Games

Innovative Additions To Dragon Ball Games

Published

3 months ago

October 12, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

Dragon Ball games offer diverse experiences beyond just fighting, adapting aspects of the anime like environmental destruction and parallel quests.
Mechanics like Impact Break and Beam Struggle amplify the anime’s dramatic essence, making battles more engaging and dynamic.
Character customization and EX Fusion in games like Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Fusions provide unlimited possibilities for players to create unique warriors.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime that transitions very well into the gaming market. Its high compatibility with games works well with its influential, animated martial arts and explosive combat. So few animes could have as much opportunities and potential as Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball has evolved with tons of video games granting diverse experiences. Developers not only focus on the IP’s fighting aspect but everything else around it. Some try to encapsulate the dramatic feel and speed of Dragon Ball while others expand the interactions and worlds. What matters the most is how certain features emanate the vibes of Dragon Ball, making the experiences more engaging and unique.

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9 Impact Break

Dramatic Super Moves

Game: Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi

Released: October 25, 2011

Developer: Spike

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

The Impact Break system helps to weigh the impactful attacks in Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi. The system allows the fighter to damage huge sections of the environment by using a signature ki blast on the opponent. It helps to make the battles more exaggerated and thematic, especially with its anime shots.

What makes this system very impactful are the camera angles and aftermath. The perspective changes similar to the show, catching different angles of the attacker before shifting focus to the defender. The defender can react depending on his current ki gauge. Once the ki super ends, the camera showcases the destruction, revealing the strength of the attack. If the opponent was in the blast, they are left concerned and bruised in the crater or trail of destruction.

8 Area Destruction

A Force To Be Reckon With

Dragon Ball: The Breakers

Released: October 14, 2022

Area Destruction is an essential option for Raiders to rain their dominance on the map in Dragon Ball Z The Breakers. It’s available after the raider gets enough energy to transform into a higher-ranked form. The most traditional method is to kill a civilian or survivor. The more unique methods depend on each raider, whether through automated time, taking damage, or using certain moves.

Once the raider transforms into a stronger form, Area Destruction is immediately accessible. This allows the raider to jump unreachably high on the map and scout each area before choosing which to obliterate. It takes a while to charge, though it limits the survivors’ grounds and resources. It’s perfect for showing the destructive force of a Dragon Ball villain.

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7 Environmental Feature

Adapt To Surroundings

Game: Dragon Ball Z Raging Blast

Released: November 10, 2009

Developer: Spike

Publisher: Bandai Namco

Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3

An environmental feature is introduced in Dragon Ball Z Raging Blast to utilize the surroundings more often. Fighters can knock their opponent into the wall or ground, burying them in the environment. It’s a common situation that makes the fighter more vulnerable such as Goku being pressured by Majin Vegeta during Majin Buu’s Revival.

This mechanic relies on environmental awareness since its great rewards benefit either fighter. It’s a faithful inclusion that allows players to continue their advantage and extend damage with combos.

6 Sonic Sway

Light Speed Interaction

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

Systems

Released: November 9, 2007
Publisher(s): Namco Bandai , Atari
Developer(s): Spike

Sonic sway is one of the new defensive mechanics in Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3. It allows the user to dodge the opponent’s quick attacks with little effort as if they’re in the Matrix. It’s similar to how Goku and Perfect Cell attack each other while dodging at light speed. As punishment during the animation, the opponent’s ki is drained as they continue whiffing their attacks. What’s worse is the attacker is left open for a counterattack.

The defense option is helpful, though its use is limited. It can only work against light melee attacks, which makes the user vulnerable to strong smash or rush attacks. It requires reading and predicting the opponent’s plan.

5 Character Customization

Create Yourself In Dragon Ball

Released: February 24, 2015

Players can personally engage in the Dragon Ball timeline through character customization in Dragon Ball Xenoverse. Players can use one of five canonical races designed with different combos and traits. Each race has unique equipment, especially transformation forms like the Namekian giant form or Majin kid buu form.

The greatest customization option is configuring the skills. Skills are acquired in a few ways, whether through the shops, mission completions, or mentorships. Familiar characters can become mentors who teach players skills and transformations or assist them during battle. Players can socialize with heroes, villains, and even the champion. With these amounts of options, players can create their ideal warrior through appearance and combat.

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4 Beam Struggle

The Hype Of Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3

Systems

Released: November 16, 2004
Publisher(s): Namco Bandai , Atari

Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 is one of the earlier games that feature the most essential aspect of Dragon Ball, beam struggle. This mechanic occurs when two fighters use ki-based beams simultaneously at each other. When the ki beams clash, players must mash on their analog sticks to win the struggle. The losing player takes damage while the winner takes the struggle’s glory.

Beam struggle is one of the most casual fun additions that isn’t too common in the modern market. One of the major reasons is it’s anti-competitive, being unbalanced in tournament play. It’s been omitted since developers are making more competitive games for veteran players like Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Fighterz. Competition does help video games last longer, though beam clashes are still one of the most hype interactions for anyone.

3 Open World

Emphasis On Peace

Released: January 16, 2020

What makes Dragon Ball Z Kakarot very different from other Dragon Ball games is its open world. Many Dragon Ball games focus on the major battles for Goku and the Z-Fighters, but never the events before or after the fights. Various activities are available between the canonical battles, giving players a peaceful break. The world is vast with familiar characters to interact such as Eighter, Nam, Bulma, Z-Fighters, and so much more.

This inclusion works well with its current DLC stories, letting players explore faithfully crafted worlds. Each DLC brings a new experience with its new activities, including side quests, training grounds, and battling armies of aliens, androids, or criminals.

2 Parallel Quests

The Ever-Changing Timelines

Released: October 25, 2016

The Parallel Quests system is the most effective way to set up different interactions in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Parallel quests are missions for the players to complete within the Dragon Ball timeline. Some dark force is interfering with certain events, forcing the need for time patrollers to assist. It allows the players to witness canonical events and what-if situations when exploring different timelines.

The grand developer support for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has widened the margins of parallel quests, allowing players to experience events up to Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. There’s even an original These missions usually require taking down targets, whether normal fighters or giant beasts. A secret event or battle can occur when fulfilling hidden conditions, granting more interactions and rewards.

1 EX Fusion

Ultimate Fusion Method

Dragon Ball Fusions

Systems

Released: November 22, 2016
Developer: Ganbarion

EX Fusion is a main mechanic that widens limitless potential in Dragon Ball Fusions. EX fusion is a unique technique that allows two fighters to fuse as one stronger warrior. It’s very similar to the potara fusion since it requires the fighters to wear an accessory, but it also needs the fighters to do the fusion dance to activate. EX Fusion’s major difference from the two fusions is its permanent time limit. The only way to defuse is to remove the fusion gauntlet, the metamo-ring.

Another difference is its unrestricted limitations. There’s no consequence for the fighters to fuse with different power levels or races. Anyone can use EX Fusion freely, building a wide cast of fusion characters like Gohanks, Karoly, Prillin, Vegehanks, and more. It gives a lot for the players to discover different combinations, becoming one of the best additions to Dragon Ball.