competitive fighting game in a tournament. I mean those games are essentially Street Fighter on steroids.

[DBZAOTA482]

^More like Tekken. Super DBZ is Street Fighter.

Super Dragon Ball Z is a solid fighter but I find it linear in the approach and you had to constantly grind through Original and Z-Survivor modes for upgrades, a lot of which should have been available from the start plus with 5 years of DBZ games with mediocre (or worse) fighting engines and their lack of success, I doubt there'd be much demand for it at any major tournaments. It'd be lucky to even be acknowledged for side-tournaments like Hyper DBZ.

Personally, I also feel the Budokai series had a lot of depth (you know which ones in particular I'm referring to) which tons of people really didn't catch onto before it was too late.

EDIT: Oh and I noticed you used the title of Maximilian Dood's series.

[Quebaz]

If a competitive DBZ fighter ala Super DBZ would be released nowadays, it will be probably more known and would eventually picked some side tournaments at fighting tournaments. It would have probably still have to fight off against the major competors like Street Fighter, Arc-Sys fighters and the like, though, so an EVO tournament would be probably not happen, but it would have definitely picked the interests of people.
I remember Justin Wong tweeting about Hyper DBZ and MarkmanSDT playing some Hyper DBZ on twitch for example, also there was some side tournaments.

I mean, it doesn't need to automatically be EVO material, we're still talking about DBZ over here. But it could still have his own smaller tournaments and events (even in-game) like there are for games that don't show up at the main event at EVO.

I'd love to see a Super Dragon Ball Z-esque game released again some time down the line. But at the same time, I also think that games like Burst Limit and Budokai 3 would be perfect to use as a competitive fighting game in a tournament. I mean those games are essentially Street Fighter on steroids.

Unfortunately, the Budokai games never told you nor give you the incetive to actually learn how to fully master them, and even when they did (looking at you, Shin Budokai 2 challenge mode and Burst Limit's AI), it was never in your face. However when you actually discover that the game is deeper than it looks, it does open a new competitve path, one that IMO, is kinda boring. Would love for them to tackle Shin Budokai 2 and improve from there tho.

^More like Tekken. Super DBZ is Street Fighter.

Super Dragon Ball Z is a solid fighter but I find it linear in the approach and you had to constantly grind through Original and Z-Survivor modes for upgrades, a lot of which should have been available from the start plus with 5 years of DBZ games with mediocre (or worse) fighting engines and their lack of success, I doubt there'd be much demand for it at any major tournaments. It'd be lucky to even be acknowledged for side-tournaments like Hyper DBZ.

EDIT: Oh and I noticed you used the title of Maximilian Dood's series.

True, It is indeed an hassle to unlock everything in it (specially stuff like characters, Super Cancel or the mutiple colors). About the demand, MARKETING MY FRIEND, you know how Xenoverse has these little 3 combo videos released that is Sparking(!) those reactions in the OP? That's how you market a fighting game, you show first-hand that It is something that people want to play and that there's depth to be found in it. The trailer for Hyper DBZ did just that, even with its limited content and look at how popular it got.

I've been discovered.

[budokaifanatic007]

I personally think with how the fan base is now that a Super DBZ style game would not sell. I say this because half of the DBZ fan base is "meh" about a new Budokai style game being made and Super DBZ is far more traditional and would actually challenge them to develop skill and strategy( Not saying 3D games don't require skill).