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DRAGON DRAGON! ROCK THE DRAGON! DRAGON BALL Z! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! If you’re still playing a Dragon Ball Z game these days, then you most certainly aren’t doing it for the story. After decades of exposure, the Dragon Ball Z saga has pretty much run itself ragged, as players can only throw a spirit bomb at Frieza so many times before the novelty wears off. But what about a game where those infamous battles have been altered, resulting in wildly different outcomes? Is such an idea any good? Surprisingly, yes. Yes it is.

Time is being rewritten. Faces that were meant to be caved in with energy blasts that carry enough power to drill through a planet, are being misplaced. The wrong asses are being kicked, and there are chronal shenanigans afoot. Clearly, somebody is messing with continuity, in a manner that borders on illegal Dragon Ball Z fan-fiction.

And that’s where you come in. Dragon Ball Xenoverse mixes the formula up by asking players to instead create their own Z Warrior, summoned to a place outside of time to assist Trunks and other warriors from history as they seek tor repair time and restore history to the way it was supposed to be. It’s a neat idea, held together by a character customisation tool that allows you to be one of five races: Saiyan, Human, Namekian, Majin or a Frieza clan member. Each race has their own pros and cons, from the Majin having high defense and low stamina, to the Saiyans having a high attack and low health.

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It’s a fairly robust system, with plenty of options to create a character that suits your profile and taste, with further cosmetic customisation options available in the game hub once you’ve progressed far enough and ASCENDED EVEN FURTHER BEYOND. Once you’re ready to rock the dragon, you’ll then get the chance to replay several pivotal moments throughout the Dragon Ball Z saga and beyond, as you punch time back into its regular slate.

It’s something that few Dragon Ball Z games have had, namely a new plot to engage in, and it’s an overall neat package that does an adequate job of setting up which character deserves a fireball in the face, whether it be series antagonists such as Cell and Frieza or even former allies turned villains. Of course setting up the battle is one thing, but following through is an entirely different matter all together.

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And compared to previous Dragon Ball Z games such as Burst Limit and Ultimate Tenkaichi, the combat is much, much better. It’s not too dissimilar from the last game, Battle Of Z, but it’s mercifully also devoid of needing OVER 9000 button inputs in order to throw out something as simple as a Kame-Hame-Ha wave attack. Combat is fully integrated into all three dimensions, with players zipping around in the sky as they throw out simple combos which evolve into massive attacks that can devastate a planet over time, earning new skills and abilities along the way. Fast-paced and over the top, the combat still requires some 3D thinking in order to progress beyond being a simple button-masher and find the real depth hidden within it.

While Dragon Ball XenoVerse is still very much a fighting game at its core, said core now also boasts some RPG features. In fact, this isn’t even THE FINAL FORM OF THIS GAME.

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It’s very much Destiny Ball Z now, as the game has a foothold in an online space of action games. You’ve got a hub to explore, TokiToki City, that connects you to other players from around the world with quests, tournaments and general get-togethers. It’s here where players can take a break from the usual action, and stock up on various items and equipment, tackling other quests in order to rack up some much-needed XP to grow their skills. Merchants are everywhere, and custom player creations populate TokiToki City. The game also makes use of your own avatar while you’re offline, sending it randomly into parallel quests as an optional mini-boss, who can earn you some experience and other rewards when you’re not playing. It’s a pretty cool feature overall.

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That’s not to say that this game isn’t without some problems, stemming from a various Japanese design. Some of these are cosmetic, but other times you’ll find yourself stuck in a corner thanks to an irritable camera, or having to grind your way through optional quests in order to survive a main quest. The online side of the game also needs some tweaking, as servers are irritable right now before the European launch of XenoVerse. The learning curve can also be a tad bit steep, as the game prefers to throw an infographic your way rather than hold your hand and properly show you the ropes. Likewise with the AI, which makes your AI more worthless than Yamcha sometimes.

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But sweet Shenron, is XenoVerse is a gorgeous game. Characters pop, battle scenes are truly epic and the action never skips a frame and characters look like they’ve been ripped straight out of the original comic books and anime series. The backgrounds could still use some work, as could the idea of destructible environments, but XenoVerse is still the kind of game that will make you imagine that you’ve just taken a SOLAR FLARE attack to the face. Coupled with a catchy soundtrack, iconic voice-acting and some truly breath-taking animations, and the game has a rather solid feel to it, even if it doesn’t nail every single idea it throws at players, on the head.

