Super Dragon Ball Z: An SS4 Fabien Review

[Fabien]

I got sick of waiting for my free copy of Super Dragon Ball Z to play it, so I rented the game. I must say, I am more impressed than I expected. Let's get started:

Graphics
The graphics of this game just blow me away. They have ever since I saw the first screen shots from the Japanese arcade version. The cell shading captures Akira Toriyama's awesome art style perfectly in full, vibrant color. The animation of the character models is relatively fluid, and it captures the characters' various moves rather well. The only downside to the graphics is that some of the energy effects look a little lackluster.

Score: 9.3/10

Sound
The sound in this game is everything I would expect from a fighting game. The music fits in well with the style of the game, and the American voice acting is dead on. Super Dragon Ball Z really nails it in this department.

Score: 10/10

Gameplay
Now, on to what really counts: gameplay. This game is an arcade-style fighting game, so it's a little more technical than the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi series. That having been said, this game is not as accessible as the others. The gameplay requires quite a bit of strategy, with emphasis on air combos. You really need to acquire a knack for judging what your opponent's next move is going to be in order to get good at this game.

On the other hand, Super Dragon Ball Z is still rather simple as compared to the likes of Street Fighter, the King of Fighters, and Tekken. With only two attack buttons, a guard button, and a jump button, Super Dragon Ball Z remains accessible enough for hardcore Dragon Ball fans to enjoy without too much of an arcade-style fighting game background.

The gameplay really does have an arcade feel to it. It takes a little getting used to, even for fighting game veterans, but it feels pretty natural once you get the hang of it. A lot of the moves are executed in ways Street Fighter fans will fondly recall.

Score: 9.6/10

Overall
Overall, this game is great. Any fighting game fan or Dragon Ball fan will find something to like about this game. It's even better if you fit into both categories.

Overall Score: 9.4/10

[lil_marvin2004]

Bahahaha, my copy came today. I'm about to go play it some more.

[Fabien]

Well...what the hell?

[legendaryDude]

who have you played as so far?

[Fabien]

Just Vegeta.

[legendaryDude]

hes really good if you know what you doin,what attacks have you learned so far

[Fabien]

If this game has any merit as a "hardcore" fighting game, then any character is really good when the player behind it knows what he's doing.

I haven't learned any new attacks so far.

[legendaryDude]

did you know that if you press the buttons after anything such as a super ka me ha me ha or a galick gun it does extra hits

[Fabien]

Yes. I know. That also works with Lucora Gun.

[Jin Kazama]

My free copy came 3 days ago...

[legendaryDude]

ok,well if you play as goku,definitly teach him spirit bomb,it gets like half the size of the screen if you charge it all the way,and its almost a one hit k.o.

[Fabien]

ok,well if you play as goku,definitly teach him spirit bomb,it gets like half the size of the screen if you charge it all the way...Good luck with that.

[legendaryDude]

sorry,just trying to help

[Fabien]

I know. I didn't mean to sound like I don't appreciate your advice. It's just that, unless your opponent is brain dead, you're not going to get a chance to charge up a move like that.

[legendaryDude]

true,but thats why you do it behind something like a rock because it goes through it and they cant hit you when you charge it

[Fabien]

I guess that might work against someone who's just above the level of mental retardation. Everyone else will just side-step around the rock and attack you.

[legendaryDude]

exactly

[Yamcha566]

ok,well if you play as goku,definitly teach him spirit bomb,it gets like half the size of the screen if you charge it all the way,and its almost a one hit k.o.
The only way you can charge it up all the way for 10 seconds is to play versus mode with your friend. When your charging up the attack pull out his controller or you just go Super Saiyan then it will charge up all the way for 4 seconds.

[jiru_roregusu]

as with most DBZ games, the ki attacks are somewhat difficult to to exectute, espeicall if you love DBZ an djust pick up the latest copy and are noobish to the controlls...

[legendaryDude]

ive actually done a fully charged spirit bomb in survival mode,i got at the edge of the ring where they couldnt hit me because the kept shooting the ground and by the time it realized what i was doing i already hit them with it

[Yamcha566]

ive actually done a fully charged spirit bomb in survival mode,i got at the edge of the ring where they couldnt hit me because the kept shooting the ground and by the time it realized what i was doing i already hit them with it
Heh nice, i'm gonna try that sometime A.I can be stupid sometimes eh?

[legendaryDude]

yeah lol

[DbZ-GoHaN123]

How did u guys get a free copy of the game?

[legendaryDude]

they won it in a contest

[Mr.Studmuffin]

Well...what the hell?

If it's any consolation, I haven't received my free copy either.

[Fabien]

Mine arrived today, actually.

[Jin Kazama]

I think I got mine the earliest..
I got mine 2 after i sent you the pm 'I think were getting it today'