Super Dragon Ball Z

[Piccolo Daimao]

Why was Super Dragon Ball Z disliked so much? Was it the lack of characters? The fact that the game engine shifted away from those of recent years and instead geared towards fans of more traditional fighting game engines? I have heard some people that have said Super Dragon Ball Z was a nice little gem of a game.

[dragondyle]

Pretty much what you listed is part of the reason why many people, including hardcore gamers, didn't really like the game. I loved it though. I'm one of the few people who think it's a nice little gem. It's pretty much a manga video game, as opposed to an anime video game, which many DBZ games are. I guess people didn't like the fighting engine, thinking it was outdated. Small character roster and no story mode most likely didn't help either. I don't blame it, though. It did seem like a pretty budget game and not welcomed by hardcore gamers.

[Piccolo Daimao]

Pretty much what you listed is part of the reason why many people, including hardcore gamers, didn't really like the game. I loved it though. I'm one of the few people who think it's a nice little gem. It's pretty much a manga video game, as opposed to an anime video game, which many DBZ games are. I guess people didn't like the fighting engine, thinking it was outdated. Small character roster and no story mode most likely didn't help either. I don't blame it, though. It did seem like a pretty budget game and not welcomed by hardcore gamers.

It always looked like to me a unique fighting game. I haven't played it myself, but if I saw it in the shops, I would probably buy it. I've watched clips of it, and I liked how the theme throughout its presentation was that of the manga, with the written-out sound effects, plus the stuff you don't normally get in a DBZ fighting game like the new updated design of Mecha Freeza and Chi-Chi as a playable character. Nowadays, the story mode seems to be the least important thing in a DBZ fighting game. I'm guessing the ones that didn't like it weren't old-school gamers who had never played Street Fighter II, threw a hissy fit over dial-a-combos and wouldn't appreciate any DBZ fighter other than a Budokai or Tenkaichi game.

[dragondyle]

It always looked like to me a unique fighting game. I haven't played it myself, but if I saw it in the shops, I would probably buy it. I've watched clips of it, and I liked how the theme throughout its presentation was that of the manga, with the written-out sound effects, plus the stuff you don't normally get in a DBZ fighting game like the new updated design of Mecha Freeza and Chi-Chi as a playable character. Nowadays, the story mode seems to be the least important thing in a DBZ fighting game. I'm guessing the ones that didn't like it weren't old-school gamers who had never played Street Fighter II, threw a hissy fit over dial-a-combos and wouldn't appreciate any DBZ fighter other than a Budokai or Tenkaichi game.

Exactly! That's totally how gamers looks at this game. I would absolutely recommend it. Being an old-school gamer myself, I loved the game. It really does take you back to the Street Fighter II days, but with a Dragon Ball experience. It's one of my favourites because it's so unique compared to the other DBZ fighters out there now, which to me aren't that great after Budokai 3. It's just the same thing over and over.

[VegettoEX]

Rather than making so many threads about so many different things that are pretty general, I'd suggest using the "Search" function, as well as just diving back a few pages, to read up on these things. Many of these discussions have already taken place many times over, and if you're genuinely just looking for answers rather than starting whole new discussions, anything you need to know is probably already there.

For example, there's a four-page thread with tons of discussion that's already taken place, right here on this forum -- http://daizex.fanboyreview.net/viewtopi ... 11&t=10960

[Captain Awesome]

It was disliked by people who's fighting game experience is limited to whatever anime tie-in they are interested in at the time.

People who grew up on actual fighting games for the most part found it enjoyable.

[Rory]

It was too well crafted for most people, they weren't on board with the beautifully stylized graphics, which the creator of the manga himself came on board to lend a hand with. The genuinely different play style of each characters didn't go down with the majority of the fans either, nor did the impressive amount of customization for each of those characters. But most of all, most of the players who didn't like it couldn't really get used to the fact that it wasn't Budokai, or Sparking!, and wanted a pretty light show, not a genuinely good gaming experience.

[Rocketman]

Can anybody join this circlejerk or is this an exclusive party?

[Hellspawn28]

I think people did not like as much since it was not a Budokai game, and people thought it was going to have a lot of characters, easy controls, and a story mode. One thing I like SDBZ was it was more like the manga then the anime, and the combat system in the game was great. It was a great rental back in 06, and it's worth checking it out now since it's like $10 now.

[Adamant]

I think people (and by "people" I mean some hypothetical alternate of me that actually played the game) disliked it because it still insisted on having some bullshit custom character/leveling/potara/capsule/experience bullshit system which played a large part in making the other Dragonball fighting games so shit. Also, the American version only had dub voices, which kills the entire "it may suck, but hey, it's Dragonball" aspect too. Ew.

[Kendamu]

As everyone else said, people who grew up on the newer style of fighting games or have become extremely accustomed to the newer style of fighting games probably don't appreciate Super Dragonball Z because it goes against a lot of the conventions of modern fighting games.

