As a huge Dragon Ball fan, it always felt like the series was made to be a video game. The characters all look so unique, the fights are completely wild, and the whole world is just over the top – it all translates perfectly! It’s awesome that since 1986, we’ve gotten over 70 different games, letting us play through everything from the original series all the way up to the latest stuff in Dragon Ball Super. Being able to play as your favorite characters is just the best.
When it comes to well-made fighting games, Dragon Ball FighterZ truly shines. Launched on January 26, 2018, it expertly combined precise controls with a faithful recreation of the Dragon Ball universe. Even now, nearly a decade later, it’s considered one of the best games in the entire series. As the franchise prepares to explore new territory with titles like Dragon Ball Project AGE 1000, it’s a good time to remember what made FighterZ so successful.
Dragon Ball FighterZ Is Top-Tier Fighting Games At Their Most Entertaining
Developed by Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ is widely considered one of the best video game adaptations of the Dragon Ball series and remains a top choice for fans. Originally released in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, it later came to the Nintendo Switch. The game, created by the team behind Guilty Gear Xrd, features a surprisingly complex fighting system. It combines the team-based battles of Marvel vs. Capcom with the fast-paced action of Guilty Gear, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes.
While staying true to the core of fighting games, FighterZ successfully builds on the genre to create a unique experience. Unlike other Dragon Ball games that use fully 3D environments, FighterZ employs a refined 2.5D fighting system. The game boasts a large and expanding character roster – nearly doubled with downloadable content – drawing from across the entire Dragon Ball Z saga, as well as later series like Dragon Ball Super and movies like Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Tomoko Hiroki, having previously worked on Dragon Ball fighting games, wanted to capture the anime’s dynamic team battles with a tag-team system. The game succeeds thanks to its polished presentation and gameplay. Combat feels precise and responsive, with special moves like Vanish Attacks and Ki Blasts fitting seamlessly into the fighting game style. The visuals and animation stay true to the Dragon Ball art style, creating a more authentic experience than previous games.
The Android 21 Saga Works Really Well As A Dragon Ball Story
What makes Dragon Ball FighterZ so captivating is that it doesn’t simply retell familiar stories. Many Dragon Ball games focus on iconic anime moments, and some of the best, like Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, even create alternate timelines and storylines. FighterZ, however, offers a completely new story that still feels true to the established Dragon Ball universe. The game is set within the Dragon Ball Super timeline and introduces Android 21 as the new head of the Red Ribbon Army.
Android 21 uses an army of clones and revived villains to trap Earth’s heroes, all while battling her own inner darkness. The story draws on familiar elements from classic Dragon Ball adventures, exploring ideas about heroism, revenge, and the struggle between good and evil. It even revisits the idea of redemption, featuring Android 16 – once a villain, now an ally – prominently in the plot. The game cleverly finds a way to include all the beloved characters in the fighting action without disrupting the series’ established storyline. It’s a complex task, but the game pulls it off with the same energy and appeal that fans have come to expect from Dragon Ball.
Why Dragon Ball FighterZ Is The Best DBZ Game
Upon its release, Dragon Ball FighterZ was a hit with both critics and players, earning consistently high scores. It currently holds a Metacritic score between 85 and 87, making it the best-reviewed Dragon Ball video game ever made. Professional players praised the game’s precise and well-designed gameplay, which helped it stand out from other fighting games. While the online experience and a few character balances (specifically Android 21’s second form) received some criticism, the game’s overall positive reception led to multiple awards.
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a huge success, selling over 10 million copies in 2023 alone – and that was before the game was even updated for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S! It quickly became a favorite among fighting game enthusiasts thanks to its unique characters and precise controls. For Dragon Ball fans, it offered the chance to experience iconic battles from the series, with exciting new characters and team combinations that felt like a real treat. For those who love both fighting games and Dragon Ball, FighterZ remains a standout title, even surpassing other Dragon Ball games released in the last ten years.
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2026-01-29 02:40