Bandai Namco has already won over the fighting game community with the announcement of its new fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ. Before you start rolling your eyes and dismissing the upcoming title, keep in mind that this is finally a true fighting game with Dragon Ball Z heroes at the helm. The game clearly pulls inspiration from the likes of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, which is no surprise considering the game is coming from the same developers. The fast-paced 2D fighter offers similar mechanics and even style while also incorporating some of the best elements from other popular fighters like Marvel V. Capcom.
Doubters of this game should be forewarned that this game looks promising enough to quickly make its way to the esports circuit and possibly top the sales of even some of the most dominant fighting games around. Think about it, it has already garnered support from two large communities—the fighting game community and the Dragon Ball community. Once casual gamers and general enthusiasts are included, it seems like this game may be poised to put out some serious numbers. Despite there being tons of Dragon Ball Z fighters in the past, this title introduces quite a few firsts that has gamers eager to finally get their hands on it. From meter management to a more dynamic character roster, these reasons explain exactly why FGC players and Dragon Ball fans are so exciting for the upcoming release.
Every Character Has a Specific, Unique Fighting Style
So far, only six characters have been confirmed for the title but the devs promise a diverse roster is on the way. The Dragon Ball Z universe is one that’s so expansive and downright quirky that there’s no telling what other characters might make their way into the game and how their own unique abilities will be utilized for gameplay. For now, however, we do know that the franchise’s most iconic characters will be present and ready to duke it out. Goku, Vegeta, Buu, Cell, Gohan and Frieza have all been confirmed for the game. The absence of characters like Piccolo and Broly feels a bit disheartening but there is a strong chance such characters will be included in the final roster. What is more apparent now, however, is that the six characters chosen for the initial demo are not only the most iconic but they also offer the most diversity in their play styles.
Here’s the play style description for each confirmed character:
Goku—An all-rounder with many handy attacks! Kamehameha may wipe out enemy’s ki attacks. Punish the opponent with Meteor Smash!
Vegeta—A rush character with many up close attacks. Turn the tables with Crusher Knee Kick and finish the opponent with Ki Blast Rush!
Gohan—A character without much reach but with powerful attacks. Counter the opponent’s attacks with Dragon Flight. For opponents up in the air, launch the Kamehameha!
Frieza—A character with many long range attacks! You can throw large rocks with the Heavy Attack! Use the Death Saucer that can only be dodged.
Cell—A versatile, and in a sense, Perfect character! Good in both short range and long range combat! No one can guard Telekinesis Crush.
Majin Buu—The unlikely strong character! Your standing B attack can’t be blocked while crouching and you can do long range damage with Jump+B! Distance yourself from the enemy with Cartwheel.
‘Move Specific’ Saiyan Transformations
One of the most exciting things about hearing a real Dragon Ball fighter is coming is thinking about all the ways Super Saiyan transformations could impact your battle and change your strategy. There have been a few different ideas about what it will take to reach even more powerful Saiyan forms in the game.
Initially, it seemed as if additional transformations past the first Super Saiyan form would utilize mechanics very similar to Street Fighter V’s V Trigger. It’s a little disappointing that this doesn’t seem to be the case but also understandable considering not every character is even a Saiyan to begin with. According to a representative from Bandai Namco, different Saiyan transformations are actually “move specific.” In other words, they will not be available as new forms your character will remain in to receive additional stat boosts or abilities.
There is, however, another form that will provide the very same thing. Spark Mode can be activated or will automatically be activated once both of the other characters on your team have been defeated. While details about this mode were rather vague, it was mentioned that this mode will deliver a damage boost. It’s unclear at this time, however, what other perks may come with this mode being activated.
Expect Chaos… A Whole Lot of It
Dragon Ball FighterZ already had an incredibly chaotic and fast-paced trailer but even that just doesn’t quite prepare you for just how much mayhem really starts to unfold on screen. At any given point, you can literally have up to four different characters on screen and each of them are important to pay attention to.
You’ll have to pay attention to the main character that your opponent is fighting with at the time while also keeping a watchful eye on assist characters that may be called in to help break combos or completely swap with the original character. Technically speaking, it’s nothing that fighting game players haven’t seen before with the likes of Marvel v Capcom. Even this, however, seems to be faster and even more frantic.
It’s probably because this is a game not only filled with 3-on-3 brawls, but also filled with characters that are constantly shooting projectiles across the screen and utilizing mechanics that allow them to transport across the screen. Dragon Ball FighterZ has tons of grade-A fighting mechanics that make gameplay feel very familiar to classic fighters but just how much of a frenzy the combat is may present a bit of an adjustment for most players.
3v3 Brawls on a 2.5D Plane
While other Dragon Ball Z fighting games featured epic one-on-one battles with your favorite characters from the series, Dragon Ball FighterZ will boast 3v3 brawls instead. The format is exactly what the fighting game community has seen in games like Marvel V. Capcom. This will allow players to pick their best collection of fighters, each with their own fighting style, to dominate their opponent.
It also makes the battles feel far more dynamic than they have ever been, especially since these 3v3 brawls will take place on a 2.5D plane. While former fighters of the series boasted a widespread 3D plane that easily led to many cat and mouse games, this new format brings a whole lot of action to a lot less space. Just what the FGC ordered. Instead of worrying about having to chase down your opponent, bringing the action to a 2.5 dimensional space allows the game to feel much more like a traditional fighter than the previous games did.
New Mechanics
We have learned more about the kind of mechanics players should expect to see in Dragon Ball FighterZ and it only further confirms the fact that this is the Dragon Ball fighting game we have long been begging for. The main mechanics that were highlighted were Z Assist, Z Change, and Vanish/Teleport (both terms were used interchangeably). The Z Assist and Z Change are new to the series and really help this title stand apart from its predecessors.
Your Z Assist will allow the next character on your team to appear and unleash their own attack in order to allow you the time to break an opponent’s combo. This is essentially the main mechanic you’ll be using to make sure you aren’t simply juggled to death. Your Z Change is essentially the same thing but it will allow the next character to take over in battle instead of retreating back to the sidelines. The beauty of all three of these mechanics is that they prevent the title from becoming a game of who can get the best juggle first. These tools often provide you with one way or another to disrupt whatever vicious combo may be eating away at your health bar.
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