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This team-based anime fighting game features characters from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super

This team-based anime fighting game features characters from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super

Vote: (29 votes)

Program license: Paid

Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

Version: 1.0

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(29 votes)

Paid

Developer

Version

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

1.0

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • A huge cast of characters pulled from throughout Dragon Ball Z history
  • Sophisticated combat system accommodating to all skill levels

Cons

  • Online matchmaking can be a real ordeal
  • Story is a convoluted mess

Dragon Ball FighterZ is a fighting game that captures the thrill and visceral action of the anime series' signature content than just about any other video game. This is a franchise about demigods going head to head with combat maneuvers and techniques that can level the planet, and FighterZ makes players feel like their favorite characters without having to invest weeks training to learn complex combos. It's a fighting game that scales exceptionally well, allowing weaker players to have a good time while mashing buttons while also offering a complex network of systems that make it an appropriate choice for high level and even tournament play. What's most interesting is that this isn't just any run of the mill fighter with the Dragon Ball license slapped on. It's built from the ground up to suit the demands of the franchise.

Dragon Ball FighterZ was developed by Arc Systems Works, and that should come as no surprise to anyone who's played their games before. They're known for creating high-quality anime fighting games that blend together complex systems, visually sumptuous special attacks, and large casts of characters that each play in a unique manner. All of that is still the case with this game. They're also known for being able to create games that cover the distance between high level and amateur play, and they achieve this here in large part through a template system. Almost all of the characters in the expansive roster use the same basic move set. Once you learn one set of maneuvers, you have a general understanding of how those moves work with any other character. This makes it easy for new players to jump in. But the devil is in the details, and learning the higher level functions of each character could take a lot more time.

This simplified system is even more a practical necessity when you take into account the fact that this is a three vs. three fighting game. While characters' basic moves may be fundamentally the same, their stats can be quite different, and the same essential techniques can play out very differently depending on who you're commanding. Swapping between your characters on the fly then is all about understanding their combat role and how they stack up against those of your opponent.

Regardless of how advanced you are with the game, it's always a blast to watch. The bright and colorful designs look like they've been ripped directly out of the anime, and each of the characters comes with their signature moves and their signature swagger. It's a game stuffed with references to the series, and whether you're playing through the wealth of story modes solo or taking a crack at online multiplayer, it's a game clearly built with a lot of love.

Pros

  • A huge cast of characters pulled from throughout Dragon Ball Z history
  • Sophisticated combat system accommodating to all skill levels

Cons

  • Online matchmaking can be a real ordeal
  • Story is a convoluted mess