Here we are again, another year has passed and another Dragon Ball game is released. The fan voted title of "Ultimate Tenkaiichi" is very misleading, as this is not a tenkaiichi/sparkling game. After 6 Tenkaiichi-like games, is this change for the better?
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| "Don't worry Ma'am, I'm from Fan Fiction!" |
Story: This game plays through two story modes, the first being dedicated to the DBZ history. Like Kai, the game starts with Bardock's betrayal against Freeza. If you like the new Kai-like animation and voice actors, you'll settle right into this game. If you are a Kai hater, you'll have to deal with it or turn it to Japanese. Story plays out normally starting with the Saiyan's approach to the end of GT and the questionable battle against Omega Shenron. The second mode allows you to create your own warrior, with limited choices at start. With only 3 styles, 3 haircuts (Goku-like, Vegeta SSJ3-like, and Bald), and only a handful of costumes you start out looking like a Chinese Knock-Off "Dragoon Ball" figure you'd find at a swap meet. Work your way though a sometimes comical though sometimes annoying hero mode to unlock new haircuts, costumes, auras, and super moves. Eventually even being able to unlock the ability to transform into a Super Saiyan yourself! Screw Cannon, Kaji's going SSJ!
All in all, Hero & History modes are great for long time fans and even new fans. The original story's retelling is well done with either new animation or in-game models acting out parts. Little changes such as Goku grabbing onto Raditz last second are great, but turning around and having Raditz down on one-knee while proclaiming that there will be more Saiyans one year from now coming doesn't look right. Hero mode's story sometimes seems like a bad fanfiction, but at the same time feels like a good play on the DBZ universe. Within a few fights you'll run into things like fighting Captain Ginyuu for leader of the Ginyuu Force to helping Androids #17 & #18 finding out that protecting each other is a very human thing to be doing. 4/5
The Look: This game looks fantastic. Absolutely the best looking game to date with lush colors sweeping the battle field to very detailed character design. Wear-and-tear on characters returns as the battles become longer and blasts look fantastic in this game. Just charging your energy on the ground makes for a great looking scene. Some of the cutscenes could of used a little work as the mouth movement sometimes feels unnatural in both languages. I won't knock it down a whole point for such a little thing though. 4.5/5
The Sound: The music here is what we've come to expect in a DBZ game. Soft rock mixed in with a little heavy rock and the occasional Cha-La-Head-Cha-La playing during times when you are at full power is welcoming. The music everywhere else is boring and uneventful. What is seriously wrong with Okatron 2000? Even the characters sound phoned in, and not just the English actors. Even the Japanese cast isn't as provoking as I'd of hoped for. Then again, saying the same line for 20 years probably would get to me as well. Anyone remember the "Up, and Atom" line from the Simpsons? Or any line from the Simpsons for that matter? 1/5
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| Most non fans would assume this is a canon DB character. |
The Feel: Even though it's being sold as a Tenkaiichi game, don't let it fool you. The game plays more like an update of Burst Limit mixed with a little of the old Dragon Ball Z Densetsu/Legends game. The control itself is no more complicated then a SNES game. Simple commands will allow you to pull off combos with a button tap or super moves with a slight movement of the right stick. The game comes down to three mini-game type strategies.
First two will either be a melee battle where you will find yourself trying to combo, block, dodge, or break a block while using the main three buttons. Long range battle is more of the same except you're blasting with energy replacing combos. Both leader into the next mini-game I like to call "I'll pick a button, you'll pick a button. If you guessed right, you win! If I guess right, you'll suffer a lot of damage!" The game comes down to quick-time events and mini-game like button smashing. This isn't terrible though. A little refining could of made this pretty epic, but at least it's simple enough to have as a party game. No where near as complicated as the controls were in Raging Blast 2. Good for large groups, but the game itself starts to feel bland once you've played for about 30min. 3/5
The Filling: If you're a completest, this game should keep you well handled for some time. With a story mode, three different types of heroes to make for hero mode, and all of the normal DBZ game stuff such as museum collection and VS mode online and local player you should be kept pretty busy. I, myself will have a hard time keeping time on this game as I get really bored with the fighting about 45 minutes into game. For the most part this game can keep you busy. Although, there is something deeply lacking in this game but who can add more to a fighting game? I did not have internet on my PS3 at the time to test online mode, so I won't judge that at this current time. 4/5.
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| Why did Bojack fused with Gohan and steal Broly's pants?! |
Overview: Overall this isn't a terrible DBZ game, as that award goes to Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu for the GBA. It's also not the best, as I gave that award to Tenkaiichi 3. For hard core fighting game types, this isn't for you. Casual DBZ gamers and even family and friends are welcome to play this game. The simple controls would allow a father to have an even fight against his 10 year old daughter, or having friends over who don't have time to learn how to dodge, teleport, and pull off super moves. I'll definitely look at purchasing this game in the near future, but for now it goes back to GameFly! Total: 3.3/5
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| Sure, Bardock. I guess so.. |
