Throughout the last few years, the Dragon Ball Z games have been on the decline despite their relatively good sales. The gameplay mechanics and core elements have been lackluster at best and fans were beginning to wonder if there was any hope left for games set in the Dragon Ball universe. I can say in all genuity that yes, there is hope, as Atari delivers what could potentially be the best Dragon Ball title yet: Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit.
Gameplay 9.0
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is fast paced, action-packed fighter featuring good and evil characters from the Dragon Ball Z universe such as Cell, Krillin, Goku, and Piccolo. The battles take place through a variety of familiar environments from the anime and don’t seclude you to fighting on just the ground like most other fighters. During combat, there are specific moves that can be performed that will send your opponent soaring upwards through the air where you can then follow, taking the battle to the sky. It’s a very interesting concept that prevents the combat growing old and boring.
The fighting mechanics are developed really well and keep combatants moving at lightning speed. You may at first find it to be a bit overwhelming, but after only a few matches and getting a good feel of the controls, you’ll be quite capable of keeping up to speed. The battle system is deep but simplistic, which is excellent for this game as it allows the combat to flow smoothly.
To win a fight, you must deplete your opponents energy from the energy gage at the top of the screen. This is done, of course, by beating your opponent into submission. There are a variety of attacks such as Super Attacks, Ultimate Attacks, and Vanishing Attacks. With the use of Dragon Pieces, it’s even possible to call in a partner to temporarily aid you. What your partner does though, however, is completely dependent on the type of Drama Piece that is equipped before the battle begins.
There are several game modes available that help you to train in combat, learn the fighting mechanics, battle against a friend (local or Xbox LIVE) or the computer, and the most important of all, the Z Chronicles. Z Chronicles is a single player mode that allows you to relive some of the greatest moments in the Dragon Ball Z universe. Basically, you play as a specific character in a variety of different scenarios. Sometimes you will be the good guy and other times the bad. There is more than just the battles here as well. You are also treated to familiar cutscenes from the anime that feature the original voice actors, helping the experience significantly. The only disappointing factor about the Z Chronicles is the repeating of some cutscenes in different scenarios.
Graphics 9.5
Atari did an outstanding job of blending the anime of the series with the core gameplay, which is probably the most impressive feat. The visuals are surreal and immersive, allowing any who play to feel like they’re literally a part of the game and show itself. The environments are quite colorful which is something this generation of gaming has significantly lacked, so its refreshing to be able to see more than just ‘black and grey’ for a change. The cutscenes are remarkable and will please any hardcore Dragon Ball fan to the fullest.
Sound 8.5
Musically, Burst Limit lacks in this area. While the intro song is quite good and faithful to those who enjoy listening in Japanese, the rest of the music in the game lacks variety and can grow old rather quickly. It would have been nice to hear more from the anime and less of the same. The rest of the sound is relatively good though. It’s certainly nice to hear the our favorite characters voiced by the original actors, even though the dialogue can be cheesy at times. And the punches, kicks, and screams are performed good as well.
Control 9.0
The control system is both deep and simplistic, which is surprising for a game that relies on button mashing combos. Anyone who has ever played Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur, or even Killer Instinct know that fighters that rely heavily on combos can seem very overwhelming. DBZ: BL manages to prevent this by making the combos easily rememberable. There is even an in-depth tutorial that makes learning how to combat simple and fun!
Replay Value 9.0
Sure, it’s a fighter. Generally fighters can grow tiresome and boring in no time, but in the rare occasion you come across one that can hold its ground for quite some time. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is one of those ‘rare occasions’ and manages to grasp the genre in a positive manner that will keep you coming back for more and more. And with the inclusion of online play via Xbox LIVE, the replayability factor is upped significantly.
Overall 9.0 out of 10
Overall, Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is an excellent fighter and the best Dragon Ball to be released in years. If Atari can keep up the pace and continue to push out DBZ games of this caliber, then the overall impression of the series as video games will continue to increase. Even if you’re not a fan of the anime, this is a game that I highly recommend nonetheless. Who knows? Perhaps it’ll even inspire you to watch the show sometime! With it’s lightning fast gameplay, astounding visuals, and great (but cheesy) dialogue, it could potentially preoccupy you for years to come.
