DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE
- February 26, 2015
- Dimps
- 17h median play time
Dragon Ball Xenoverse allows players to participate in the world of Dragon Ball like never before as they help change the tide of battle. If you enjoy battling it out with your favorite Z fighters then you will enjoy this game.
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE is an anime fighting game that allows 2-player multiplayer and co-op gameplay. Create and customize your own warrior from 5 races, learn skills from Dragon Ball characters and restore the original story of the series in online and offline adventures. Join over 200 players in the Toki Toki City hub for battles and online tournaments.
Reviews
- story7,342 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a unique take on the classic Dragon Ball Z narrative, allowing players to create their own character and intervene in key moments of the timeline to correct distortions caused by new villains. While the storyline is engaging and offers nostalgic moments for fans, it suffers from pacing issues and can feel repetitive due to the reliance on grinding parallel quests for experience and items. Overall, the game provides a fun experience for Dragon Ball enthusiasts, but the execution of the story and mission structure leaves room for improvement.
“The storyline is enjoyable, allowing you to relive classic moments while also introducing new elements that add depth to the lore.”
“The game's adaptation story is unique as it allows us to experience time distortion issues that should not have occurred due to mysterious enemies in universe mode, providing a fresh experience for long-time Dragon Ball fans and introducing new ones to the story.”
“The story is a completely new story within Dragon Ball, it uses both the original story that we all love and adds a ton of new ideas and concepts to it such as time travel, making certain foes within the DBZ timeline more powerful than they used to be and by allowing your character to fight alongside iconic characters within the DBZ world.”
“The balancing is terrible and the story is even worse.”
“The story is just a bit more than an excuse plot, and is essentially a re-writing of the original dbz storyline with your character thrown in - but then again few people play fighting games for the story.”
“The story mode is possibly the weakest point of the game; it is relatively short, easy to beat, and has a god-awful plot.”
- gameplay1,706 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dragon Ball Xenoverse has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying the fast-paced combat and character customization options, while others criticize its repetitive mechanics and clunky controls. Some players find the combat engaging and reminiscent of classic Dragon Ball games, but note issues with AI difficulty and hit detection that can detract from the experience. Overall, while the game offers a fun and nostalgic experience for fans, it also suffers from technical flaws and a reliance on grinding that may frustrate some players.
“The combat is fast-paced and exhilarating, with a mix of flashy moves and strategic gameplay that keeps every battle engaging.”
“The gameplay is fast and epic and makes you really feel like the character you picked!”
“The gameplay is fun, fast-paced, and will make you feel like a tank, but there are a few things holding it back from being closer to perfection.”
“This game is ridiculous; if you want something to make you angry, play this. The story is good, but the gameplay is bad. Once you boost your stats, it makes the game harder instead of easier. I do regret this purchase because it's not fun unless you use hacks of some sort; even then, it's barely any fun.”
“The gameplay is so clunky and somehow feels worse than the PS2 games.”
“With the release of Xenoverse 2, most of its multiplayer features became unplayable, along with issues in gameplay such as monotonous combat flow, brainless friendly AI, pretty limited roster, and the 'rng within an rng' system.”
- graphics1,112 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of Dragon Ball Xenoverse are widely praised for their vibrant, cel-shaded style that effectively captures the essence of the anime, making the characters and environments visually appealing. While many reviewers note that the graphics remain impressive for a game released nearly a decade ago, some express disappointment that it doesn't fully utilize modern hardware capabilities. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor graphical issues and a lack of advanced settings.
“Despite being nearly a decade old, the original Xenoverse still boasts graphics that remain impressive today.”
“In essence, the graphics and aesthetics of the game harmoniously blend to enhance both the storyline and gameplay experience.”
“Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a visually stunning game that truly captures the look and feel of the anime through its cel-shaded graphics.”
“The game's graphics stay true to the cartoon visuals, though they don't take full advantage of new-generation hardware.”
“I guess it's because the graphics are very underwhelming.”
“The graphics in general and home region are poorly designed, unappealing to look at, and just stagnant and boring.”
- grinding960 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as excessively tedious and repetitive. Reviewers note that the reliance on RNG for item and skill drops exacerbates the grind, leading to hours of repetitive gameplay without guaranteed rewards. While some players find enjoyment in the character progression and combat, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the experience, making it a major hurdle for those not fond of such mechanics.
“Whether or not the grinding is a detriment to your experience is entirely your opinion.”
“After that, I would say the game is a bit grindy, and it would be nice to have a bit more of an open world in Tokitoki (the main city) instead of being restricted to walking around and having preselected chat until you are in a room where you can voice chat (which is flawless).”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Out of my 260 hours, I spent 180 in one of the most annoying grinds I've known, and I don't even mind grinding, but this is beyond too much.”
“The game gets really tedious after a while, so many characters in the later story have super armor and constantly just kinda say 'no' to stuns and combos, I would much recommend the 2nd one instead of this.”
