Super Dragon Ball Z
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| Super Dragon Ball Z | |
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| Developer(s) | Crafts & Meister |
| Publisher(s) | Bandai (JP) Atari (US) |
| Release date(s) | December 22, 2005 (JP arcade) June 29, 2006 (JP PS2) July 18, 2006 (US PS2) July 28, 2006 (AU PS2) |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single Player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | DVD-ROM (PS2) |
Super Dragon Ball Z is a cel-shaded 3D fighting video game, originally released in Japanese arcades (December 22, 2005) running on System 246 hardware, and later for the PlayStation 2 (Japan: June 29, 2006; US, July 18, 2006; AU, July 21, 2006). The game was developed by Crafts & Meister, headed by Noritaka Funamizu (responsible in part for Street Fighter II). The game features 18 playable characters, destructable environments, and a game engine geared towards fans of more traditional fighting games.
The game sold 95,082 units in the first week of its release in Japan (placing its rank at #2 in the software sales in Japan for that week, second only to Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros.). The game received a rating of 4.5/5 from GamePro, as well as Editor's Choice,[1] a 7.3/10 from GameSpot,[2] and another 7.4/10 from IGN, along with Runner Up for "Best Fighting Game on the PS2 at E3"[3].
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[edit] Name
The official name of the game continues to come under debate, despite it being written and literally spoken aloud within the game. When the game was initially announced[4], all that had been released was a title, and primarily on English-language websites. A logo for the game was later released, which spelled out the title as 超ドラゴンボールZ chō doragonbōru zetto. However, the furigana below the 超 chō reads out スーパー sūpā (or the English word super). Since furigana is intended to provide a pronunciation of the kanji, whether or not it is an accurate "translation" of that word, this would be the correct pronunciation.
Note that this parallels the phrase 超サイヤ人 sūpā saiyajin, in which the kanji 超 chō is written with furigana that directs the reader to pronounce the word as スーパー sūpā.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Immediately Playable Characters (Arcade & Home Versions)
- Son Gohan (Cell arc) <Can turn Super Saiyan 2>
- Krillin
- Android 18
- Freeza (Final Form)
- Son Goku <Can turn Super Saiyan>
- (Future) Trunks <Can turn Super Saiyan>
- Cell (Perfect)
- Vegeta <Can turn Super Saiyan>
- Chi-Chi
- Piccolo
- Android 16
- Android 17
- Majin Buu (Good / Mr. Buu) (Home Version only)
[edit] Unlockable Characters (Home Version Only)
- Son Gohan (Buu arc; Kaiōshin outfit; two interchangeable swords)
- Videl
- Mecha Freeza
- Piccolo Daimaō
- Majin Vegeta
[edit] Gameplay
Shifting away from the gameplay of recent series such as the Dragon Ball Z / Budokai and Sparking! games, Super DragonBall Z brings its style back to a more traditional formula made famous with the Capcom, SNK, etc. games of the 1990s.
"Fireball motions" and their ilk provide the majority of special move inputs, along with "dial-a-combos" (as seen in Mortal Kombat 3 and the Tekken series) for closer, hand-to-hand combat. Some characters (Son Goku, Son Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, etc.) have brief power-ups into their Super Saiyan forms. Characters have "super moves", throws, juggles, dashes, etc. that can trace their routes back to these earlier 1990s games.
[edit] Game Modes (Home Version)
[edit] Original
A traditional "arcade mode" in which the player fights against seven characters in succession, with a standard "best-of-three" rule set. Battles will take place on different stages for each character, culminating with a final battle against Cell. If using a custom character, the player will gain experience points and collect Dragon Balls.
[edit] Z Survivor
A "survival" mode in which the player fights various opponents for as long as their health remains above zero. Battles all take place in the Tenka'ichi Budôkai ring (with the same background music each time), and last a single round. If the player wins the round, they play a "roulette"-style game in which their selection endows them with items such as additional experience, extra health, Dragon Balls, etc. If using a custom character, the player will gain experience. Also, make a near perfect to perfect in less than 30 seconds for 5 matches and if you're still alive by the 9th and "final" warrior, you will engage in a double-or-nothing match with Buu, Mecha Freeza, Gohan (Buu Arc), or Videl. However, this WILL NOT unlock them if you haven't unlocked them. You must wish for them with the dragonballs.
