The 10 Best Dragon Ball Video Games (And 10 That Are Awful!!)
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Not all Dragon Ball video games are created equal. These are the best and worst ones ever made.
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Even if you aren’t a fan of the series, chances are you’ve played at least one Dragon Ball video game in your lifetime. They’re a staple for just about every generation. The GBA had The Legacy of Goku trilogy, the PS2 had Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi, the PS3 gave us Xenoverse, and we’re going to get FighterZ for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC in just a few weeks. Needless to say, this is a hard series to ignore.
With so many games, generations, and developers to choose from, it’s only natural that the overall quality would be inconsistent, to say the least. For every great game, Dragon Ball has had, there’s been one monstrosity right behind it to remind us that anyone can make a game. Needless to say, as a Dragon Ball fan, you have probably played all of these (even the awful ones). Because, let’s face it, us Dragon Ball fans need to try everything from the franchise under the sun — we’re forever starved for more DBZ content. Get cozy, because you’re about to go on a Grand Tour through ten of best, and worst, Dragon Ball games out there. Take our advice, these games are jaw-dropping from both angles. Power up and get ready!
20 BEST: Burst Limit
Burst Limit has never gotten the credit it’s deserved. It came out early in the PS3’s lifetime when fans weren’t clamoring for another Budokai. Budokai Tenkaichi had been the series mainstay for a few years at that point, and Burst Limit was seemingly serving as a pseudo-remake of Budokai 1. The world just didn’t want Burst Limit. Which is a shame because it’s one of the single best games in the franchise.
It doesn’t have the in-depth customization of the Budokai sub-series, but it makes up for it with a story mode that rivals the original Budokai in terms of presentation and production. Not only do the cutscenes feel right out of the anime, the actual fighting is that fast-paced Budokai combat you know and love. Would capsules have helped? Definitely, but it’s nice to have a “pure” version of Budokai’s combat.
19 WORST: Harukanaru Densetsu
Harukanaru Densetsu has everything it needs to be a good RPG and Dragon Ball Z game. It takes its time going from Raditz to Cell, it offers four different story modes, and its presentation is oozing with charm. When it comes down to it, though, it doesn’t matter how good your presentation is. If your gameplay doesn’t follow suit, the whole experience is going to fall apart at the seams. Harukanaru Densetsu’s biggest problem is simply that it isn’t very fun to play.
A huge chunk of the gameplay boils down to luck. The RPG elements are too basic to feel engaging, but stats and levels are so important in doing well that you’re going to need to do some grinding. Worse yet, playing through the four-story modes is a tedium disguised as a treat. It’s no fun playing through the Saiyan saga as Piccolo and Gohan when both have to endure many of the same stages.
18 BEST: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
I know what you’re thinking, “why isn’t Budokai Tenkaichi 3 here?” I understand where you’re coming from. BT3 has more characters, more stages, and generally just plays a bit better. You could even say it has better customization. I wouldn’t agree with you, but you can say it. Despite all that, there is one unbeatable reason that keeps BT3 from representing the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise: the story mode.
Budokai Tenkaichi 2 has one of the best story modes in the entire series. Chronicling just about every major arc with the same depth you’d find in Budokai 3, BT2 is one of the best ways to experience the DBZ saga. It’s the fact that the story mode takes its time more than anything else that makes it so incredible. You’re not just playing Dragon Ball Z, you’re living it.
17 WORST: Kinect
Speaking of living Dragon Ball Z, DBZ for Kinect definitely makes you feel like you’re living it at times, but it’s more like you’re a Saibaiman destined to blow up than Goku, or Yamcha if you’re lucky. The combat’s shallow, the movements are awkward and downright uncomfortable most of the time, and all the assets are ripped from Raging Blast. DBZ for Kinect might actually be the laziest Dragon Ball video game ever made. The worst part? It comes with the dreaded Episode of Bardock special. As if the game wasn’t bad enough on its own. Surely, this is among the biggest cash grabs in anime history… maybe not.
16 BEST: Budokai 3
Budokai 3 may not have the ludicrous roster found in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, but what it does have is traditional fighting game action, an incredible story mode, and the best customization to grace a DBZ fighter. Pick from any one of your favorite Z-fighters (sans Future Trunks and including Broly and Uub for some reason,) and follow them on an RPG adventure where you can level them up and allocate their stats for high level action.
If story modes aren’t your thing, fret not, there’s a mode where you can level up any character. Unfortunately, Budokai 3 was developed at a time where online wasn’t the norm so you can’t put all your hard work to the rest, but you can trade unique codes to at least fight the AIs of grinded characters. An amazing story mode plus capsule customization equals an unforgettable DBZ game.
15 WORST: The Legacy Of Goku
While it’s excellent in Budokai 3’s case, being unforgettable isn’t always a good thing. Legacy of Goku is an incredibly memorable video game. For all the wrong reasons. It gets the simplest lore details wrong (King Kai teaching Goku the Kamehameha,) it pits the strongest man alive against mooks that can kill him in one hit (try fighting a wolf,) and it skips have of the first two arcs by focusing on a character who’s only in about half the Saiyan and Namek sagas (do I really need to parenthesize this?)