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Last Updated: February 26, 2015

Dragon Ball XenoVerse
Dragon Ball Z is off to a solid start this generation, with XenoVerse. There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but fans are going to find plenty to love with the latest chapter in this long-running saga that tells the same story but with a different spin.
7.5
Dragon Ball XenoVerse was reviewed on PlayStation 4
69 / 100

62 Comments

  1. I forgot about that time travel thing in the story. Aight, defs picking this up.

    Reply

    • SargonTheBatpandaOfAkkad

      February 26, 2015 at 16:04

      Is there a campaign map? 😛

      Reply

      • PolygonFighter

        February 28, 2015 at 04:22

        Well, the entire game menu is a HUB world, so I guess that might count.

        Reply

  2. Admiral Chief

    February 26, 2015 at 15:09

    tl;dr

    Reply

  3. Hammersteyn

    February 26, 2015 at 15:10

    You and three AI players fighting a Giant Ape Vegeta. Sounds more like Evolve.

    Reply

  4. Umar

    February 26, 2015 at 15:13

    Damn man, that all sounds amazing, I can live with the shoddy camera. Was actually worried the combat would suck as the free roam combat doesn’t have a good track record….Also….All dem DBZ references in this review lol Throwing in some final forms mixed with Yamcha insults lol Best review.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      February 26, 2015 at 15:14

      “But sweet Shenron” my favourite of the lot really. Gotta love that dragon.

      Reply

      • Viking Of Science

        February 26, 2015 at 15:20

        “I don’t know what a Yamcha is, but it sounds a lot like Raditz” – Vegeta, DBZ Abridged

        Reply

  5. RinceThis

    February 26, 2015 at 15:15

    • Admiral Chief

      February 26, 2015 at 15:22

      This, this is satisfying to watch!
      Such speed, such agility, such grace!

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 26, 2015 at 15:23

        And a better story than Dragon Ball XenoVerse…

        Reply

        • Starlare

          February 27, 2015 at 16:37

          Haha loser

          Reply

    • Splooshypooh

      February 26, 2015 at 15:22

      Wow… This match is LOOOOOONG. Cant wait to see who finally wins!

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 26, 2015 at 15:23

        Keep watching! The ending is AMAZING! Such a catch!

        Reply

        • Splooshypooh

          February 26, 2015 at 15:24

          I’ll BET! 😀

          Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 26, 2015 at 15:26

      What words did you google to get this?

      cat, ping pong, trick?

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 26, 2015 at 15:28

        Shhh, it’s a secret. Also NO 😛

        Reply

    • Splooshypooh

      February 26, 2015 at 15:31

      My future…

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 26, 2015 at 15:34

        HAHAHAHAH! At least the culprit who posted the gif wasn’t mentioned… Innocent I says!

        Reply

        • Splooshypooh

          February 26, 2015 at 15:37

          One cat gif and my head explodes!

          Reply

    • Guest

      April 17, 2015 at 05:14

      Retard…

      Reply

  6. Pariah

    February 26, 2015 at 15:15

    Also, isn’t it 5 races, not 4? O_o

    Or is the Frieza clan not considered a race?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 26, 2015 at 15:16

      Darryn’s racist 😛

      Reply

      • Pariah

        February 26, 2015 at 15:16

        He chose to play as a Frieza clan member. 😛

        Reply

    • Umar

      February 26, 2015 at 15:17

      Yup, Frieza’s Clan/Race

      Reply

      • Umar

        February 26, 2015 at 15:17

        Oh misread, doh!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          February 26, 2015 at 15:17

          LEL!

          Reply

          • Thats_how_I_Troll

            March 2, 2015 at 11:38

            *LOL
            ;P

  7. ReaperOfSquirrels

    February 26, 2015 at 15:16

    I will be getting this… too bad can’t get a hard copy for PC… looks like it’s only through Steam.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      February 26, 2015 at 15:18

      Eh, I’m fine with digital, as long as it works on day 1.

      Reply

      • Jack

        February 26, 2015 at 23:47

        Check my above post please
        Your suggestion would be grateful
        🙂

        Reply

    • Jack

      February 26, 2015 at 23:46

      what do you use for buying games on steam?
      (Need a reliable method)

      Reply

  8. Pieter Kruger

    February 26, 2015 at 15:16

    Not my monkeys, not my circus….