[edit] Training
A mode where the player can perfect their skills against a computer opponent of their customization (non-moving, responsive, etc.). Battles take place within Vegeta's training room of Dr. Briefs' creation.
[edit] Versus
A standard two-player versus mode. Players may use either the default characters or their own custom versions from either memory card slot.
[edit] Shenlong Summon
Upon collecting seven Dragon Balls with a custom character, the player may enter this mode to summon Shenlong. The player may then wish for various items, such as additional attacks, unlockable characters, etc. After making a wish, the Dragon Balls disappear and must be recollected in another game mode.
[edit] Customize
The player may set up "custom" characters to battle with. These characters will gain experience from fighting, which allows them to learn new special attacks, raise statistics, etc. There are 30 available slots for custom characters. Custom characters may be used in Original, Z Survivor, Training, Summon Shenlong, and Versus modes.
[edit] Option
A standard series of options menus that allows the player to control key assignments, volume levels, saving, loading, etc.
[edit] Music
The opening theme is "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA (2005 ver.)" as performed by Hironobu Kageyama. This is a remix of the first Dragon Ball Z TV opening theme, released as a CD single in 2005 with variations of it and the second opening theme, "WE GOTTA POWER", also included on the seven-track CD (Sony Music / Team Entertainment, KDSD-74).
The score of the game features at least two remixes of background music composed for the Dragon Ball Z TV series by Shunsuke Kikuchi. Other pieces are newly composed for this game. All pieces are upbeat, blippy-techno syle.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Presentation
The game's theme throughout its presentation is that of the manga. Color schemes, art styles, and even loading screens are all nods to the original Japanese tankobōn run of the series. For example, Goku's gi is not the saturated orange seen in the TV series; images on the main menu are significant colored images from the manga; loading screens mirror the original Japanese tankobōn cover art; sound effects are written out during battle when an excessively-hard hit connects; etc.
[edit] Mecha Freeza
Akira Toriyama, the original author of the series, was consulted to design an updated Mecha Freeza for the home release of the game. This updated design includes a large rocket-launcher on his right shoulder, packs of explosives on his belt, and razor-ish explosives down the length of his tail.
[edit] International Versions
As it would seem, Atari have made a few alterations to their North American version of this release. The opening song, "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA (2005 ver.)" has been replaced with an unknown techno instrumental similar to Bruce Faulconer's work. Also, the Japanese manga-style sound effects have been altered to an English translation, apparently to help with the translation of the game. Finally, there is no option for the Japanese VAs, which completely contrasts the previous NA releases of Sparking!, Budokai 3 (GH), and even the PlayStation Portable's Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai. The PAL version has the same opening song and manga-style sound effect translations as the US version, but alternatively retains the Japanese VAs with no option to change to the English cast (similar to the release of the PAL version of Budokai).
However, there would seem to be one optional Japanese VA Atari left in. Jouji Yanami is evidently one of the unlockable "Narration" voices for the game, even credited in the "Original Mode" ending sequence. Despite this, there is no slot for him in the unlockable Narrator wishes, so this might have just been left in on accident. Regarding English VAs, it seems that FUNimation have made a couple replacements within the regular cast. Dartanian Nickleback takes the role of Cell rather than Dameon Clarke, while Brina Palencia provides the voice for Videl in place of Kara Edwards. All other VA's retain their usual roles.
The game was released at a retail price of $40 and is the 6th DBZ game to be released in North America on the PlayStation 2 console (7th counting the release of the Greatest Hits Budokai 3). For reasons unknown, the English voice actors sound as if they've been recorded for a 16-bit game in comparison to the 128-bit sounding music. But overall, other than the alterations mentioned above, nothing is removed/cut from the game. The Dr. Slump character, Suppa Man, is even retained in the "Eastern Capital" level.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Japanese Super Dragon Ball Z Website
- Official American Super Dragon Ball Z Website
- Official Super Dragon Ball Z Forum (Atari)