“However, regardless of its necessity, grinding parallel quests for experience points, skills, and items is terribly mundane and wastes the majority of hours played.”
- music306 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in Dragon Ball Xenoverse receives mixed reviews, with some praising the catchy soundtrack and effective battle themes that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize the repetitiveness of certain tracks, particularly in the hub world and menus. The voice acting is generally well-received, and the inclusion of iconic songs like "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" adds to the nostalgia, but many players express a desire for more diverse and memorable music throughout the game. Overall, while the soundtrack has its standout moments, it suffers from issues like audio mixing problems and a lack of variety, leading to a somewhat average musical experience.
“The game's soundtrack is solid, with a mix of catchy and memorable tracks that add to the overall experience of the game.”
“The music is particularly effective during intense battles, helping to heighten the tension and excitement of each fight.”
“It has an awesome soundtrack, and the story is great!”
“The music is terrible as well.”
“The music is so hopeful too, it's almost as if it's saying 'maybe we'll connect to the servers this time, maybe.'”
“The music is horribly annoying.”
- replayability214 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its extensive character customization, parallel quests, and RPG elements that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some criticize the grindy nature of item drops and the overall lack of substantial content post-story, leading to a sense of artificial replayability. Overall, while there is significant replay value for dedicated fans, the experience can feel repetitive and frustrating for others.
“It has tons of replayability, in my opinion.”
“The semi-open world makes the game feel exponentially larger than the linear progression of previous titles, and the inclusion of side quests (called parallel quests) adds a massive amount of replayability to the game.”
“The fact that you level up, select different skills, and also get to raise points in stats contributes so much to the game's replayability and gameplay.”
“The game's replay value is significantly diminished by the overwhelming presence of Xenoverse 2 and the numerous gameplay problems it faces.”
“Game was fun for a while, but what they call 'replayability' is just a garbage grind system with the worst RNG I have ever seen.”
“Fun game but lacking content, easily finished in 20 hours or less, 'replayability' is forced on you in the form of random drops for all skills that sometimes seem to take 30+ tries just to get one.”
- stability198 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many users reporting a variety of bugs and glitches, particularly in online modes, which can lead to frustrating experiences such as freezing and disconnections. While the game performs well on most PCs and offers enjoyable gameplay, the prevalence of issues like unresponsive NPCs and imbalanced PvP has led some players to recommend waiting for patches before purchasing. Overall, while the game is fun and visually appealing, its stability issues detract from the experience.
“The game runs great with setup right, 1080p+ with a solid 60 fps with no frame loss whatsoever. I wish a game like this would've come out sooner; it honestly surprised me, and I would suggest it to any Dragon Ball fan because you get the feeling that you're really a part of the story.”
“I have to say that this is by far my favorite fighting game. I really enjoy the structure of the game loadout; it reminds me of a cross between an MMO and RPG. It runs great, and the graphics are amazing. You can tell it's built on the next-gen platform.”
“The game itself looks and runs great on PC, which I was surprised at.”
“I can't turn on the game; it freezes and I can only close it and try again. Nothing works, and my PC meets the requirements.”
“Don't buy this game; it's very buggy, very laggy, and the restricted area is too small.”
“Its way too buggy to play, and I can't recommend buying it until all these issues are fixed.”
- optimization108 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance at 60fps even on lower-end PCs, minimal visual glitches, and a well-designed graphics options menu. While some players experienced occasional lag and stuttering, the majority found the game to run efficiently, with no significant crashes or performance issues. The controls are generally easy to master, and the game supports various input methods, contributing to a positive gaming experience.
“Overall the game is amazing, the optimization is flawless and I run this game at a constant 60 frames on max settings. The story isn't as in-depth as I would like, but it gets the job done and with a whole new story arc to the Dragon Ball universe, this is one of the best Dragon Ball games to hit the market.”
“The graphics look amazing and the game is very well optimized for the PC, by which I mean it doesn't take a supercomputer to run this game at max settings, but even so, there is still the option to change the graphical settings to your liking.”
“Optimization is top-notch.”
“Lag and stuttering is a constant, or at least it was for me and a few other people I know.”
“The big flaws being that PC has its own original issues compared to console, which hinders performance between you and other online players.”
“I give this game an 8/10 because of the online DRM that's required to play, which doesn't seem optimized well and has gone down a couple of times, rendering the game basically useless while it was down.”
- humor76 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it funny even if they aren't fans of the Dragon Ball franchise. Many highlight the hilarious dialogue, character customization quirks, and amusing multiplayer interactions, such as unexpected character matchups and goofy poses. While some players note that certain gameplay elements can be frustrating, the overall comedic tone and moments of levity contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“Naming your Frieza race character 'Wintermint' is hilariously satisfying.”
