Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 - PS4

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Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PS4)
Viewed: Combination Combination Genre:
Beat 'Em Up
Compilation
Media: Blu-Ray Arcade origin:No
Developer: Arc System Works Soft. Co.: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Publishers: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment UK (GB)
Released: 9 Nov 2018 (GB)
Ratings: PEGI 12+
Accessories: DualShock 4 Vibration function
Connectivity: PlayStation Plus, Remote Play
Features: 1080p, 720p, 1080i

Summary

Dragon Ball FighterZ

What do you get when you cross a blockbuster manga and anime that hinges on world-shattering fights with one of the most accomplished 2D beat-'em-up developers working today? That would be Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Dragon Ball has been amassing a global fanbase for decades now, pitting heroes such as Goku, Piccolo and Gohan against villains such as Cell and Frieza in epic super-powered battles. Arc System Works, meanwhile, has made it's name with hardcore beat-'em-ups such as the BlazBlue series and Guilty Gear.

If that sounds like a recipe for a fighter that only seasoned veterans of the beat-'em-up scene will be able to handle, however, think again. While there's certainly plenty on offer for those guys at the more technical end of the difficulty curve, Arc has taken steps to make sure it's accessible for Dragon Ball fans less versed in high end brawlers. The control scheme, for example, is stripped back compared to more technical beat-'em-ups. There are less input commands to pull off moves and, while there are certainly manual combos to be learned, newcomers can fall back on auto combos while they get their feet wet.

Similarly, the input commands are universal. So, for example, the same button press that makes Goku fire his legendary energy blast allows Captain Ginyu to summon the other members of his squad to attack. That means that while you have three fighters on your bench for any given fight, you won't have to have learned them all from scratch.

Perhaps even more important than all that, however, is the way Arc System Works has matched the anime in terms of pure spectacle. Going Super Sayan will make you feel just as powerful as it ought to. What Dragon Ball fan could ask for more?!

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

Building on the success of the first Xenoverse game, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 looks to dig right back into the madness that exposed a whole generation of fans not just to Dragon Ball Z, but to anime as a whole.

It's safe to say that the game is built to tap into the nostalgia many anime fans feel for Dragon Ball Z's first explosion onto our screens in the '90s. Xenoverse 2 has a gloriously silly premise - a group of baddies have shown up with the intention of travelling through time to ensure that our heroes lose at every turn, wreaking havoc on the timeline. It's your job, as a member of an elite group of Time Patrollers, to travel back and stop them.

It is, in essence, an excuse to revisit some of the greatest moments in Dragon Ball history, and the game jumps at the opportunity. The result is a gloriously over the top rumble RPG in which you get to create your own character and take part in some of the most iconic fights in the storied franchise.

The game stays fairly true to the style of the series, meaning that unlike more traditional beat-'em-ups such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, fights take place in 3D arenas and can involve multiple fighters at once. Another key difference is the fact that right from the start your character is gifted with powers that would give Superman a run for his money. You'll be able to fly, fire off energy balls, punch through steel and teleport to your heart's content.

Beyond the single-player campaign, the game of course offers extensive multiplayer options including basic versus, royal rumbles and co-op-based big-boss battles.

For Dragon Ball Z fans, Xenoverse 2 is a truly iconic game.