Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z
- January 23, 2014
- Artdink
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z packs quite the punch, offering an interesting take on the franchise lore with an extensive character line-up and a great co-op campaign.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z delivers over-the-top anime action and intensity, presented in new cell-shaded HD graphics. Focusing on team battles, players will be able to battle online with or against their friends in frantic 4-player co-op or up to 8-player vs. Battle of Z’s expanded team battle and co-op modes allows players to create teams of four characters to take on opponents across the globe.
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Playstation Vita
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- The game features a large roster of playable DBZ characters and offers a variety of melee and special attacks.
- The multiplayer experience, especially with 4-on-4 online battles, is highly enjoyable and allows for great teamwork and combo synchronization.
- The graphics are visually appealing, and the open-world battle areas provide a unique 3D movement and exploration experience.
- The AI can be frustratingly unresponsive, leading to a lack of enjoyment in single-player mode.
- There is no local multiplayer mode, which limits the game's appeal for those wanting to play with friends in person.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, making it less engaging over time.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its solid mechanics and character roster, while others criticize it for being shallow, repetitive, and lacking depth. Players noted that the fast-paced action can be fun, but the simplistic battle system and unbalanced characters detract from the overall experience. Many hope that future installments will improve upon these shortcomings, especially given the potential for more engaging gameplay mechanics.
“The only reason I buy DBZ games is for gameplay.”
“The gameplay is there, and the amount of characters in this game is good too.”
“Fast-paced gameplay.”
“The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, but this is a new developer for DBZ games, so hopefully if they do a sequel, they improve gameplay.”
“Better graphics mean nothing if the mechanics of the game suck.”
“With the repetitive gameplay and simplistic battle system, only a die-hard fan should even consider picking this up.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive high praise, with many users describing them as "top notch" and "gorgeous." However, some players note that while the visuals are impressive, they can be overshadowed by gameplay issues and mechanics. Despite minor hiccups, the visual design of characters and environments is frequently highlighted as a strong point of the game.
“The graphics are top notch!”
“Really great game, cool graphics, storyline follows the way it should, and awesome characters.”
“This game is awesome, it has good graphics, the characters have a good design and it is perfect, I love it.”
“Better graphics means nothing if the mechanics of the game suck.”
“Omg you can't play two players in offline mode, you can play two players only with internet so it's not so good for me. Very bad move. The graphics are 10/10, but the rest of the game is 5/10.”
“Sure the graphics could be a little better, but I love the gameplay.”
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally praised for its faithful adherence to the source material, featuring a diverse cast, nostalgic stages, and impressive artistic design. However, some players find the missions repetitive and lacking depth, leading to frustration despite the initial enjoyment. Overall, while the narrative and character unlocks are engaging, the gameplay can become tedious over time.
“Complete with destructible environments, cast and missions faithful to the storyline, and an all-around enchanting level with an impressive artistic vision.”
“Really great game, cool graphics, the storyline follows the way it should, and awesome characters.”
“[A large roster of favorites to choose from, nostalgic stages and battles with series villains, fully-voiced cutscenes and missions.]”
“Perhaps it's because I've just spent the last 4 hours getting my rear handed to me on the same two missions, doing everything I can to succeed (going back and leveling characters, grinding for items, and learning characters), but this game has left a sour taste in my mouth.”
“It could happen at the start of the match, robbing you of one of your very valuable retries, or just at the end of the mission after you've sunk in 15 minutes of fighting the game itself to let you play it.”
“[fighting mechanics lack depth and control, missions are repetitive and boring, unbalanced characters]”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that extensive time spent on repetitive missions and character leveling can lead to a negative experience. The need to grind for items and improve characters often feels tedious and can detract from overall enjoyment.
“Perhaps it's because I've just spent the last 4 hours getting my rear handed to me on the same two missions, doing everything I can to succeed (going back and leveling characters, grinding for items, and learning characters), but this game has left a sour taste in my mouth.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to enjoy the actual gameplay.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over just to progress, which makes the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely considered lacking, with users expressing disappointment that it fails to deliver any comedic elements.
Critic Reviews
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z Review
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z ended up providing more fun than originally expected, even though the first few hours are very repetitive. If you aren't a fan of the series then this may not be your cup of tea, but as a standalone title it could easily give you an evening's simple and senseless entertainment - especially with a few friends.
70%Even a Senzu Bean can't revive this fallen warrior -- Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z review
In the end, Battle of Z is a disappointment. With the repetitive gameplay and simplistic battle system, only a die hard fan should even consider picking this up. It’s truly unfortunate because this could have been a wonderful experience with a real fighting engine and some depth. The wealth of battles makes Dragon Ball Z a perfect setting for a fighting game, but it seems that capturing the essence is incredibly difficult.
30%Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z Review
There's a lot good about Battle of Z- unfortunately, that lasts for all of an hour, before the sheen of the beautiful graphics wears off, and you see the game for what it really is- a mindless, shallow fighter.
60%