“The multiplayer is pretty fun as it usually is in the Dragon Ball games; we usually do 1v1 with random character picks which can make for some hilarious match-ups.”
“- Hilarious dialogue; Hercule is one of my favorites to train with.”
“The humor in this game falls flat when the mechanics are so frustrating. Random secret missions and drop chances just make it feel like a cruel joke.”
“It's hard to find the humor in a game that punishes you for trying. The randomness of missions and drops feels more like a bad punchline than a fun challenge.”
“When the game tries to be funny with its random mechanics, it just ends up being annoying. I expected laughs, not endless grinding.”
- character development34 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and rewarding nature, featuring a robust mentor system and a variety of customization options that enhance gameplay. While the character designs are generally well-received and faithful to the original series, some players feel that the design options for original characters are limited. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging character development with enjoyable multiplayer and campaign experiences.
“Character development is fun and rewarding; the mentor system is great, the in-game currency is well balanced, item collection is fun. It's just a great Dragon Ball game that's way better than you'd think.”
“In-depth character development and customization.”
“Great way of exploring a new character development with all the memorable moments from DBZ.”
“Character design (how you look) is way too limited.”
“I feel like they designed their whole idea for leveling and character development with cooperating and competing with friends in mind, then completely neglected to come up with an optimal combat system for this gameplay.”
“- bad character design for the original characters in the game (hello Kefka, what are you doing in a DBZ game?)”
- emotional32 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed; while some players express nostalgia and joy, feeling a deep connection to the Dragon Ball universe, others criticize the lack of a compelling story and emotional depth, making them feel disconnected from their characters. Fans appreciate the immersive experience and the thrill of revisiting beloved sagas, but many lament the game's shortcomings, which detract from the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game resonates strongly with long-time fans, evoking fond memories, but fails to engage new players or those seeking a richer narrative.
“This game made me feel like the giddy 8-year-old me, that watched the Dragon Ball Z series and tried the 'kamehameha' move when no one was looking.”
“Not only because it’s just simply a DBZ game on PC, but because it really is a heartwarming love letter to fans and a respectably fine-tuned experience.”
“This is the best Dragon Ball game ever! Yeah, there are still some bugs here and there, but if you're a Dragon Ball fan, this is the game for you. I cried; I was geeking out so bad. It's just a must-own if you're a fan.”
“Awful unimaginative, incredibly boring story - it's trying to make you fix the chaos to make the story how it should've been - you know, actually, a new unique story would be great.”
“Too broken to be considered playable online, boring story, bad graphics, characters' mouths don't even move when talking, etc.”
“All of this piled on top of a boring story makes this one of the worst Dragon Ball games I've played.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its detailed environments and immersive experience, effectively capturing the essence of the Dragon Ball universe. Players appreciate the strategic and chaotic elements of combat, which enhance the overall enjoyment despite some design flaws. The combination of engaging story, soundtrack, and character customization contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps players invested for hours.
“The atmosphere and experience do make up for a lot of the flaws and some odd design choices, like slipping in super hard parallel quests in the lower tiers where it seems like the enemies never stop coming.”
“The chaotic atmosphere is pleasing and if you win you really feel like a victor.”
“You'll spend hours customizing your character, unlocking new moves, increasing your character's strength and just all around enjoying the new story and atmosphere the game has to offer.”
“In terms of gameplay, the only new thing that I have not experienced before was a 3 vs 3 atmosphere where all players are on the map at once.”
“Large bosses had the atmosphere of a large boss, such as its movement and attacks.”
“As much as I'm aware that grinding and lucky drops are part of any MMO atmosphere.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly in the context of Dragon Ball Z titles, which are perceived to prioritize profit over quality. However, some users appreciate the absence of microtransactions, suggesting a slight reprieve from typical monetization pitfalls. Overall, the sentiment leans heavily towards disappointment in the game's financial practices.
“No microtransactions: well, how about that! Thank whatever deity you worship.”
“Just another cash grab DLC Namco game.”
“All other Dragon Ball Z games are a cash grab so huge they fail to deliver a good product.”
“I have to stop the process through task manager to close it; otherwise, it's just advertising to everyone suggesting you are crazy about it.”
Critic Reviews
Dragon Ball Xenoverse Review - Wish yourself into the world of Dragon Ball!
Dragon Ball Xenoverse allows players to participate in the world of Dragon Ball like never before as they help change the tide of battle. If you enjoy battling it out with your favorite Z fighters then you will enjoy this game.
80%"Under 9,000" - Dragon Ball Xenoverse Review
Dragon Ball Xenoverse is excellent fan-service and has a ton of potential, which makes it frustrating as hell to see it held back by technical issues and repetitious combat.
65%Dragon Ball Xenoverse Review
Dragon Ball Xenoverse is definitely the best Dragon Ball game in years, though certainly not without its flaws, which shakes up the typical formula and is bound to shape the future of the series.
80%