    Reply

  9. Matthew Holliday

    February 26, 2015 at 15:23

    interesting that it still manages to bring in some GT with super android 17
    but im more interested in:
    http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/d/d2/Dbz_movie_2015_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141121010716

    these modern movies, with their super fresh animation, pretty much does the series justice.

    Reply

    • The D

      February 26, 2015 at 15:55

      Considering how much fun Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of The Gods was, I’m amped for this flick.

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        February 26, 2015 at 17:40

        battle of gods was good, yeah, but i was more like “ermagurd, dbz never looked so good”
        and anything for more dbz.

        they could have done with less glossy lighting on people though, dunno about you, but my skin doesnt shine like that.

        also want better choreographed fights, more like the cell vs goku match and less “bang bang KAMEHAMEHA”

        Reply

      • Norm

        February 27, 2015 at 12:19

        So if someone had to buy a DBZ game for the first time, you would recommend this one?

        Reply

  10. Dutch Matrix

    February 26, 2015 at 15:26

    Whose the blue girl in the red tights?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 26, 2015 at 15:31

      Wait? You’re interested in DBZ???
      http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Towa

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 26, 2015 at 15:33

        Dude, I see a sexy woman in skintight uhhhh tights and I am interested…

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 26, 2015 at 15:33

          XD wiki page will tell you all.

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 26, 2015 at 15:35

            On second thought, I see she has Beelzebub as a nephew.
            So… Lisa Hayes will forever be my Anime crush…

  11. Blood Emperor Trevor

    February 26, 2015 at 15:30

    How do you tell the difference between the bad fan-fiction and the official fiction? O_o

    Reply

    • Umar

      February 26, 2015 at 15:31

      Bad fan fiction almost always start with tentacles or gender swaps.

      Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      February 26, 2015 at 15:37

      Bad fan-fiction: Written by Umar below the story title.

      Reply

      • Umar

        February 26, 2015 at 15:48

        LOL Damn you!

        Reply

    • Melucine

      March 2, 2015 at 19:18

      Bad will become a book, sells thousands and then it will be a movie

      Reply

  12. Wheatbix

    February 26, 2015 at 17:36

    Just off hand i cant seem to find anywhere to buy/pre-order a Physical copy of the game for PC within SA, tried the main guys, i.e: Kalahari and Takealot and a few others to no avail, does anyone have a link to where i can do this?

    Reply

    • Jack

      February 26, 2015 at 23:32

      its digital only :/
      Not sure how am I going to get this still new to steam 🙁

      Reply

      • Underboss

        February 27, 2015 at 02:11

        Store tab, Search for “Xenoverse”, and hit the “Buy” button. Make sure you have a credit card, or Visa Gift Card, or something.

        Reply

  13. RiotJavelinDX

    February 26, 2015 at 23:41

    You said there are four races and proceeded to list five

    Reply

  14. Navy-Bound Gantz

    February 27, 2015 at 03:23

    What does this have to do with Goten

    Reply

  15. shantanu

    February 27, 2015 at 03:27

    The best Dragon Ball game comes and become unavailable in my region on steam. Sad for me.

    Reply

  16. Gidians Wife

    February 27, 2015 at 20:59

    Does anyone know how to super sayian up a created character??

    Reply

    • LUFFY

      March 1, 2015 at 13:24

      buy it in the shop after the android saga, costs 40 000 zeni

      Reply

  17. this game sucks

    February 28, 2015 at 00:38

    The team AI is the most worthless POS in any game ever. Beating this game is impossible strictly for the fact that you do no damage to enemies without grinding for 10 Character levels every 1 story mode level, meanwhile goku (who you need alive or you fail) Dies in 1 hit from a special attack and you have to start all over again. This is nothing short of a remake of that horrible DBO Korean MMO that you did the same exact thing in this game. Grind grind grind grind grind grind and guess what? GRIND! Akira Toriyama should sue them for making this travesty.

    Reply

  18. Zane Howcott

    February 28, 2015 at 06:53

    Rock the dragon song lol hahaha. Had that in my head today when thinking of the game and this was the first article I found about a review.

    Reply

  19. LUFFY

    February 28, 2015 at 12:41

    buuuuut the servers are down

    Reply

  20. Damian Krawczyk

    May 31, 2015 at 21:26

    Hello available is already full, revised version of the PC .. played it and I’m very pleased;) Provides a link to the page manager;) is still a possibility to download the ISO image but strongly recommend Manager. LINK: http://gamerspecial.com/dragon-ball-xenoverse-pc/ 😉

    Reply

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