I don't blame them. While I like games such as Street Fighter and can go as far as to enjoy the first three Bdoukai games or the Soul Caliber games, but I get very easily frustrated by the Sparking games and sometimes the Tekken games because they're too much of a departure from what I consider important in a fighting game. I know how they feel.

I just wish that more people did like it, though. I would've loved some sequels or maybe a sprite-based 2D version on PSP or something.

[nathantheguitarist]

...I had no idea it was disliked at all. I could understand it being a "not my type of game" type of game, but not actually disliked lol. Final Bout can be disliked. I can see that. But not Super.

[Adamant]

As everyone else said, people who grew up on the newer style of fighting games or have become extremely accustomed to the newer style of fighting games probably don't appreciate Super Dragonball Z because it goes against a lot of the conventions of modern fighting games.

No, I like classic fighting games (and I realize I'm talking about a game I haven't actually played, here), but Super DBZ for some reason decides to toss in some kind of "way to develop your character", which is never ever a good sight in a fighting game. The Budokai and Sparking games were shitty enough in the first place, but having a huge part of the gameplay be "everyone who wants to play needs to own the game, play single player a zillion hours to unlock a ton of crap, then bring their memory card with them wherever they go" ruined them completely. Then they say they're making a real fighting game, and STILL insist of tossing in this idiocy. Do anyone actually LIKE this?

Also, it's a Dragonball game, which is also never a good sign if you're looking for quality gameplay instead of just "Yay, I get to play as Dragonball characters" (not that there's anything terribly wrong with that, but it would be nice to a game that's both based on Dragonball AND good for a change). And, on top of that, the American version doesn't even have the Dragonball cast, so it's not really a Dragonball game after all.

Or, to sum it up:
1) Fighting game with some bullshit customization system = it probably sucks
2) based on Dragonball = definitely sucks
3) but doesn't have the Dragonball cast = kills the one positive it had, leaves the negatives, and adds the one of these other voices sucking.

Even if, by some miracle, it doesn't suck despite these odds, it's still not Dragonball, which means I might as well play a game I know is good that's not Dragonball either. Wee.

(no comments about how "The Funi guys are Dragonball to me" please. Couldn't care less)

[Captain Awesome]

(no comments about how "The Funi guys are Dragonball to me" please. Couldn't care less)

Australia lucked out and got the JP voicecast .

[Adamant]

Yeah, all the PAL countries did. Sadly, my PS2 is American.

[Xyex]

The smaller cast size and lack of story mode is likely what kept most people from really enjoying it. It's a solid fighter with great controls but there just isn't a whole lot of meat to it. Hell, the Vs. mode doesn't even have a Vs. COM option, which blows, because the Arcade and Z Survivor Modes don't use everyone, and neither let's you fight on King Kai's or in the Gravity Room. King Kai's can only be accessed in Vs. and the Gravity Room only in Training.

Z Survivor adds replay value for those who want to master the game and characters, and unlockables add replay value for those who want to unlock everything, but without any story mode or Vs. COM option your options are limited. I would have loved it if there had even been just a tiny story set-up for it. Even just each character having a unique intro and ending for the Cell fight at the end would have been a leg up. Even the old 2D games that started the craze gave each character some sort of ending. :/

[Piccolo Daimaoh]

Super Dragon Ball Z is so bad that it seriously ranks up with Final Bout in terms of controls. If you want a good Dragon Ball Z 2D fighter on the PS2, Budokai 3 is the way to go.

[Xyex]

Super Dragon Ball Z is so bad that it seriously ranks up with Final Bout in terms of controls. If you want a good Dragon Ball Z 2D fighter on the PS2, Budokai 3 is the way to go.

I don't know what you're talking about but the controls in SDBZ are great. No where near final bout. The response time does feel a little slow, admittedly, but it's not all that bad. The only thing I don't care for are the 'star' pattern moves because those are damn near impossible to do on purpose.

[Captain-Sora]

Super Dragon Ball Z is so bad that it seriously ranks up with Final Bout in terms of controls. If you want a good Dragon Ball Z 2D fighter on the PS2, Budokai 3 is the way to go.

I don't know what you're talking about but the controls in SDBZ are great. No where near final bout. The response time does feel a little slow, admittedly, but it's not all that bad. The only thing I don't care for are the 'star' pattern moves because those are damn near impossible to do on purpose.

They're easy when using the analog stick in my opinion(just rolling the stick actually makes it work).

[VegettoEX]

Super Dragon Ball Z is so bad that it seriously ranks up with Final Bout in terms of controls.

This isn't even a valid personal opinion to hold -- it's flat-out wrong. The control in Super DragonBall Z is just as responsive as any other polished fighting game.

And we're not even talking whether you like the game or not. There's simply nothing wrong/delayed/lagged/unresponsive about the control what-so-ever. If you feel that way, you're either playing with a busted controller, or playing the wrong game.