You can’t just make an RPG focusing on the first two arcs of Z and have it focus exclusively on Goku. That’s like trying to adapt the Buu saga from only Vegeta’s perspective. These characters simply aren’t active enough to tell a compelling story. Plus, it’s just boring. Half the fun of this part of the series is the diverse cast.
14 BEST: The Legacy Of Goku II
There does not exist a single game in this franchise that’s a better sequel than The Legacy of Goku II. Better games, yes, but no game comes close to being such a vast improvement over its predecessor as TLoGII does with TLoG. Goku isn’t the only playable character anymore. In fact, he’s barely playable at all! Most of the story is spent playing as Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Trunks with Goku only introduced for the finale.
The RPG elements are vastly improved, with characters having their own builds and movesets. There are actual side quests, the story mode takes its time covering the Android arc, and you can even unlock Mr. Satan. What more could you ask for in a game?
13 WORST: Final Bout
Dragon Ball GT really is destined for failure, isn’t it? Final Bout is a clunky, ugly mess of a game that doesn’t deserve to carry the Dragon Ball name, not unlike a certain anime it’s adapting. Character models are dated and chunky, fighting is tediously slow, and the roster is far from the best when you consider that most of the playable characters are random carryovers from Z. The real worst part about Final Bout, though? This was one of the West’s first introductions to the series. It was released before even Z became a monster hit in English speaking countries. Talk about a depressing first impression.
12 BEST: Super Butoden 2
The time period in between the Cell Games and the start of the Buu saga is one of the franchise’s most interesting. Goku is dead, Gohan is the undisputed protagonist, and there’s a seven-year gap we know little about. It lends itself to a What-If story which is exactly what Super Butoden 2 did.
From right before the start of the Cell Games through a reimagining of the Broly and Bojack films, you can take control of either Gohan, Trunks, Vegeta, or Piccolo and experience a choose your own adventure story DBZ style. Super Butoden 2 is proof you don’t need Goku to tell a good Dragon Ball story.
11 WORST: Budokai 2
If Super Butoden 2 showed us that Goku wasn’t necessary for a good story, Budokai 2 showed us that too much Goku will definitely make for a bad story. Let’s ignore the fact that story mode is basically Mario Party instead of an episodic anime like the first game, forcing Goku into every major event is the single worst thing about Budokai 2.
Part of the fun in DBZ is seeing the other characters shine without Goku. This allows for the cast to grow without orbiting one single character and it makes Goku’s story moments incredibly impactful. You’re glad when he’s around because he’s barely around. When he’s around all the time, the story suffers because no one is challenged.
But for real, that Mario Party board is downright awful.
10 BEST: Hyper Dimension
There are certainly better games in the series than Hyper Dimension, but there are none that are cooler. You have one bar for both health and Ki meaning that you need to think about how to attack, the story mode covers the Freeza fight through the end of Z with some ways to change the story, and the sprites are downright beautiful.
Out of all the games to not be released internationally, Hyper Dimension is arguably the greatest loss. It’s such an interesting game that manages to capture that DBZ feeling without compromising the gameplay. When characters fight, they look right out of the manga. If you ever get the chance to, dig into Hyper Dimension and marvel at its majesty.
9 WORST: Evolution
A fighting game based on a terrible movie is also terrible, what a shocker. If you’ve somehow been blessed enough to never hear about Dragon Ball Evolution, skip to the next entry if you want to remain pure. If you have heard of it, you know it’s the god awful like action Hollywood adaptation of Dragon Ball. Goku’s a bullied teen, Piccolo is the series’ first villain, and the fight choreography is so bad you’ll start to appreciate GT.
Naturally, the fighting game isn’t much better. It’s technically a part of the Budokai series, but it’s nothing like the rest of the games. It doesn’t look like Dragon Ball, it doesn’t feel like Dragon Ball, and the roster is pathetically small. If you want a PSP DBZ game, just play Shin Budokai.
8 BEST: Attack Of The Saiyans
This is the only RPG on this list that actually manages to tell an arc of the series in perfect detail. The others do a good job, but this one doesn’t miss a single beat. Attack of the Saiyans is a traditional JRPG that covers the 23rd Budokai and the Saiyan saga, and it does it magnificently.
The dialogue is ripped right out of the series, scenes aren’t rushed through at all, and filler is added in a way that adds to the game without compromising the story. Characters have their own builds with stats that can be allocated, and there’s even a monster catching side quest to indulge in. Plus, it’s main by the same team that developed Xenoblade. This game was destined for greatness.
7 WORST: Ultimate Battle 22
Ultimate Battle 22 is basically the evil version of Final Bout. It looks good, it sounds good, and it plays to the goodwill or any DBZ fan with a roster that aims to please. Problem is, it’s slow, clunky, and hardly captures the fast paced action that’s made the franchise so iconic. You expect Final Bout to be bad. Ultimate 22 plays with your heart, because there’s that hope that it might actually be good. “It can’t be that bad,” you say as a load screen blocks you from about two minutes of mediocre action. “Surely, it’ll be good,” you try to reason with yourself even though you know beating up Vegeta with Krillin won’t fix your buyer’s remorse.
6 BEST: Advanced Adventure
Let’s get some OG Dragon Ball representation up in here with one of the best beat em’ platformers you’ll find on the GBA. Covering the start of the series up to King Piccolo’s penetration, Advanced Adventure is so good, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for an original IP if you were somehow unfamiliar with one of the most popular mangas of all time. The game design is incredibly tight, the action feels fluid, the sprite work is beautiful, and the story doesn’t skip around all that much.
There’s even some gameplay variety thanks to a built-in 2D fighting engine used for major boss fights and the 21st and 22nd Budokais. Once you beat the game, you’re also given access to just about every single character. Want to replay? Try going through as General Blue or Yamcha! If you haven’t given Advanced Adventure a try, you owe it to yourself to snag a copy.
5 WORST: Transformation
After the success of The Legacy of Goku II and Buu’s Fury, it would only make sense to move onto GT and capitalize on the action RPG glory the series had managed to take hold of. That didn’t happen, of course, as anything focusing on Dragon Ball GT is destined for failure, apparently. Instead of continuing the series as an action RPG, Transformation very abruptly shifts gears to an old school beat em’ up. Keep in mind, this is even though the game was provisionally titled The Legacy of Goku IV.
Goku, Trunks, and Pan spend most of the game meandering through bland stages, punching anything and everything that gets in their ways. In theory, a beat em’ up isn’t bad. Advanced Adventure is a beat em’ up and it’s easily one of the best DB games available. Sadly, Transformation is just lacking the polish and care a good game needs, let alone a Dragon Ball one.
4 BEST: Legendary Super Warriors
Have you ever wanted a DBZ RPG that went all the way from the Saiyan saga to the end of the series? Of course, you have, and you can play it on the GameBoy Color of all things. Legendary Super Warriors is perhaps the most underrated DBZ game out there. It’s a card based RPG that came out while the GBA was making waves, so it was naturally forgotten by the bowels of time. Which is a shame considering it’s downright incredible.
You spend most of the story playing as either Gohan or Goku, but upon beating the game you’re given access to just about every character in the series, each with their own stats. Battles are appropriately difficult for the series it’s adapting and deck building gets you trying out all sorts of strategies for fights you’d fly by in another game. It’s a memorable game with beautiful sprites that’ll really make you feel like you’re in DBZ.
3 WORST: Taiketsu
Taiketsu answers the age old question of whether or not games should be good by deciding that quality control is the least important aspect in developing a video game. Sluggish, ugly, boring, and utterly vapid, Taiketsu is the worst fighting game in a series that wasn’t exactly suffering from a shortage of mediocre fighters. The biggest red flag is, of course, the fact that this is a traditional 2D fighter on the GBA, a handheld that doesn’t exactly lend itself to intricate combos. Not that there are any complicated combos to pull off, though. Taiketsu is a messy reminder that DBZ games weren’t always given the love and care we’re so used to nowadays.
2 BEST: Super Dragon Ball Z
If you’re at all excited for Dragon Ball FighterZ, you owe it to yourself to check out Super Dragon Ball Z. It is, without a doubt, the single best DBZ available when it comes to pure fighting mechanics. Which makes sense as it’s one of the few to be a fighting game first and a Dragon Ball game second. That’s not going to be a big sell for some fans, but trust me when I say that it still manages to capture that Dragon Ball feel.
Every character plays uniquely, something rare for the games in this series, and the roster is genuinely creative with Chichi, Videl, and King Piccolo all faring well against characters like Mecha Freeza, Majin Vegeta, and Fat Buu. It’s a Dragon Ball fighting game that takes a legitimate amount of skill to master and understand. That, in itself, is something special.
1 WORST: Sagas
Sagas was supposed to be the DBZ game, the one to redefine the series entirely. An open world action RPG that covered almost all of Z? Who wouldn’t want that? It seemed too good to be true and, as scenarios like these often are, it was. Sagas came out and it was a disastrous mess. It was riddled with glitches, has a soundtrack so awful it put Faulconer to shame, and the gameplay was so tedious you’d be lucky not to get a headache.
The worst part about Sagas is how it rushes through three of the longest arcs in the series. The Saiyan, Namek, and Android arcs fly by as if Sagas was a bad college essay trying to meet a word count. Maybe we’ll get a proper DBZ game in the style of Sagas someday but, for now, at least, it’s best we all just try to forget this ever existed.
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/10-best-dragon-ball-video-games-10-awful/